Wales - North Wales

The historic Ffestiniog Railway starts from beside the harbour in Porthmadog, climbing from sea level to over 700ft on its journey through the Snowdonia National Park. Passing farmland and forest, lakes and waterfalls, through the mountains, and going around the only railway spiral in the UK as they steam through the picturesque Vale of Ffestiniog, the little trains reach their destination - the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, set amidst rugged scenery dominated by the historic remains of the slate industry. Steam engines have been running here for 150 years and include the whacky ‘push me, pull you’ Double Fairlie locomotives with a chimney at each end! Most groups choose a one-way trip on the line - which can be done in either direction. An ‘at your seat’ refreshment service is available and there is heating in most carriages. Trains run for much of the year, with a daily service operating from late March till early November.

The Welsh Highland Railway has rapidly established itself as a ‘must-do’ attraction in northern Snowdonia.  This 25-mile railway has opened up a host of different travel options for groups, from trips taking around an hour along part of the line through to the ‘Full Monty’ - a Coast to Coast journey between the towns of Caernarfon and Porthmadog, via Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass... and with the opportunity to carry on along the Ffestiniog Railway from Porthmadog.  There are many places to include in your day, from the majestic Caernarfon Castle in the north to the pretty village of Beddgelert further south. Trains consist of comfortable, modern carriages with a refreshment trolley and hot food service, toilet facilities and heating for those chilly days. Most of the trains are hauled by an impressive Beyer-Garratt, which are the largest 2ft gauge steam locomotives in the world. The Welsh Highland runs on most days from the end of March until end of October.

The two lines meet at Porthmadog Harbour Station which is currently undergoing major work to integrate the two railways. Spooner’s Café and Bar at Harbour Station serves hot food and snacks all day with hot and cold drinks and a licensed bar. Groups are welcome and it is not necessary to book. Some groups are now travelling on both the Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland in one day, experiencing a 40 mile extravaganza of ‘Steam, Scenery and Snowdonia’ as part of a circular bus and train tour. There is usually time for lunch and a stroll in Porthmadog to break the journey.

Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog all welcome coaches and there is parking available in all three towns close to shops, cafés and facilities. There are numerous other attractions in the area, as well as pretty villages such as Beddgelert - so there is plenty on offer for a full day-out in Snowdonia.
 
You can save time and enhance your groups’ enjoyment of their trip by taking advantage of pre-booked catering. Why not treat your party to that extra bit of style and combine lunch, coffee or an afternoon tea with their train journey? Imagine arriving to find your carriage set up especially for you and personal service to your seat..!

Parties of disabled persons are welcome but facilities are limited by the size of the narrow-gauge carriages. For further information, please contact the Group Travel staff. An access statement is available for both railways and can be viewed on the website.
 
Group Fares are available for pre-booked parties of 20 passengers or more (10 or more if disabled) which give substantial savings on normal fares. One-way journeys are available on both railways. Booking early is recommended to ensure that you travel on the train of your choice. A £50 deposit is required to secure your reservation.

The railways’ friendly Group Travel staff will be happy to help with any queries you may have about the railway or the surrounding area - such as “Where can we get a coffee stop on the way?”. “How long does it take to get from A to B?” etc. If they don’t know, they will endeavour to find out for you..!
 
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways have attracted much attention, so trains can be busy at times. We endeavour to spread groups to avoid overcrowding.  It is advisable to book well in advance and to be prepared to find an alternate date or time. Please contact the experienced group travel staff for further advice and to discuss your particular requirements.