At a glance
Llanberis Lake Railway (LL55 4TY) is a 597mm narrow gauge steam railway running 2 miles along Llyn Padarn — Snowdon views throughout. Adult ~£10 return, child ~£7. Seasonal (Easter–October). 25 min each way. Next to the National Slate Museum. Ideal for young families. Combine with Electric Mountain and Snowdon Mountain Railway for a full Llanberis day.
About the Llanberis Lake Railway
The Llanberis Lake Railway runs along the trackbed of the historic Padarn Railway — the 4-foot gauge industrial line that transported Dinorwig slate from quarry face to port from 1843 until the quarry's closure in 1969. The preserved narrow gauge railway, established in 1971, uses a narrower gauge than the original Padarn line but follows much the same route along Llyn Padarn's southern shore.
The journey offers a particular quality of view that is rare on any railway: the lake on one side, Snowdon across the water, and the dramatic terraced landscape of the former Dinorwig Quarry — one of the largest slate quarries in the world — rising on the other. Deep inside the mountain above the quarry, the Dinorwig hydroelectric power station (Electric Mountain) can store and release enormous amounts of electricity within seconds, acting as a giant battery for the National Grid. The contrast between the gentle Victorian-era narrow gauge railway below and the 21st-century engineering within the mountain above is one of the more striking juxtapositions in Snowdonia.
The railway starts immediately adjacent to the National Slate Museum (free entry, Welsh Government), which occupies the former workshops of the Dinorwig Quarry — the largest surviving slate quarry workshop complex in Wales. A day that combines the museum, the railway and Electric Mountain tours covers the full arc of Llanberis's extraordinary industrial heritage in a manageable, family-friendly package.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
The Llanberis Lake Railway is a narrow gauge (597mm, 1ft 11½in) steam railway running 2 miles along the southern shore of Llyn Padarn from Llanberis station (near the National Slate Museum) to Penllyn station at the far end of the lake. It was established in 1971 on part of the trackbed of the former Padarn Railway — the 4ft gauge railway that transported slate from the Dinorwig Quarry to Port Dinorwig on the Menai Strait from 1843 to 1961.
The views from the railway are outstanding for such a short journey. From the lake-facing side of the train, Llyn Padarn stretches ahead with Snowdon's massive profile reflected in the water on still days. On the landward side, the extraordinary terraced landscape of the Dinorwig Quarry rises above — the largest slate quarry in the world at its peak, now the site of the Dinorwig hydroelectric power station inside the mountain. The National Slate Museum is at the railway's starting point.
The two railways are very different experiences. The Snowdon Mountain Railway (rack and pinion) climbs 900m to the summit of Snowdon in about an hour — dramatic but sometimes crowded and weather-dependent. The Llanberis Lake Railway is flat, gentle and 25 minutes each way — ideal for younger children and those who want a relaxed introduction to Llanberis's attractions. Both start from Llanberis village and can be combined in a full day.
The Llanberis Lake Railway uses a fleet of small narrow gauge steam locomotives, some of which came from the Dinorwig Quarry railway system originally. The quarry railway used a variety of small Hunslet-built locomotives that were purpose-designed for narrow gauge industrial use. Several of these historic quarry engines have been restored to working order and run on the lake railway today.
Yes — the Llanberis Lake Railway is one of the best family railway experiences in Snowdonia for young children. The trains are small and intimate, the journey is short enough for young attention spans, the lake views are captivating, and the starting point next to the National Slate Museum makes it easy to combine activities. Unlike the Snowdon Mountain Railway, there is no concern about altitude, weather or scrambling children — it is straightforwardly enjoyable for families with small children.