Accessibility

As of 2026, we’re really pleased to share that we’re now working with Nimbus Disability to help make ticketing and access to our Light Trail more inclusive for guests with accessibility requirements.

We’ve partnered with the Nimbus Access Card scheme to ensure there’s a consistent and fair process for validating access requirements and putting reasonable adjustments in place. As we’re not specialists in access or in assessing individual needs, Nimbus manages the access registration process on our behalf.

The Access Card is a scheme developed by Nimbus and is designed to make communicating your access needs simple and clear. It translates your disability or impairment into easy-to-understand symbols, helping us quickly recognise the support you may require. You can read more about how these symbols are allocated on their website: https://www.accesscard.online/how-it-works/ 

Nimbus offers two options:

• • A free Light Trail Digital Access Pass (DAP), which can be used to apply for accessible facilities at any of our five trails and is valid for three years: https://app.accesscard.online/apply/from-the-fields/christmas-at-bute-park/ 
  • A £15 physical Access Card, which can be used at venues and events across the UK: https://www.accesscard.online/apply-or-renew/  

As well as translating your needs into symbols, the Access Card provides recognised evidence of your access requirements. The physical card can be used at other participating venues nationwide, reducing the need to repeatedly share personal information.

If you already have an Access Card and would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, you can reach out to them using the email here: applications@nimbusdisability.com

We use the Nimbus Access Card to help translate disabilities and impairments into clear, easy-to-understand symbols. We’ve then worked closely with Nimbus to align these symbols with the facilities and adjustments available on-site at our Light Trails.

Below is a simple guide outlining which symbols are required when applying for our Fast Track or Personal Assistant facilities:

If you already have an Access Card and would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, you can reach out to them using the email here: applications@nimbusdisability.com

While we offer a range of accessible facilities, including wheelchairs and mobility scooters, Neurodivergent Evenings, and accessible toilets. These do not need to be applied for using a Nimbus Access Card. You’ll find more information about these facilities below, under their appropriate section.

If you would like to apply for an Essential Companion ticket or a Fast Track wristband, please follow the steps below:

1. Essential Companion Tickets
   Essential Companion tickets can be requested during the See Tickets checkout process. You’ll be asked to provide your Nimbus Access Card number, and the See Tickets team will review and allocate the ticket, provided the required symbol (the +1 or +2 symbol) is present on the card.

You are able to choose one free companion ticket, when you purchase a paid adult or child ticket for the disabled person. If you require more than one carer ticket, please contact hello@christmasatbutepark.com with the access card number and full name of access customer, and our team will allocate an additional essential companion ticket, provided a +2 symbol is on the access card.

2. Fast Track Wristbands
   For Fast Track wristbands, please email our Customer Service team at hello@christmasatbutepark.com, including the Access Card number and the full name of the access customer (as shown on the card). Our team will review and allocate these where possible, subject to availability.

Fast Track wristbands are available for guests with additional needs, and where appropriate, their personal assistants (assessed on a case-by-case basis).

For accessible parking, we would recommend the North Road car parks. There are also a small number of accessible spaces located directly outside the park; however, these are very limited and cannot be reserved in advance.

There is step-free access from North Road Car Park, as well as from the Mews Tennis Courts car park.

A Nimbus Access Card is not required for disabled parking, as this isn’t a facility we can manage directly. Parking arrangements are handled by the individual car park operators, and availability is determined by the car park you choose to use.

For more details on travel and parking options, please visit our Getting Here FAQ here

We will have two accessible plastic port-a-loo toilets along the route, one at the trail’s half-way point and one within the Christmas Village, which can be accessed at the beginning and end of the trail route. The cubicles are roughly 1.9m x 1.6m.

A Nimbus Access Card isn’t required to access the accessible toilets on-site, this is provided on an honesty basis.

For guests who need to sit regularly, on the trail there will be the usual park benches along the route, and then clusters of picnic tables halfway along and then again at the end of the route. You are also welcome to bring your own folding chair for use.

Christmas at Bute Park stewards will also be stationed at points along the trail so can support when required. They are easily identifiable in high visibility jackets.

There are two evenings with a reduced audience capacity and reduced audio volume, which may be a preferable experience to people with neurodivergent conditions.

These will take place on Wednesday 3rd and Wednesday 10th December for the whole evening. The trail will have a lower level of noise, and the capacity will be reduced by 75%.

We will have several wheelchairs available for rent on site, but these are distributed on an ad hoc basis so we would recommend bringing your own where possible.

Please note: there are some areas of the trail that have become slightly muddy. While best endeavours have been made to maintain accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, these areas may be more difficult to traverse in manual wheelchairs. If you have any difficulty passing through, please alert the nearest steward, who will be happy to assist you.

The trail is approximately 1 mile long and takes around 60 minutes to enjoy at a comfortable pace. You’re very welcome to bring a camping chair or small folding chair if you feel you may need to rest along the route.

The trail follows hard-standing paths, ramps, and some matted sections laid over grass. There are no steps anywhere along the route. While the majority ofthe trail is level, there are some gentle inclines and declines throughout.

As the event takes place outdoors during winter in Wales, please be aware that weather conditions may result in puddles or muddy patches in places, which could make certain sections a little slower to navigate.

Well-behaved dogs with responsible owners are welcome. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and be comfortable with large crowds, loud noises and fire.

We welcome assistance dogs onto the site. We ask all dog owners to keep their dog on a lead at all times, and also to pick up after themselves.

Assistance dogs are legally allowed to assist under the Equality Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission states an expectation that Assistance Dogs will:

1. Be highly trained
2. Not wander freely around the premises
3. Most are instantly recognisable by the harness or identifying dog jacket that wear they wear

1. I haven’t received a response from Nimbus Access Card?

Please check your spam/junk folder. Nimbus Access Card are usually quick to process your application however occasionally your reply can end up in spam.

2. Do I have to pay for an access card?

No. The access card offers an option to apply for a Light Trail Digital Access Pass that is free of charge and lasts for the next three years. There is a paid option(£15) but this is for a physical access card and can be used at 2,500 venues and events across the country, including our Trails.

3. Why have you switched to the Access Card?

We have moved to the Access Card as it enables us to easily understand your requirements and allocate the correct facilities based on the symbols on the card.

We believe this new system makes it easier for you, and for our team to provide you with the correct facilities to aid your festival experience.

4. I need help with Nimbus/The symbols on my Access Card.

If you would like to speak to the Nimbus Access Card team about the symbols on your card, or any other issue they can help you with, you can reach out to them using the email here: hello@nimbusdisability.com

5. Are baby changing facilities available?

Yes, there are baby changing facilities in the Christmas Village, at the start and end of the trail.

6. Are there flashing lights?

The trail includes pulsing, flashing, and moving lighting effects, including strobes and lasers, that may affect people with photosensitivity