Llanberis Lake Railway

Take in the breathtaking scenery of Snowdonia on the Llanberis Lake Railway. Their steam engines will take you on a five-mile return journey alongside Lake Padarn, right in the heart of Snowdonia. The journey takes you past the 13th century Dolbadarn Castle, across possibly Britain’s shortest river and past Llanberis’ twin lakes. From Llanberis the train runs non-stop through the Padarn Country Park, joining the 1845 slate railway route to run along the shores of Lake Padarn to Penllyn, and giving stunning views of Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales.

There’s a short stop at Cei Llydan, a beautifully tranquil place that’s ideal for a lakeside picnic, and at Gilfach Ddu, where you can visit the National Slate Museum, watch the driver stoking the fire, the engine taking water, or spend some time in the gift shop and cafe. 

The five mile return trip takes around 60 minutes, and all advertised trains are scheduled to be hauled by one of the vintage steam engines rescued from the nearby Dinorwic slate quarries and lovingly restored.

The National Slate Museum is located in the Victorian workshops built in the shadow of Elidir mountain, site of the vast Dinorwig quarry.Here you can travel into the past of an industry and a way of life that has chiselled itself into the very being of this country.

The Workshops and Buildings are designed as though quarrymen and engineers have just put down their tools and left the courtyard for home, while an array of Talks and Demonstrations including slate-splitting give you a real insight into quarry life.