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Intro: Last year (2025) we travelled down to South Wales and had our Short break based in Swansea but also travelled to Barry Island, Tenby, Carmarthen and then the Heart Of Wales line an additional stay in Shrewsbury. This year we decided to do the North of Wales. These reports will not just be about the railway trips but will include some of the things we did and ate.
After a lot of planning by the wife and myself the day arrived for our trip away. Much needed after the past few months of health issues for us both.
Starting out with a bus down to East Croydon we arrived with enough time to see the 05:40 disappear out of the end of the station. Not that phased us as we were aiming for the 06:01 which duly arrived on time.
9S00 East Croydon to St. Pancras International 700147 non winner [13m 40ch].
Rather than having a Greggs brekkie the wife wanted to get to Euston before eating so we took the walk along Euston Road. to our next departure point. I managed to get myself sorted food and drink wise easily enough but Euston didn't have what she wanted sadly. Then all too soon it was time to board our train.
1H62 Euston to Crewe 390001 winner [150m 05ch].
A few times I have travelled up to Chester the trains have arrived in to Crewe late either missing a connection or rushing to make my next train. Thankfully this one was on time in fact a minute early. Usually the Chester trains depart from platform 9 but strangely it was to depart from platform 10 no big deal but I cannot remember the last time I travelled of that platform.
1D53 Crewe to Chester 197023 winner [21m 11ch].
Looking on Real Time Trains our next train was being delayed by about 10 minutes roughly. but it seemed to be making up time on route. When it arrived it was only about 5 minutes late. The trains has a long dwell time and we left Chester about 2 mins late.
1D33 Chester to Llandudno 197125 non winner [47m 55ch].
My Nan's brother was on the railway and retired when he was relief area manager and living in Rhyl (I should really write up a history of him one of these days). Although I had been to Llandudno Junction station many yeas ago with him I'd never been to Llandudno.
The station Looks lovely despite loosing some platforms and in the 2009 having half the station building demolished (the old refreshemtns and waiting rooms). I didn't notice on the way in to the station that the signals were the old semaphore type and it has an in use signal box at the far end of the platforms.
Some of the features I liked were the original station gates at the platform entrances, the ironwork in the same area and the general feel of the station.
Unlike some seaside towns in the UK Llandudno does not look tired or shabby. The main road, Mostyn Street, has a lot of independant shops alongside the usual shops like KFC, Trespass, Mountain Wharehouse and Sainsbury's local. We stayed at the Travelodge on Gloddaeth Street wich only took us about 15 minutes to walk from the station. Less than a 2 minute walk was The Palladium a Wetherspoons. Perfect from breakfasts each day.
After a light lunch and leaving our luggage in the room we ventured to the Great Orme Tramway.
The Great Orme Tramways is amazing and I can highly recommend you give it a try. The views from the top are stunning. The trams themselves are very well looked after and worked brilliantly on the day we did it. There is a Café at the top and even a mini Golf Course (not open when we were there though). There is a little museum at the top as well.
Once back down we had a walk down and long the pier and a walk along the promenade. we headed to the hotel to sort our clothes. A Google search and we couldn't decide whether or not to have a curry so we went to The Ormo Lounge. Both of us like the Loungers as they have a good menu and are always good quality. After we headed back to the hotel for an early night. It had been a long say.