Early this month we had a week in the van in North Wales as its a few years since we've been here.
One of the main reasons for going was to ride the steam train to the top of Snowdon, so I booked early on line to make sure of seats.
Snowdon is only 180 miles away but because of the roads and traffic it takes a good 5 hours to get there, but the scenery is worth it so you might as well enjoy the journey.
Caernarvon Castle
Snowdon railway is a narrow gauge rack and pinion railway and the only one of its kind in the UK. It was built in the 1890's and based on Swiss mountain railways.
Here they are getting steam up so high anticipation.
The rack and pinion design.
The excitement of going on the steam train disappeared when they announced that it was no longer running due to the sparks causing the mountainside to catch fire, which in the heatwave is tinder dry. So we travelled on the diesel train instead.
It was a crystal clear day so there were great views on the journey and at the the top.
In the above photo you can see some of the many trails to the summit and when we were here previously we walked it with the kids.
It's very busy at the summit.[1085metres]
In the 1890's they built a cafe at the final train halt but in 2006 it was demolished and the new one below was built.
and this is what it looked like when we were here last. I remember they did a very nice and very welcome cup of hot chocolate. Not the same today as its far more commercialised.
On another day we visited the Slate Museum as North Wales was one of the largest slate producers in the UK
Its ideal walking country with superb scenery and even better when the sun is shining.
