Welsh Highland Railway How to Get There

Getting to Caernarfon by public transport

Getting to the railway by road

• From England: A55 Expressway from Chester to beyond Bangor; turn off at the second Bangor turn (A4087, also signposted for Caernarfon) and bear left following signs to Caernarfon via the A487.
• From mid-Wales: follow the A470, keeping straight on when it becomes the A487 for Porthmadog and Caernarfon. As an alternative beyond Porthmadog, turn right at Tremadog for Beddgelert (A498 - A4085) and then Caernarfon; although this route can be slower (particularly in Summer, when Beddgelert can be a bottleneck), it runs close to much of the route of the WHR. If using this route, follow signs for Porthmadog and Pwllheli rather than "town centre" on arrival in Caernarfon, for the easiest route to the station (see below). This route is also convenient for joining the train at Rhyd Ddu, Snowdon Ranger or Waunfawr rather than Caernarfon (see below).
• From the Lleyn Peninsula: take the A499 Pwllheli-Caernarfon road (joins the A487 shortly before Dinas). This route is also convenient for joining the train at Dinas rather than Caernarfon (see below).
• From Holyhead or Anglesey: follow the A55 Expressway across the Britannia Bridge, take the first exit and turn right at the roundabout, following signs to Caernarfon via the A487.

The most convenient approach in Caernarfon is directly from the A487 to St. Helen's Road, where the station is. From the Bangor/Anglesey end, follow the A487 through the town, filtering for Porthmadog or Pwllheli, and then turning right at the roundabout past the Tesco supermarket. If approaching from the Porthmadog/Lleyn side, turn left at this roundabout, at the entrance to the town (follow brown tourist signs to the station; also signposted for the Castle, etc.). Once the harbour and Castle are in view, look out for the station on the right. Tourist signs indicate routes to the station on all main approaches to the town, and also in the town centre.

Alternatively the road through the old rail tunnel under Castle Square (Twnel Tan y Maes) can be approached from the north (not open to pedestrians) from roads signposted for Victoria Dock and A487 (South), and emerges at a mini-roundabout adjacent to the station.

Car parking is available at the station, with more nearby on the Slate Quay (under the Castle walls). There is also a multi-storey car park adjacent to the bus station, entered from the roundabout reached by the "Town Centre" slip roads from the A487. A further large car park is sited on the Bangor side of town (approx. 10 minutes walk through the walled town, or along the shore via Victoria Dock, past the outside of the town walls, and past the Castle). 

Bontnewydd Halt is located on the Lôn Eifion cycle path two miles south of Caernarfon. From Bontnewydd village, it is approached from the minor road which leaves the A487 by the chip shop, on the right if travelling from Caernarfon, and signposted for Lôn Eifion. At the edge of the village, the road passes under the railway bridge, beside which a path leads up to the halt.

Dinas Station is close to the A487 three miles south of Caernarfon. The village is on the A487 but is not properly signposted; however the road leading from the main road in the village to the station is signposted for Dinas and Saron, with a further sign for the Lôn Eifion cycle path. If coming from Caernarfon the turn is on the right, before the garage and outdoor/camping shop on the same side of the road. Then take a further right turn almost immediately (though not the first turn) and the station is visible directly ahead, and is signposted.

Waunfawr Station is on the A4085 four miles south-east of Caernarfon, or eight miles north-west of Beddgelert. The station is a short distance past the Beddgelert end of Waunfawr village, close to the narrow river bridge. Access is from the car park, which is shared with the Snowdonia Parc Hotel, road entrance at the Beddgelert side of the hotel.

Plas y Nant Halt is close to the A4085 at the Beddgelert end of Betws Garmon village (where the 30mph limit starts/ends), and is reached via a path adjacent to the southern end of the layby opposite the drive to Plas y Nant.

Snowdon Ranger Halt is adjacent to the A4085 about seven miles from Caernarfon, or six miles from Beddgelert. There is a car park (pay and display) across the road from the youth hostel. The halt is reached from the uphill footpath by the Caernarfon side of the youth hostel, opposite the bus stop (gate or stile), turn right when you reach the railway.

Rhyd Ddu Station is reached through the car park (pay and display) at the southern end of the village, on the A4085 nine miles from Caernarfon or three and a half miles from Beddgelert. If approaching from the Penygroes/Nantlle direction on the B4418, turn right at the T-junction in Rhyd Ddu.

Meillionen Forest Camp Site Halt is located within Beddgelert Forest Campsite, on the western side of the site. Access is pedestrian only; please note that only vehicles registered with the site reception may stop within the Campsite, which is private property.

Beddgelert Station is on the western side of the village, not far from Canolfan Hebog (the tourist information centre) and the Royal Goat Hotel. Access is by paths (one with steps, one suitable for lower mobility) from the main village pay and display car park. Please note that parking availability in Beddgelert can be very limited; please consider making Beddgelert a destination to arrive at by WHR train rather than by car, or coming by public transport. The Snowdon Sherpa buses serve all routes to Beddgelert; and from July 20th - September 5th 2009 the Monday-Saturday open-top bus service 197 connects Beddgelert Station with the Ffestiniog Railway's Porthmadog Harbour Station. See Cyngor Gwynedd Council's Bws Gwynedd site for all details of bus services; this page from John Bird's unofficial Snowdon Sherpa site may also be of use.

Hafod y Llyn Loop is adjacent to a public footpath and bridleway, but there will be no access to or from trains here.