Thousands of music fans heading to BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland this weekend are being urged to plan ahead after organisers released the official walking route map for Herrington Country Park.
The map sets out three main pedestrian routes into the festival site, with estimated walking times ranging from 25 to 50 minutes depending on where people arrive.
The longest route will take fans from Doxford International, with a 2.2-mile walk expected to take between 40 and 50 minutes.
A second route from Success Road Car Park covers 1.6 miles, while the shortest path from Gill’s Field Car Park stretches 1.3 miles and is expected to take between 25 and 35 minutes.
Festival organisers say stewards and directional signage will be placed across the routes to guide the tens of thousands expected to descend on Sunderland for the three-day event at Herrington Country Park from today (May 22) to Sunday (May 24).
The newly released map highlights just how heavily the event will rely on walking access around the park, with key routes weaving through Herrington, Chester Road and the surrounding approach roads.
BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is expected to attract around 100,000 people across the weekend, bringing one of the UK’s biggest music festivals back to Sunderland for the first time since 2005.
This year’s line-up includes Fatboy Slim, Zara Larsson, Ellie Goulding, Louis Tomlinson, Olivia Dean, Dermot Kennedy and Niall Horan, alongside more than 100 acts performing across multiple stages.
Sunderland City Council has already warned visitors to expect major travel disruption around the Herrington area, with shuttle buses, park-and-walk schemes and road management measures forming a major part of the transport operation.
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Online reaction to the walking plans has been mixed, with some festival-goers raising concerns over taxi access and congestion at kick-out times, while others have advised visitors to stick with official shuttle transport.
The map also confirms entry points close to the festival arena and routes linking visitors from parking hubs and nearby transport connections, including Sunderland city centre and Sunderland Station.
Organisers say the routes will be fully staffed throughout the weekend as the city prepares for one of the biggest events ever staged at Herrington Country Park.
