At a glance
The Great Orme limestone headland above Llandudno — wild Kashmiri goats, a Victorian cable tramway (1902, one of three surviving in Britain), aerial cable car, Bronze Age copper mines and 207m coastal views. Country park free; tramway/cable car ~£8 return. LL30 2XG.
About the Great Orme — Y Gogarth
The Great Orme (Y Gogarth in Welsh) is a massive limestone headland projecting into the Irish Sea at the western end of Llandudno — 207 metres high, 4 miles in circumference, and geologically distinct from the surrounding landscape. The headland is an almost self-contained world: it has its own ecology, history and population (of goats), connected to the town below but separate from it in character.
The limestone geology supports nationally rare plant communities and the world's only wild population of Cotoneaster cambricus — wild cotoneaster, a species found on the north-facing cliffs and nowhere else on earth. The wild Kashmiri goat herd, whose ancestors arrived as a gift to Queen Victoria in the 1830s, now numbers approximately 200 animals and roams the entire headland freely. On the cliffs, choughs (the red-billed crow that is the heraldic symbol of Wales), fulmars and peregrines nest.
For visitors, the main modes of ascent are the Great Orme Tramway — operating since 1902 and one of three surviving cable-hauled street tramways in Britain — and the Great Orme Aerial Cable Car. Both are seasonal and charged; the summit is also accessible by car via the Marine Drive toll road, and on foot via numerous paths. The summit has a café and sweeping views in all directions. Below the summit, the Great Orme Bronze Age Copper Mines offer guided underground tours of 3,700-year-old workings.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Orme Tramway is a cable-hauled street tramway that has operated since 1902, ascending from Church Walks in Llandudno to the Great Orme summit in two sections — changing trams at the halfway station at Victoria. It is one of only three surviving cable-hauled street tramways in Britain (alongside the San Francisco cable cars and the Funicular at Aberystwyth) and is a Grade II listed structure. The tramway runs seasonally from Easter to October. Adult return approximately £8.
The Great Orme supports a herd of wild Kashmiri goats — the only wild population of the species in Britain outside Snowdonia itself. The herd descended from animals presented to Queen Victoria in the 1830s that were subsequently allowed to roam free on the headland. They are large, long-horned and entirely unafraid of people, often wandering into car parks and onto paths. The herd is entirely self-sustaining and wild.
The summit of the Great Orme reaches 207 metres above sea level and provides a panoramic view encompassing the full sweep of Conwy Bay, the mountains of Snowdonia to the south, the Isle of Man to the northwest, the Lancashire coast to the northeast, and on clear days the mountains of the Lake District. The summit has a café, a hotel and a small visitor centre. The cable car from Happy Valley arrives at the summit in approximately 10 minutes.
There are four ways to reach the summit: (1) Great Orme Tramway from Church Walks (seasonal, charged); (2) Great Orme Cable Car from Happy Valley Road near the pier (seasonal, charged); (3) Marine Drive toll road by car or on foot (toll payable for vehicles — free on foot); (4) footpaths ascending directly from various points in Llandudno (free, 30–45 minutes). The most popular approach for visitors is the tramway from the town centre.
Excellent for families with young children. The tramway and cable car make the summit accessible without any walking. The wild goats are a reliable attraction for children. The country park has wide paths and good picnic areas. The Great Orme Copper Mines (on the headland) have specifically designed activities for children. The town of Llandudno immediately below has a traditional seaside promenade, amusements and a wide sandy beach. Allow a full day.
The Great Orme is internationally significant for its limestone grassland flora — it supports the only wild population of wild cotoneaster (Cotoneaster cambricus) in the world, growing on the north-facing limestone cliffs. The headland also hosts populations of silver-studded blue butterflies (a rare species depending on short limestone turf) and is an important seabird nesting site. Choughs are present year-round and peregrine falcons nest on the cliff faces.