Crete Pilgrimage 2016 - Day 37

Wales - Porthmadog and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway

Introduction

We stayed overnight in Porthmadog so that we could travel to Ffestiniog on the old narrow gauge railway. We discovered that most people stay elsewhere and travel to Porthmadog in the morning for the train. Breakfast places that opened before 9.30am were rare, but we found one that did good coffee. We then walked to the railway station and examined the old steam train. After the train returned to Porthmadog, we drove north to Caernafon and walked around the outside of the old castle before stopping at a pub that looked out over the harbour for a pint and a bite.

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway

At 9.30 we boarded our Third Class carriage (they only have third class) and headed off across the Britannia Terrace and up into the hills. It was a great trip, perhaps a bit over-hyped but we were pleased to have ticked off another world famous train trip. The train crosses the edge of the harbour, along the Britannia Terrace, before climbing into the hills towards the old slate mining town of Blaneau Ffestiniog. After a quick stop, at which most of the passengers got off for lunch, we headed back down the hill. Part way along the journey the track climbs a steep part by using a circular section. Here you can look down onto the track below.

Porthmadog harbour in the morning light

The railway station with our train

Coal and water for the engine

This engine is "David Lloyd George"

We were in third class, but it was comfortable enough

Our train is ready to go

This engine is for the service to Bangor

We headed off, along the Britannia Terrace...

passing the geese..

the tidal marshes...

and the cemetery,

and the slate quarry

before getting to the Minfford workshops.

Then we started to climb.

Our engine now has to do some hard work

Passing through the suburbs

through the level crossing

and into the forrested hills.

We caught up with a mob of sheep on the line

and chased them for miles

until they pulled over at Campbell's Platform

That's our train line down there

we have just gone around a compete circle

We are nearing the end of the line at Blaenau Ffestiniog

Lots got off for lunch

But we stayed on the train and headed back downhill

Back around the circle

past the bluebells

and the white crocuses

We passed the uphill train

past the railway workshops

Along the Britannia Terrace

past the geese

and back to Porthmadog

Caernafon Castle

We drove north from Porthmadog to reach the north coast of Wales at Caernafon. Our hotel was near the castle so we walked around the castle walls. It was too late in the day to spend time in the castle itself - especially at the price they were charging for entry.

BWales has produced a few notables: Sir Hugh Owen