Getting here and about
The Vale of Ffestiniog and Porthmadog has all the positives and intrigue of a foreign destination. With the excitement of travel but without the hassle - getting here is part of the fun.
Cambrian Railways brings people through mid Wales to Aberdyfi and thence up the coast as far north as Pwllheli connecting with the Ffestiniog Railway at Minffordd and Porthmadog. Illustrated maps bring to life the views from the train and during high summer a steam service usually operates along the coastal stretch.
From Llandudno on the north coast the Conwy Valley line passes through the market town of Llanrwst, to Betws y Coed and Dolwyddelan, with a view to the castle of Llywelyn the Great, and thence through a 2 mile long tunnel emerging beneath Llechwedd to connect with the Ffestiniog Railway.
More intrepid explorers might arrive by kayak on the coast or bearing rucksack and tent doing the Cambrian Way or Duke of Edinburgh awards.
By car it’s best in daylight – the closer you get, the better it gets. Hedgerows become stone walls, hills turn to craggy mountains and suddenly the coast is in view. We might be remote but the main arteries of the A5 and A55 run close by – just 2 hours from Manchester and a bit further from Birmingham.
Once here you are in a highly effective hub of public transport – we might not have the frequency of an urban timetable but with planning this is an effective way of getting around. Walking works well in tandem with railways and many walks between stations are described in books and leaflets. Trains and buses, with a North Wales Rover ticket, make great ways of reaching busy hotspots without the pollution of cars and hassle of parking.
For further information on local bus and train services in Wales contact Traveline Cymru on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.traveline-cymru.info or the Bws Gwynedd website.