At a glance
The Conwy Valley Railway runs 27 miles from Llandudno Junction on the North Wales coast to Blaenau Ffestiniog in the mountains — one of the most scenic standard-gauge rail journeys in Britain. Journey time ~1 hour. Operated by Transport for Wales. Key stops: Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed, Dolwyddelan. Connects at Blaenau to the Ffestiniog Railway for onward travel to Porthmadog.
About the Conwy Valley Railway
The Conwy Valley Railway follows the Afon Conwy upstream from the coast at Llandudno Junction, threading through one of Snowdonia's most beautiful valleys before climbing through increasingly dramatic scenery to terminate at Blaenau Ffestiniog — the slate capital of Wales, encircled by its great tips and surrounded by mountain country. The line was completed in 1879, completing a route that had begun with the opening of the lower section to Llanrwst in 1863.
The journey takes the traveller through a complete cross-section of North Wales landscape. The lower Conwy Valley — the broad, fertile flood plain between Glan Conwy and Llanrwst — gives way to the wooded, narrower valley above Llanrwst, then to the open moorland and mountain terrain of the upper valley approaching Dolwyddelan and Blaenau. At Dolwyddelan, passengers can see the ruined tower of Dolwyddelan Castle on its rocky hill — the castle where Llywelyn the Great is traditionally said to have been born in 1173.
The line's great merit as a travel route is its connection at Blaenau with the Ffestiniog Railway. Arriving at Blaenau by Conwy Valley train and departing on the Ffestiniog steam railway for Porthmadog — or the reverse — gives a complete trans-Snowdonia rail journey through some of the finest mountain scenery in Britain. Add the Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog to Caernarfon, and an entire day's travel by rail becomes possible without retracing a single mile.
Key stops
- Llandudno Junction — Start of the line. Connects to the North Wales coast main line for trains to Chester, Manchester, Holyhead and Bangor.
- Llanrwst — The main market town of the upper Conwy Valley. Gwydir Castle is 1 mile from the station.
- Betws-y-Coed — The most popular stop — village, cafés, shops, Swallow Falls (2 miles), Conwy Falls, Fairy Glen. Allow at least half a day.
- Dolwyddelan — Dolwyddelan Castle visible from the train; village station with limited facilities.
- Blaenau Ffestiniog — Terminus. Transfer to Ffestiniog Railway, visit Llechwedd Slate Caverns, or start mountain walks in the Moelwynion.
Planning your journey
The classic rail circuit
The Conwy Valley Railway + Ffestiniog Railway circuit is one of the great railway journeys of Britain. Take the Conwy Valley train from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog (1 hour), spend time in Blaenau or at Llechwedd, then board the Ffestiniog Railway steam train for the spectacular descent to Porthmadog (1 hour 10 min). Return to Llandudno Junction by changing at Llandudno or Bangor. Allow a full day.
Getting to Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction is on the North Wales coast main line — direct trains from Chester, Manchester Piccadilly, Crewe and Holyhead. From Holyhead (Anglesey), the junction is approximately 40 minutes. The station has car parking and good facilities.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
The full journey from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog takes approximately one hour (around 55–65 minutes depending on the service). The line is 27 miles long and calls at stations including Llandudno Junction, Glan Conwy, Tal-y-Cafn, Dolgarrog, Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed, Pont-y-Pant, Dolwyddelan, and Roman Bridge before arriving at Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Betws-y-Coed is the most popular stop — the village is a short walk from the station and offers cafés, shops, walking routes and the Swallow Falls and Conwy Falls nearby. Llanrwst is also a good stop for the market town and the Gwydir Castle estate. Blaenau Ffestiniog is the terminus — ideal for connecting to the Ffestiniog Railway, visiting Llechwedd Slate Caverns, or starting mountain walks into the Moelwynion.
Yes — this is one of the classic North Wales rail connections. The Conwy Valley Railway terminates at Blaenau Ffestiniog, where the Ffestiniog Railway station is a few minutes' walk away. The Ffestiniog Railway runs south-west from Blaenau through the mountains to Porthmadog. Combining the two gives an outstanding rail circuit — Llandudno Junction to Blaenau by Conwy Valley line, Blaenau to Porthmadog by Ffestiniog Railway.
No — the Conwy Valley Railway is a standard-gauge mainline railway operated by Transport for Wales with diesel multiple unit trains. It is not a heritage steam railway. The route is however one of the most scenic rail journeys in Wales — the views of the Conwy Valley, the Snowdonia mountains and the progression from coastal lowland through oak woodland to upland slate country make it outstanding among standard mainline services.
The Conwy Valley Railway is covered by the North and Mid Wales Day Ranger pass, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland All Line Rover (if combined with connecting services), and most standard National Rail Railcards. It is operated by Transport for Wales. Check the Transport for Wales website or National Rail for current timetables, fares and pass validity.