The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage line and runs for 25 miles from Porthmadog, through the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass, past the village of Beddgelert and the foot of Snowdon to Caernarfon.
The Ffestiniog Railway, together with it’s infrastructure, is now an integral part of the UNESCO “Slate landscape of North Wales”. The trains travel around tight bends and spirals as they cling to the side of a mountain or tunnel through it. They pass lakes and waterfalls climbing over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains, forests and down into tranquil pastures. From the harbour of Porthmadog, the railway takes you on a 14-mile journey to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. At almost 200 years old it is actually the world’s oldest narrow-guage railway.
Travelling on these trains is a step back in time within comfortable carriages taking you through outstanding scenery. You have the choice of Third Class in comfortable seats with tables and great views through large double-glazed windows. While the First-Class Pullman carriages have been constructed to offer passengers a “Go for Gold” Orient Express experience.
For enthusiasts you can go on a guided tour of the Boston Lodge workshops to hear the fascinating story of the building of carriages and locomotives over three centuries. Hear about when the site was a munitions factory and all about gravity trains. You can even have a go at driving a steam engine!
At Porthmadog station there is also a restaurant and souvenir shop.
We stayed at the nearby Premier Inn and our room had a fantastic view of the railway, the harbour and the mountains. A great place to stay!
