The Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway and has almost 200 years of history. Staying in the Llechwedd glamping lodges, we decided to take the journey and enjoy the beautiful journey through forests, mountains, lakes and waterfalls from the comfort of the train. The train runs between Porthmadog’s harbourside and the former slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The Ffestiniog Railway is now an integral part of the UNESCO “Slate landscape of North Wales” World Heritage Site. Here is our Ffestiniog Railway review.
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The History of the Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway was constructed in 1832, to enable trains loaded with slate to run downhill by gravity, where the slate was loaded onto ships. Horses were used to pull the empty wagons back up the line. As the demand for slate increased this system became under stain and in 1863 the first steam trains entered service. In 1864 a further two locomotives were delivered and in the same year permission was granted to carry passengers. It wasn’t long before the railway was under strain again, and in 1870 a double bogie engine went into service. The demand for slate was decreasing with the popularity of new roofing materials.
The Welsh Highland, a new railway was built. The Line continued during the war but was closed in 1946. In 1954 the railway was bought by the Ffestiniog Railway Trust who set about rebuilding the line to Blaenau Ffestiniog. To get to Blaenau Ffestiniog the volunteers faced many problems and much work. This involved constructing a tunnel, bridges and restoring tracks. In the early 1980s the Ffestiniog Railway once again ran from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Today, the development of the Railway continues to ensure one of the most successful tourist attractions in North Wales continues to be enjoyed by many.
Ffestiniog Railway information
The carriages are beautifully restored and we found our seats and sat back and enjoyed the beautiful views along the link heading to Porthmadog.
The kids loved the journey and the views were stunning.
Food and Drink – You can choose from a selection of luxury hampers and picnic boxes which may be pre-booked with your tickets and collected on arrival at the station.
There are also plenty of places to eat at Porthmadog.
Ffestiniog railway prices
Prices vary depending on your route
The Quarryman
Blaenau Ffestiniog – Porthmadog
Duration: Approx. 4.5 hours
Adults: From £44.00 per person.
Children (Age 3 – 15): £2.00
Dogs: £2.00
One Way tickets are available and must be booked via calling the Booking Office.
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Visit Festrail online for more information and to book your tickets from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog
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***Disclosure – We were provided with complementary tickets for the Ffestiniog Railway, however we were under no obligation to create a post. I have shared our day out because we loved it!***