Atomic Systems

A few quick FR points then:

Tan-y-Bwlch is without doubt the best place to break your jounery - lovely surrounds, cafe for a nice cup of tea and on a sunney day its total bliss. My advise would be catch the train all the way up, come straight back down to TYB and then either catch the next down train or go up again if you fancy. Because TYB is also the main passing place you've got most choice in terms of which direction you go in.

Spooners is now probably the best pub in Porthmadog, and its not just where tourists, but also where the staff, volunteers and locals usually go for drink. Plenty of choice in terms of drink, and of course the local speciality, Purple Moose Ale brewed in Porthmadog itself, by a Ffestiniog Volunteer! As David says it is also home to FR No.1 Princess and various other items of fantastic railway items, including a large collection of nameplates above the bar, and "Topsy", a late 19th Century working model built at Boston Lodge. On a fine summer evening it also has a lovely patio area out on the platform over looking the treath and the cob.

Other places worthy of note in Porthmadog include Allports Fish 'n' Chip shop (don't be put off by the largely Welsh customer base here - they go there for a reason!) and the WHR (P) bookshop - even if you don't go for a ride its worth stopping in for 15mins to browse the books. If your looking for more books, Browsers bookshop is also good, as is the little Yellow bookshop in the centre of town.

I've already said in PM I may be around in the area during that week, and I can give you a guided walk of the railways of Porthmadog (probably the most complex Narrow Gauge system within in Britain) and point out the various features.

On the whole, lots to do!
Bruce

Other places worthy of note in Porthmadog include Allports Fish 'n' Chip shop (don't be put off by the largely Welsh customer base here - they go there for a reason!) and the WHR (P) bookshop - even if you don't go for a ride its worth stopping in for 15mins to browse the books.

Fully agreed - Allports although hard to find is one of the best. Well worth getting lunch here, then having a pint at the Spooners.

David

Yeh, I agree, best places to eat (or at elast get food) are Spooners, Allports, and theres a restaurant on the harbour, I think it's called Spinnakers.

As for 'local juveniles' in Blaenau, just try to stay clear of the place at night, thats when they're at their most active I think. And they seem to like to attack moving objects on rails. But don't let that put you off!!!!!

Oh, and by the way, have a look up to Llanberis if you have the time, the slate museum is worth a look around. but if you go on the train make sure you take alot of insect repellant...

Cheers

Chris

BruceB wrote: Other places worthy of note in Porthmadog include Allports Fish 'n' Chip shop (don't be put off by the largely Welsh customer base here - they go there for a reason!) Bruce

Why on earth would anyone be put off by the largely Welsh customer base? after all it is Wales, is it not??

Problem is that Allports Fish 'n' Chip shop has gotten worse recently!

As for 'local juveniles' in Blaenau, just try to stay clear of the place at night, thats when they're at their most active I think. And they seem to like to attack moving objects on rails. But don't let that put you off!!!!!

I always found that the town itself was quite sufficient to put me off going, never mind the people who lived there. Break your journey at T-y-B as Bruce suggests.

The Talyllyn is always a good one aswell of course. Breaking the trip at Dologch for a walk is nice, or the tea rooms at Aber (run by the legendary Gwen) are superb. If you have more time go through to Nant and have a wander up Altwyltt incline and towards the Quarry.

With regards the Vale of Rheidol, id go straight up and straight back. Dpending on time and where you stay you could possibly get the VoR in in the morning and the WLLR in the afternoon on your way out of Wales. If your heading back to Leicester id have thought you could go down the coast to Aberyswyth, a train ride on the VoR and then out through Mach - Newtown - Welshpool - Craven Arms and then over the border towards Birmingham. Stopping at Welshpool of Llanfair for another train ride. From Malvern we used to be able to do Aberyswyth in 3 hours going up through Welshpool, id imagine your journey time will be similar.

Regards Chris

gopher wrote:Never had a problem in Blaenau with the local juveniles. If you have never seen a slate tip and the slate industry infrastructure, it's worth a visit just to see how large the workings where. Some massive rope planes still in evidence.

Gordon

I couldn’t agree more; I’ve never had a problem there either. Blaenau is far too interesting to miss in my opinion, you could spend days investigating all the industrial archaeology that surrounds the place, absolute heaven if this is your thing! The people on the whole are very warm and down to earth; inevitably there are a few bored juveniles as there are in every town in the UK.

On Chris' recommendation I've booked a room at the Red Lion in Dinas Mawddwy. The place looks great from the website - very homely and unpretentious. Room prices are very reasonable and because it gets a mention in CAMRA the decision was made for me

I'll be there for 8 nights - Sat 19th Aug to Sat 26th. We'll head home on the 27th and that leaves me the Bank Holiday Monday to sleep off the holiday!

I'll get in touch with a few people nearer the time as it would be good to meet up with some of you, being NG locals you probably know some good places to eat and lineside locations etc.

Martin

This idea of going up to Devil's Bridge and straight back - hackneyed though it may be, the few pence to go into the gorge at Devil's Bridge and few the water falls etc,. is worth it for all but the most cynical.

Tony

Tony, I do plan to get off the train at Devils Bridge and walk about a bit - I hate doing preserved line runs just to go straight back again

A group of about 6 to 8 of us will be on the Ffestiniog railway tomorrow, if anyone else is there say hi if you see us.

We'll probably be on the 1620 from Porthmadog (if not, the 1800), and will be on North & Mid Wales rangers.

I have done the line once before, and it is excellent, I'd definitely recommend it!

I went up to mid/north wales the other day(on a railway holiday with my dad) and we visited the VoR and the FR. There's a great walk round Devil's Bridge ( We went on the longer Mynach falls path, you get to see more sights ) But i'd plan carefully, as the railway is having major engine restoration/overhaul, and only Prince of Wales, the Red engine, and the diesel no. 10 were running. As for the views, they're fantastic.
On the Ffestiniog, we rode behind Taliesin ( which, amazingly, ran all the way to Blaenau, i thought it wasn't allowed up there 'cos of its coal burning ) As for the chavs, they didn't bother us, apart from spraying the train with water as we passed Tanygrisiau waterfall.

Rbridge wrote:On the Ffestiniog, we rode behind Taliesin ( which, amazingly, ran all the way to Blaenau, i thought it wasn't allowed up there 'cos of its coal burning )

New spark arrestor equipment i think, Palmerston reaches Blaneau regularly on coal now, as does newly converted fairlie EoM.