UK’s most picturesque railway line with waterfalls and castles finally reopens to passengers

One of the most scenic railway journeys in Britain is now carrying passengers again after reopening to the public.

This hidden gem winds its way through the stunning valleys near Blaenau Ffestiniog, passes along a wildlife rich estuary and follows rolling hills and dramatic rock faces in this beautiful part of North West Wales.

Even though the route is only 26 miles long between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, the trip takes more than an hour.

Photo © Gerald England (cc-by-sa/2.0)

This is because the track twists and climbs through the impressive mountains and wild landscapes of Snowdonia National Park.

While the railway is mainly used by local people and commuters, it has also become very popular with train fans.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: "The line from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno is incredibly scenic, and if you want a rail journey in Snowdonia this is up there with the heritage narrow gauge lines."

In a discussion about the most beautiful railway routes in Britain, one rail enthusiast said: "How has nobody mentioned the Conwy Valley? It is absolutely spectacular and fits more into an hour than some routes do in four.

One of the best little trips in the UK is a loop of Chester, Llandudno Junction, Blaenau, Porthmadog, Machynlleth, Shrewsbury and back to Chester, although you may need to use a bus for part of it at the moment.", according to the Express.

Photo © Peter Whatley (cc-by-sa/2.0)

The Conwy Valley Line reopened to passengers on Monday 27 October after a month of non stop engineering work by Network Rail, as part of a £1.4 million project to make the railway stronger against extreme weather.

Over the past four weeks, teams have worked along the scenic valley cutting down unsafe trees and clearing 600,000 square metres of thick vegetation across 54 miles of track.

This large scale work is designed to prevent fallen trees from blocking the line during future storms.

Engineers are also trying out a new and modern method to deal with the long standing problem of leaves on the railway line.

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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