Portmeirion and the Railways of Snowdonia

Day 1 Thursday 30 May (D*)

Portmeirion

It is possible to travel to Minffordd by rail for included transfer to Portmeirion or make your own way by car to the village. In the evening a welcome gourmet meal in a private dining room at the hotel, with a talk on the history of Portmeirion by a member of the management team.

Tudor Lodge
For a cheaper option than staying at Portmeirion we have a few rooms at the Tudor Lodge in Porthmadog with breakfast each morning. Dinners are included at Talyllyn on Friday, Spooner’s on the Sunday, and (if you are taking the add-on) on the Wednesday.

Own Accommodation

Subject to numbers we offer a few places on this tour for those wanting to arrange their own accommodation (and breakfast). Dinners are included at Talyllyn on Friday, Spooner’s on the Sunday, and (if you are taking the add-on) on the Wednesday.

Day 2 Friday 31 May (B, D)

Morning at leisure to enjoy Portmeirion Village gardens and parkland. Option to travel by Cambrian railway or coach to Tywyn to join an afternoon charter train on the Talyllyn Railway – the world’s first preserved line – utilising the original Victorian stock and steam engines dating from 1869 on a return trip to Nant Gwernol with photographic run passes. During the journey we will have a guided tour of the workshops at Pendre and on returning to Tywyn drinks in the renowned Narrow Gauge Railway Museum and an evening meal at the railway with the general manager as an after dinner speaker to talk about the Talyllyn. Return to Portmeirion. Those not staying at Portmeirion your holiday price includes entrance to Portmeirion today with transfer to/from Porthmadog.

Day 3 Saturday 1 June (B, D*)

In the morning travel on a heritage steam hauled train up Snowdon (please note that in 2022 the train is only going up 3/4 of the way and not to the summit). This is a unique rack railway first opened in 1896. After a short time at the summit we return to Llanberis where we next visit the National Slate Museum. There are lunch facilities at the Museum. After lunch we visit the nearby Llanberis Lake Railway for a return trip along the line and a planned tour of the loco department and workshop. In the evening we have a private gourmet dinner at Castell Deudraeth on the Portmeirion estate with wine tasting.

Day 4 Sunday 2 June (B, L, D)

An early morning departure to join PTG’s special charter* train travelling on both the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways – 80 miles of scenic narrow-gauge wonder. Our train will be hauled by two Ffestiniog steam locomotives (subject to availability). For those staying in Portmeirion we have exclusive reserved seating in the luxury observation coach with champagne and croissants. Our first stop after departing Porthmadog will be the workshops at Boston Lodge (optional) for a visit to see the amazing collection of vintage steam locomotives and carriages before we return to Porthmadog and on the Welsh Highland Railway through Beddgelert and the spectacular scenery of Snowdonia before arriving in Caernarfon. After a short break we return to Beddgelert for a break before returning to Porthmadog to join the world famous Ffestiniog Railway. We change locomotives in Porthmadog to, hopefully, two original 1860’s “England” locomotives – Prince and Palmerston. We journey up the line with its spectacular views to Blaenau Ffestiniog. On return to Porthmadog we have a private dinner in Spooner’s restaurant with after dinner speakers to talk about both Railways. Return to Portmeirion.

 

National Trust add-on

Day 5 Monday 3 June (B,D*)

A day devoted to seeing the work of the National Trust in Snowdonia. After a leisurely breakfast we join our executive coach travelling to Llandudno to ride the historic tramway up the Great Orme. Here we will meet with the National Trust ranger for a talk on the plans for Great Orme, which has recently been acquired by the Trust. We then proceed to Penrhyn Castle near Bangor for a private tour of the extensive rail museum and the option to either remain in the museum at leisure or join a conducted tour of the house. After time for lunch in the restaurant at the castle you will then have the choice of being transferred to travel on the Conway Valley Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog or visit the National Trust’s spectacular and world renowned Bodnant Gardens for a conducted tour by the head gardener which will include access to a new part of the gardens not open to the public. The party will rendezvous back at Blaenau Ffestiniog for onward transfer to Portmeirion/Porthmadog. For those staying at Portmeirion in the evening we have a private.

 

Day 6 Tuesday 4 June (B, D)

An opportunity to enjoy Portmeirion village before a later morning departure to the Llangollen standard gauge steam railway where we plan to traverse the full line including the newly opened section to Corwen. After some free time in Llangollen we will take a horse drawn trip along a quiet section of the Llangollen canal. We dine in a unique Victorian hotel on our way back to Portmeirion.

After some free time in Llangollen we will take a horse drawn trip along a quiet section of the Llangollen canal. We dine in a unique Victorian hotel on our way back to Portmeirion.

Day 7 Wednesday 5 June (B)

Travel along the coastal route by coach to Aberystwyth with time to explore the town before for a return journey steam hauled on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. We will have a tour of the brand-new locomotive facilities and museum before we return to Portmeirion.

Day 8 Thursday 6 June (B)

Morning departure from the hotels (included transfers to Minffordd from Portmeirion) on the train to Shrewsbury and on to Birmingham New Street and London Euston or depart at leisure in your own transport.

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