Snowdon Mountain Railway

This is a historic Abt rack-and-pinion railway, first proposed in 1869 and built between December 1894 and February 1896 by the Snowdon Mountain Tramroad and Hotels Company. Nearly eight kilometres of toothed track climb from the valley floor to the highest point in Wales, so you gain the summit without walking a mountain path. The heritage steam carriages are accurate reconstructions built on original 1896 chassis and bogies, hauled by original Swiss steam locomotives, and modern diesel sets work the same line.

From Llanberis Station the line crosses viaducts and passes the Ceunant Mawr waterfall and Waterfall Halt, then climbs by Hebron Station with its chapel remains, Halfway Station, the bare ground of Rocky Valley, and Clogwyn Station, whose exposed platform looks over Llanberis Pass and the cliffs of Clogwyn du'r Arddu. The gradient opens out mountain, valley and distant coastal views as you rise, so the second half of the ride is the scenic payoff.

Trains arrive beside Hafod Eryri, the visitor centre opened in June 2009, with a cafe serving grab-and-go food and drink, a gift shop, and a summit post box. A short walk on foot takes you from the building to the summit cairn, and on a genuinely clear day the view can stretch as far as Ireland. The building runs without mains water or electricity: water is harvested from the roof or carried up by train, and power comes from generators, which is worth remembering when the cafe is busy.

• Steam is seasonal and weather permitting, so a heritage locomotive is never guaranteed on a given day.
• Diesel service is seasonal, and earlier in the season trains may run only as far as Clogwyn.
• Clogwyn is the highest fallback when ice or snow blocks the summit, mostly in early spring.
• In poor conditions trains can also terminate at Rocky Valley or Clogwyn. There are no toilets at those intermediate points, and passengers cannot get off at Rocky Valley.
• Time at the top is limited by your booked return, so plan the cairn walk and the cafe queue around it.

Book ahead in high season and arrive early enough to park, since the forecourt is small. Bring warm and windproof layers even in summer, because the summit is a high, exposed mountain setting that is colder and windier than Llanberis. Carry water and a snack rather than relying on the summit cafe, and check the mountain forecast the morning of your trip. There are picnic benches on the forecourt and toilets at Llanberis Station before you board.

Cloud can erase the panorama completely, and you will still ride up and back with nothing to see. Carriage window seats are shared and some seats give restricted views, so not everyone gets the full sweep. The summit can be crowded and windy, your time at the top is short, and early-season trips may stop below the summit. If you want solitude on the mountain, walk a path instead.