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Vale of Ffestiniog

Valley in Merionethshire

Wales

Vale of Ffestiniog

Woodland near Bryn Mawr
Woodland near Bryn Mawr Credit: Alpin Stewart

Vale of Ffestiniog, located in the county of Merionethshire, Wales, is a stunning valley renowned for its natural beauty and rich heritage. Situated in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, this picturesque valley is surrounded by majestic mountains and lush greenery, offering a breathtaking landscape for visitors and locals alike.

The valley is named after the small town of Ffestiniog, which lies at its southern end. The town was historically known for its slate mining industry, and remnants of this can still be seen today, with old mine buildings dotting the landscape. The Ffestiniog Railway, a narrow-gauge heritage railway, is also a prominent feature of the valley, attracting railway enthusiasts from all over the world.

Vale of Ffestiniog is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide range of activities. Hiking and mountain biking trails crisscross the valley, providing opportunities to explore its natural wonders. The nearby Llyn Trawsfynydd, a large reservoir, is popular for fishing and water sports. Additionally, the valley is home to a variety of wildlife, including red kites, otters, and rare plant species, making it a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers.

The valley is also rich in history and culture. Traditional Welsh folk music can often be heard in local pubs, and the area hosts various cultural festivals throughout the year. The Welsh language is still widely spoken, adding to the unique charm of the area.

Overall, Vale of Ffestiniog is a captivating destination that combines stunning natural beauty, outdoor activities, and a rich cultural heritage, making it a must-visit location for anyone seeking an authentic Welsh experience.

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Vale of Ffestiniog Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.944698/-3.9969714 or Grid Reference SH6540. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Woodland near Bryn Mawr
Woodland near Bryn Mawr
Woodland track, Coed Llyn y Garnedd
Woodland track, Coed Llyn y Garnedd
Llyn Mair
Llyn Mair
Footbridge at Coed-y-Bleiddiau
Footbridge at Coed-y-Bleiddiau
Ffestiniog Railway above Dduallt
Ffestiniog Railway above Dduallt
Woodland by the Ffestiniog Railway
Woodland by the Ffestiniog Railway
St Twrog's Parish Church, Maentwrog
St Twrog's Parish Church, Maentwrog
Llyn Mair
Llyn Mair
A busy day at the Tea Room At Tan-y-Bwlch station on the Ffestiniog Railway.
A busy day at the Tea Room
At Tan-y-Bwlch station on the Ffestiniog Railway.
Engineer's train arriving at Tan-y-Bwlch Headed by Harlech Castle or Castell Harlech, a Baguley-Drewry locomotive was built in 1983 for service in Mozambique, but purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1988 after the order was cancelled. Used as an engineering locomotive and primarily stationed at Minffordd. It is bilingually named.
Engineer's train arriving at Tan-y-Bwlch
Headed by Harlech Castle or Castell Harlech, a Baguley-Drewry locomotive was built in 1983 for service in Mozambique, but purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1988 after the order was cancelled. Used as an engineering locomotive and primarily stationed at Minffordd. It is bilingually named.
Platform view at Tan-y-Bwlch The station masters house and the signal box on the left. There is a small exhibition hut to the right. Much forestry has taken place on the surrounding hillsides. A few minutes later a train arrived from Porthmadog and the inevitable rain started, in torrents.
Platform view at Tan-y-Bwlch
The station masters house and the signal box on the left. There is a small exhibition hut to the right. Much forestry has taken place on the surrounding hillsides. A few minutes later a train arrived from Porthmadog and the inevitable rain started, in torrents.
The newly painted footbridge at Tan-y-Bwlch A quiet day although a train from Porthmadog was due to arrive. Quieter and cooler than John H Darch's image <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6946434">SH6441 : A busy day at the Tea Room</a> and later noticeably wetter.
The newly painted footbridge at Tan-y-Bwlch
A quiet day although a train from Porthmadog was due to arrive. Quieter and cooler than John H Darch's image SH6441 : A busy day at the Tea Room and later noticeably wetter.
The cafe at Tan-y-Bwlch Covid restrictions have seen this turned into a one way system. In through the door and out through the marquee area. Very quiet at the time although a train from Porthmadog was due and on arrival it duly poured with rain sending most of the passengers under cover for a panad ('cuppa tea') or two.
The cafe at Tan-y-Bwlch
Covid restrictions have seen this turned into a one way system. In through the door and out through the marquee area. Very quiet at the time although a train from Porthmadog was due and on arrival it duly poured with rain sending most of the passengers under cover for a panad ('cuppa tea') or two.
Welsh Pony on a very wet afternoon at Tan-y-Bwlch Welsh Pony, previously numbered 5, had recently arrived from Porthmadog and was running around the train before returning. Having deposited it's passengers the train was due to return in about an hour. Meanwhile the heavens had opened and most scurried to the nearby cafe for shelter and a panad ('cuppa tea') or two. The locomotive and crew had 'parked up' under the footbridge to gain some shelter themselves. Welsh Pony was built for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867. The locomotive was out of use for a prolonged period, including time spent on a plinth in the car park at Porthmadog Harbour Station when it sadly fell into a poor state of repair. Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014 and, following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam in 2020 running on the tracks for the first time in 80 years on 27 June 2020.
Welsh Pony on a very wet afternoon at Tan-y-Bwlch
Welsh Pony, previously numbered 5, had recently arrived from Porthmadog and was running around the train before returning. Having deposited it's passengers the train was due to return in about an hour. Meanwhile the heavens had opened and most scurried to the nearby cafe for shelter and a panad ('cuppa tea') or two. The locomotive and crew had 'parked up' under the footbridge to gain some shelter themselves. Welsh Pony was built for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867. The locomotive was out of use for a prolonged period, including time spent on a plinth in the car park at Porthmadog Harbour Station when it sadly fell into a poor state of repair. Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014 and, following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam in 2020 running on the tracks for the first time in 80 years on 27 June 2020.
Tanker in the siding at Tan-y-Bwlch I'm guessing it's for weed killing.
Tanker in the siding at Tan-y-Bwlch
I'm guessing it's for weed killing.
The engineer's train at Tan-y-Bwlch It would appear to have been on a tree or hedgerow cutting exercise. Hauled by Harlech Castle or Castell Harlech, a Baguley-Drewry locomotive was built in 1983 for service in Mozambique, but purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1988 after the order was cancelled. Used as an engineering locomotive and primarily stationed at Minffordd. It is bilingually named.
The engineer's train at Tan-y-Bwlch
It would appear to have been on a tree or hedgerow cutting exercise. Hauled by Harlech Castle or Castell Harlech, a Baguley-Drewry locomotive was built in 1983 for service in Mozambique, but purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1988 after the order was cancelled. Used as an engineering locomotive and primarily stationed at Minffordd. It is bilingually named.
Welsh Pony arrives at Tan-y-Bwlch The 13.15 train from Porthmadog arrives headed by Welsh Pony, previously numbered 5. Having deposited it's passengers the train was due to return in about an hour. Meanwhile the heavens opened and most scurried to the nearby cafe for shelter and a panad ('cuppa tea') or two. Welsh Pony was built for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867. The locomotive was out of use for a prolonged period, including time spent on a plinth in the car park at Porthmadog Harbour Station when it sadly fell into a poor state of repair. Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014 and, following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam in 2020 running on the tracks for the first time in 80 years on 27 June 2020.
Welsh Pony arrives at Tan-y-Bwlch
The 13.15 train from Porthmadog arrives headed by Welsh Pony, previously numbered 5. Having deposited it's passengers the train was due to return in about an hour. Meanwhile the heavens opened and most scurried to the nearby cafe for shelter and a panad ('cuppa tea') or two. Welsh Pony was built for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867. The locomotive was out of use for a prolonged period, including time spent on a plinth in the car park at Porthmadog Harbour Station when it sadly fell into a poor state of repair. Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014 and, following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam in 2020 running on the tracks for the first time in 80 years on 27 June 2020.
A wet Welsh Pony Having deposited it's passengers the train was due to return in about an hour. Meanwhile the heavens opened and most scurried to the nearby cafe for shelter and a panad ('cuppa tea') or two. You can see the rain against the locomotive. Welsh Pony was built for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867. The locomotive was out of use for a prolonged period, including time spent on a plinth in the car park at Porthmadog Harbour Station when it sadly fell into a poor state of repair. Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014 and, following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam in 2020 running on the tracks for the first time in 80 years on 27 June 2020.
A wet Welsh Pony
Having deposited it's passengers the train was due to return in about an hour. Meanwhile the heavens opened and most scurried to the nearby cafe for shelter and a panad ('cuppa tea') or two. You can see the rain against the locomotive. Welsh Pony was built for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867. The locomotive was out of use for a prolonged period, including time spent on a plinth in the car park at Porthmadog Harbour Station when it sadly fell into a poor state of repair. Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014 and, following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam in 2020 running on the tracks for the first time in 80 years on 27 June 2020.
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Vale of Ffestiniog is located at Grid Ref: SH6540 (Lat: 52.944698, Lng: -3.9969714)

