All aboard the Ffestinniog Railway

We’re really lucky here in Porthmadog to have one of the station stops for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway. North Wales is not short of railways, and it’s a lovely way to explore the area, aboard one of the steam trains.

History of the Railway

The railway company is the oldest in the world still operating steam trains  including three of the original locomotives that are over 150 years old and still in service. The Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow guage railway, so when you take a trip aboard not only are you able to explore the beautiful Welsh countryside, and see the best of North Wales, but you’re also aboard a piece of history.

The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage railway, running all the way from Porthmadog to Caernarfon.

The good thing about this railway is that often with heritage railways there are only direct routes to travel, with few or no stopping stations. However on these journeys you can board at Porthmadog and stop at any one of the many stations on the two railways to explore the area.

Where can you go?

The steam trains take you through glorious Welsh countryside, with the two routes supplying breathtaking views of Snowdonia National Park.

The Ffestiniog railway heads from Porthmadog up to Blaenau Ffestiniog and takes about an hour and 15 minutes. The Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog to Caernarfon is about two and a half hours. There’s a buffet service to every carriage, so you can relax, unwind and make the journey part of your day out.

You can take your bike, you can take your dog , you can even take the kids, so it’s a brilliant way to get from A to B in style. Pull out the stops if you feel like it and travel first class in one of the Pullman Carriages. The trains run at different times depending on the time of year so check out the Ffestiniog timetable or the Welsh Highland Railway timetable to make sure you can fit it into your holiday.

For special occasions the railway offer events such as a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea and a mother’s day lunch

Why take a train?

Taking a train is one of the best ways to see the local area of Porthmadog. When you’re driving, particularly when you don’t know the area, it can be a stressful experience trying to navigate winding and narrow country roads and you miss so much of what is a spectacular place of beauty.  Leave the car with us, and have an adventure to remember.

We’ll feature other railways across North Wales in upcoming posts so you can have a weekend, or a week, of trainspotting if you’re interested!

For a holiday to remember; from a short break to a longer stay come and spend your time with us in our comfortable, deluxe accommodation where you can stay for bed and breakfast, or for self catering in our lovely two bed cottage. To check availability and find out more, please contact us.

Photograph supplied with thanks to Sian Davies Photography. Visit here facebook page by clicking here.