The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage line, operating narrow-gauge services from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. This 25 mile route has stunning scenery and several stops along the way.
We boarded at Caernarfon with the castle in the background. This station had a huge makeover in 2019 at a cost of £3.5million and it’s now a fitting place to board the train. Once the journey gets underway it takes you past the foot of Snowdon and calls in at the pretty village of Beddgelert. It then heads through the Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog. The railway is renowned for its luxury carriages and you need some comfort if you’re going to take on the full journey. It takes a long time and many people choose to only go half-way instead and then catch a service back.
The most popular place to get off the Welsh Highland Railway is at Beddgelert, which is an unspoilt traditional village at the confluence of two rivers. The bridge which crosses the Afon Colwyn is particularly attractive. The village has many places to stay and tourism is the big industry here. The other stops on the route are Waunfawr and Rhyd Ddu. We loved this experience and we had our little boy with us too who was in awe at the steam engines. The views are fantastic along the way, but we’d recommend catching the train on a day with good visibility to get the most out of your trip.
The Welsh Highland Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway are run by the same operator. Both lines connect at Porthmadog. An adult return along the full route of the Welsh Highland Railway is £62 (2025 prices). The railway operates services all year round but the full regular timetable is only operated in the warmer months.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NF, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1766 516000
Email: enquiries@ffwhr.com
This map shows the station location in Porthmadog, but you can move it around to see the other main station at Caernarfon.
MORE ON THE WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY
Welsh Highland Railway – Official Website
Stay in Caernarfon – Booking.com
Stay in Porthmadog – Booking.com