Unitary Authority: Gwynedd

Police Authority: North Wales

What 3 Words

///procures.lighter.unsettled. Near Maentwrog, Gwynedd

Nearby Locations

Coed y Plâs Coed Bryn-mawr Vale of Ffestiniog

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 52.944698,-3.9969714
Tan-y-bwlch
Is In: Gwynedd,Wales,UK
Place: hamlet
Wikidata: Q7682007
Lat/Long: 52.9485561/-3.9968493
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Created By: POI Editor
Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9408411/-3.997865
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9421511/-3.9985743
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9444068/-3.9980371
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9455441/-3.9986446
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9458373/-3.9961711
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9457438/-3.9938593
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9461626/-3.9919961
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Source: npe
Lat/Long: 52.9459792/-3.9912117
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9451359/-3.99193
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9456353/-3.99112
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9461283/-3.9903528
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9446785/-3.9928875
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9443375/-3.9937888
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9440401/-3.9944674
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9435633/-3.9960123
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9453587/-3.9948823
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.947225/-3.9967925
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 52.9464736/-3.9960151
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Direction: both
Priority: equal
Traffic Calming: choker
Lat/Long: 52.9478631/-3.9975649
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Give Way
Direction: forward
Lat/Long: 52.9488178/-3.9952553
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Bus Stop
Oakeley Arms
Naptan AtcoCode: 5400AWD70163
Naptan NaptanCode: gwnpdwt
Public Transport: platform
Shelter: yes
Lat/Long: 52.9488982/-3.996013
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Post Box
Operator: Royal Mail
Post Box Type: wall
Ref: LL41 4
Royal Cypher: EIIR
Royal Cypher Wikidata: Q33102113
Lat/Long: 52.9490322/-3.9959335
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The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Coire nam Breac Sutherland
Cowies Glen Stirlingshire

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