Great Little Trains of North Wales

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Welcome to Caernarfon

Arrive in the historic port town of Caernarfon in time to check into the Celtic Royal, our base for the next 2 nights. Why not arrive early and independently visit Edward I's famous castle with its polygonal towers? Ffestiniog Travel can arrange rail travel to join this tour, please ask for a quotation.

Day 2 – Snowdon Mountain & Llanberis Lake Railways

Travel by coach to Llanberis and take the train to the summit of Snowdon (weather permitting). After returning to Llanberis we make a return journey on the 2ft gauge Llanberis Lake Railway and return to Caernarfon by coach.

Day 3 – Welsh Highland Railway

Today we take the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon travelling up through Dinas and Waunfawr, over the railways highest peak at Pitts Head and through the forest of Meillionen before traversing the picturesque Aberglaslyn Pass to Porthmadog for a 2-night stay.

Day 4 – Ffestiniog Railway & Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

This morning we make a return journey on the 2ft narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog. After a break for lunch, we ride the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and include a visit to the workshops at Gelert’s Farm.

Day 5 – Bala Lake & Corris Railways

Day 6 – Welshpool at Leisure

A full day to explore this market town at leisure. Whether you choose to admire the Georgian buildings, visit Powysland Museum, Powis Castle or walk the canal, the day is yours.

Day 7 – Welshpool & Llanfair Railway

Today we visit the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway and journey through the beautiful Mid-Wales countryside. This line was built in 1901 to connect the villages along the Banwy valley before falling into decline and eventually closing in 1956. We make a return journey on the restored line from Welshpool to Llanfair Caereinion.

Day 8 – Fairbourne Railway

After a leisurely breakfast we depart Welshpool for Aberystwyth. En-route we stop off to visit the Fairbourne Railway. The railway has been running from Fairbourne village to the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, connecting with the ferry across the harbour to Barmouth, for over 100 years. The railway is also home to a museum and an indoor model railway with a large G-Scale layout. We make a return journey on the line before continuing onwards to Aberystwyth.

Day 9 – Vale of Rheidol

We make a return journey on the Vale of Rheidol this morning. This 2ft line runs 11 ¾ miles from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge and was built to carry timber and lead ore to the harbour town. The afternoon is free to explore this university town or perhaps take a ride on the cliff railway at Constitution Hill.

Day 10 – Talyllyn Railway

This morning we board the mainline travelling to Machynlleth where we make a change of trains and travel onwards to Tywyn to ride the Talyllyn Railway, the first railway in the world to be preserved as a heritage railway by volunteers in 1951. After making a return journey on the steam railway we return on the mainline via Machynlleth to Aberystwyth.

Day 11 – Farewell

After a leisurely breakfast we bid our farewells and head home independently.