09.00          Llanfairpwllgwyngyll…Railway Station

We depart our hotel after breakfast with a packed lunch and visit the railway station with the longest name in the world.

10.00          Caernarfon Walkabout

Mighty Caernarfon is possibly the most famous of Wales's castles.  Begun in 1283,  Caernarfon was constructed not only as a military stronghold but also as a seat of government and a royal palace.

The castle's majestic personality is no architectural accident: it was designed to echo the walls of Constantinople, the imperial power of Rome and the dream castle, 'the fairest that ever man saw', of Welsh myth and legend.  After all these years Caernarfon's immense strength remains unchanged.

Standing at the mouth of the Seiont river, the fortress (with its unique polygonal towers, intimidating battlements and colour banded masonry) dominates the walled town also founded by Edward I.  Caernarfon's symbolic status was emphasized when Edward made sure that his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284. 

History comes alive at Caernarfon in so many ways - along the lofty wall walks, beneath the twin-towered gatehouse and within imaginative exhibitions located within the towers.

11.30          Llanberis Welsh Slate Museum

We visit the Llanberis Welsh Slate Museum.

15.00          Snowdon Mountain Railway

The railway was built at the end of the 19th century, first opening to passengers on 6th April 1896.   It is laid on the North Western slopes of Snowdon and climbs 3140 ft. in it's 4 5/8 mile journey from Llanberis to Summit Station located just 66ft below the summit of Snowdon itself.

We will travel by the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the summit of majestic Snowdon. This masterpiece of Victorian engineering is the only rack and pinion railway in Britain and by far the highest, climbing 1,085 metres to the peak of Snowdon.  The railway is a legend in itself and is a memorable way to discover the secret of Snowdonia, a land intrinsically rugged and wild, unique in character, culture, history and myth.

The idea of a mountain railway to the summit of Snowdon was conceived in the second half of the 19th century.  The railway is laid on the north-western slopes of Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales at 3,560 ft above sea level.  The upper terminus is just below the Summit at 3,494 ft above sea level and 3,140 ft above Llanberis Station.  The trains cover the 4 5/8 miles to the summit in approximately 1 hour.  Most passenger trains comprise a locomotive and one coach with a capacity of 59 passengers.  The loco runs chimney first up the mountain pushing the coach in front.