Here at the Black Boy Inn we pride ourselves entirely on providing our guests with the best accommodation and dining experiences. You should know, we are well-established for our traditionally Welsh environment; from our local ales to our locally sourced food, to our knowledgeable and friendly staff. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by a stunning Welsh backdrop with rolling hills filled with many historic landmarks and activities, all of which we encourage our guests to explore!
The Welsh Highland Railway is an exciting venture that embarks in our home town of Caernarfon, taking you through the beautiful scenery of the Snowdonia National Park. The railway is, in fact, the UKs longest heritage line that operates the world’s most powerful narrow gauge steam locomotives – a real piece of history. The WHR provides a very comfortable ride in high-quality carriages, and even offers on-train refreshments and freshly cooked food delivered to your seat. So all you need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
This magical 25 mile journey runs past the foot of the spectacular Mt. Snowdon, passing through the picturesque Beddgelert, resting place of Gelert the legendary “faithful hound” owned by Llywelyn the Great. In the legend, the hound is killed by his master after Llywelyn returns home to a missing son and a bloodied Gelert. Upon killing him, Llywelyn hears his son’s cries and finds him under his cot, next to a wolf that Gelert had previously fought and killed; to save the child. The grave is available to the public to visit, and with its many boutique-style shops and cafes, the village itself is perfect for exploring!
After Beddgelert, the train zigzags dramatically through the gorgeous Aberglaslyn Pass which boasts dramatic views, then onto the Porthmadog Harbour Station, a fairly new station with greatly improved passenger facilities. Here it is possible to interchange with the Ffestiniog Railway; the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway with nearly 200 years of history, which takes you to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau ffestiniog.
The Welsh Highland Railway operates daily during July and August and weekly throughout September – October. A full return takes 5 hours, however shorter journeys are available.
For more information on operation times and prices, visit the Welsh Highlands Railway website.
Image Credit: Peter Trimming – Welsh Highland Railway