|
This page sets out the
attractions along our current route. Phase 4 of the railway, to be
complete in 2009, opens up links to Beddgelert, the Aberglaslyn
pass, Porthmadog and onward travel onto the Ffestiniog railway to
Minffordd (for Porthmerion), Tan-y-Bwlch and Blaenau Ffestiniog (for
Llechwedd slate caverns). Click
here for more info on phase 4.
Below are attractions close to our current stations, followed by
some suggested itineraries.
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is dominated by King
Edward I’s magnificent medieval castle, built to secure his foothold
in Wales. The castle is also famous worldwide for the 1969
investiture of Prince Charles as the present Prince of Wales. Today,
the castle is a main tourist attraction in North Wales.
History comes alive when you climb up spiral staircases to the top
of the towers for glorious views, walk along the lofty wall walks
and beneath the twin-towered gatehouse and explore the imaginative
exhibitions in the towers as well as the Regimental Museum of the
Royal Welch Fusiliers, Wales's oldest regiment.
For more info on the castle, click
here
Caernarfon itself has everything for the visitor - craft shops, fine
restaurants, teashops and cafes and a busy market. More information
here
Town walks are available on our
walks page.
Cycle hire is available in Caernarfon - Contact
Beics Menai
for further details - and cycles can be carried on our trains in our
special wagons.
The WHR station has a small car park (although other larger car
parks are also nearby) as well as toilets and a well-stocked shop.
Bontnewydd
The village of Bontnewydd has an excellent chip shop and pub
close to the railway. A walk from Dinas via the former Bryngwyn
branch to Bontnewydd is available on our walks
page.
The
Newborough Arms pub is also well situated for railway
travellers.
Waunfawr
 |
|
Snowdon Ranger Youth
Hostel |
|
|
Antur Waunfawr is a short walk from the station (signed from the
platforms). There is a craft shop, garden nursery and café.
Next to the station is the
Snowdonia
Park campsite and brewpub with its own micro brewery. There is
an extensive menu of good value wholesome food and it is listed in
the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Walks from Waunfawr are available on our walks
page.
Plas y Nant
Plas-y-Nant
is a 14-bedroom room Guest House and small (40-50 people) Conference
Centre.
Snowdon Ranger
Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel offers value for money
accommodation.
Walks from Snowdon Ranger are available on our
walks page.
Rhyd Ddu
The village contains a small, friendly tearoom,
Tŷ
Mawr and a real-ale pub, The
Cwellyn Arms.
Walks from Rhyd Ddu are available on our walks
page.
Ideas for
itineraries
1) Train – Snowdon
- Train
Red timetable only (High Summer): Depart Caernarfon 10:50, arrive
Rhyd Ddu 11:55. Climb Snowdon via the Rhyd Ddu path, taking the
18:20 back to Caernarfon at 19:25. This gives you well over the six
hours to climb up and down Snowdon, which is an average length of
time for the route. When the red timetable is not in operation, the
last train departs at 16:50, which is tight, but achievable for
experienced walkers.
An alternative to this plan is to alight at Snowdon Ranger request
stop at 11:35, climb Snowdon using the Snowdon Ranger path, and
catch the 18:30 (red timetable) or 17:00 back.
There are many other possible walks available on our
walks page here.
2) Train – Antur Waunfawr – Snowdonia Parc brewpub for lunch -
train – Rhyd Ddu tearoom – Train
Start at Caernarfon on the 10:50 train, stop off at Waunfawr (11:20)
and visit Antur Waunfawr craft shop and nursery, then get something
to eat at the Snowdonia Parc brewpub at the station before catching
the 14:20 train to Rhyd Ddu. Walk down into the village for a cup of
tea and cake at the Ty Mawr tearoom, before catching the 16:50 back
to Caernarfon, getting back at 17:55.
3) Train – cycle
Take the train out as far as you dare and then cycle back. Our
trains have specially converted bicycle wagons and bikes can be
hired from Beics
Menai in Caernarfon. Two main cycle
routes serve the railway – the Lôn Eifion alongside the WHR from
Caernarfon to Dinas and the Lôn Gwyrfai cycle path from Waunfawr to
Caernarfon.
4) Train – castle – train – tea room – train
Start at Dinas (or perhaps Waunfawr), traveling to Caernarfon for a
morning at the castle and lunch before taking the train south again
to Rhyd Ddu. There should be time for a short walk into the village
and a nice cup of tea at the tearooms or pint at the pub, before
returning to Caernarfon by train. This trip is one round trip of the
whole railway.
5) Our regular special events add some extra flair to an already
fabulous journey - Click here
for details of upcoming events.
|
