Travel & Holidays in later life
STEAM UP FOR NORTH WALES
The top
Welsh tourist attraction is not a Historic Castle or a Stately Home - but an old-time
industrial railway line that was closed in 1946, doomed to rust and oblivion, until
brought back for holiday use by volunteer groups of steam-railway fans.
Built
1836, the line hauled slate from the quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog on a 13-mile journey
down to Porthmadog Harbour.
The Ffestiniog Railway is typical of a number of 19th century mineral lines which also
carried passengers until the traffic was captured by buses, and the slate trade declined.
Travel Facts

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breaks and travel options pages
TRAVEL FACTS
Members of the Great Little Trains group are: Ffestinog Railway, Welsh Highland
Railway, Vale of Rheidol Railway, Llanberis Lake Railway, Welshpool & Llanfair
Railway, Bala Lake Railway, Talyllyn Railway, Brecon Mountain Railway. Snowdon
Mountain Railway is not a member.
A Discount Card costing £10 cuts an adult's fare by 20% valid for one full return journey on
each of the Great Little Trains
during the season in which the ticket is bought. The main season is from late March until October.
You can buy tickets in advance from The Great Little Trains of Wales, LLR, Dept
GLTW, Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9EY. Tel: 01654
710472. Information by email from
info@greatlittle
trainsofwales.co.uk
For more information, contact North Wales Tourism, 77 Conwy Road, Colwyn Bay LL29 7LN.
Tel: 01492-531731. Bed bookings: 08705-168-767. Web: www.nwt.co.uk

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Postwar, after the official demise of the Ffestiniog Railway, a long section of track was
flooded as part of a hydro-electric project. Railway stations and halts began to crumble
as weed took over. It seemed the end of a chapter in the industrial history of Wales.
But then railway buffs bought the line and its rolling-stock and set to work at holidays
and at weekends, restoring the Ffestiniog to new life.
Even to people who are not dedicated railfans, there is enormous pleasure from riding in a
19th century carriage, with an engine up front puffing steam.
With my family, I took this narrow gauge journey into nostalgia - beginning with the
Ffestiniog, and then getting hooked on the other little railways that have followed the
Ffestiniog pattern.
Management of the lines is professional. But most of the day-to-day operation is tackled
by volunteers who cheerfully give up holiday time to serve as guards, ticket collectors or
buffet attendants.
It's all part of a rapidly-expanding general interest in "industrial
archaeology". Industrial relics can be just as fascinating to holidaymakers as an
ancient castle or church.
One of the top attractions is the slate mine formerly served by the Ffestiniog Railway.
The underground workings of Llechwedd Slate Caverns are open to visitors, who take a
half-mile trip by miners' tramway into a level that was first quarried in 1846.
Different lighting techniques are used to bring out the natural beauty of the rock, and
the original atmosphere of the mine is recaptured. Tourists can watch slate being split in
the mill, and even try it themselves.
Routing yourself around the Little Railways is an ideal way of seeing the scenic variety
of Wales: beaches and mountains, lakes and valleys. Among the man-made sightseeing
highlights are superb castles at Harlech, Conwy and Caernarfon. The Italian-style
Portmeirion village is worth half a day.
Ffestiniog Railway gives you stunning views. The rack-and-pinion Snowdon Mountain
Railway saves you the long hike to the 3560-ft peak. Close by is the Llanberis Lake
Railway, with vintage steam locomotives that chuff along the shore of Lake
Padarn.
Other North Wales steam lines - each with its individual character - are at Llangollen
(home of an annual July five-day International Music Eisteddfod), Bala Lake, Fairbourne
near Barmouth, Talyllyn (from Tywyn on Cardigan Bay), and a short distance on the Welsh
Highland Railway from Porthmadog.
An
ongoing project aims to complete a link via Beddgelert to a longer stretch
of line through to Caernarfon. With a cross-town link at Portmadog, the
Welsh Highland Railway will then be virtually merged with the Ffestiniog
Railway.
By car, bus or scheduled rail, only an hour or two's travel separates each of the little
railways of North Wales.
A typical car-touring circuit could include overnight stopovers in Tywyn, Porthmadog,
Llanberis and Llandudno. If you want one convenient central location for reaching any of
the railways, try Dolgellau.
Adding a different line to your collection each day, there is still time left over for
visiting ancient market towns, or for walking in the hills.
Mountain views are not always guaranteed! I recall climbing a peak in Snowdonia, amid a
mist that blanketed everything.
Then, dramatically, the clouds briefly rolled away, and we marvelled at the spectacular
series of peaks and ridges, bathed in sparkling sunshine. Those few unforgettable minutes
were well worth all the energy output, and initial disappointment.
The entire Snowdon National park area gives great pleasure to mountain lovers of all
grades - from those who just enjoy hard walking along well-marked trails, to those who
prefer tough scrambling or roped mountain climbing. If economy is the keynote, the Snowdon
region is ringed with Youth Hostels and economy-priced b&bs.
For a wider range of North Wales accommodation, try the cheerful entertainment resorts
like Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl or Prestatyn. They all have good beach and sports
facilities for children and adults. The bays are thickly lined with chalet and caravan
parks.
In quieter style, the North Wales coastline offers several smaller resorts, from Pensarn
and Abergele to Rhos-on- Sea, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan.
What to do of an
evening? Mostly, Wales is rather quiet, except for the sound of male voice choirs
practising. But there is traditional entertainment at the major seaside resorts.
For something different, try a Welsh folk-song evening linked with a traditional Welsh
meal or medieval banquet. The harp music alone can make the journey worthwhile. Heavenly!
Here are more ideas on where to go in Wales
CARDIFF - great
to visit any time
CARDIGAN - Self-catering along
the Heritage Coast
LLEYN PENINSULA -
Go walking around the Edge of Wales
SWANSEA - On the
Dylan Thomas trail around the Gower peninsula
TENBY - along Pembroke's
coastline
WALES ALONG THE A5
- Follow the historic highway for great sightseeing
WELSH RAREBITS - for a taster of Wales
"Books to read - click on cover pictures" or
click on the links belowCollins
Rambler's Guide: Snowdonia and North Wales by Richard Sale - Covers many of the
beautiful and dramatic walking areas which can also be reached by the steam trains.
The Festiniog Railway from 1950
- The fascinating story of how a group of steam-railway enthusiasts restored
the derelict line, including the building of a tunnel.
Narrow
Gauge Railways of North Wales by Andrew Wilson - Covers all of the steam railway lines
Favourite
Welsh Choirs - A compilation on CD of top choirs in full voice, featuring the
well-loved traditional songs.
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