- Other Railways to Visit
- Water-based Activities
- Land-based Activities
Other railways you can visit to complete your Welsh day out
Sailing, Canoeing, Rowing and Windsurfing are available on Bala Lake. You may purchase a day permit from the Sailing Club or Lake Warden, and you may hire boating equipment from the Public Shore. No power boats are permitted on Bala Lake, except Safety boats. Fishing permits are available in town for Bala Lake and surrounding Rivers. White-water Kayaking and Rafting are available on the River Tryweryn, just 4 miles away.
The Corris Railway
2' 3" narrow gauge railway, located some 50 miles South West of Bala near Machynlleth on the A487.
Trains leave Corris Station on the hour from 11.00am. On arrival at the terminus, you are given a guided tour & talk about the sheds and railway. The return train arrives back in Corris at 10 minutes to the hour giving a round trip of approximately 50 minutes.
Ffestiniog Railway
The oldest Independent railway company in the world. The railway's HQ at Porthmadog is approx 25 miles North West of Bala.
Travel by steam through the spectacular scenery of the Snowdonia National Park, between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The Fairbourne Steam Railway
Runs between Fairbourne Village and Penrhyn Point where it connects with a ferry which takes passengers across the Afon Mawddach to Barmouth.
The full round trip takes 60 minutes and trains are normally steam hauled. Fairbourne village is located halfway between Tywyn and Dolgellau, just off the A493.
Llanberis Lake Railway
2' gauge railway which is laid alongside Llyn Padarn at Llanberis where the grand landscape and the fascinating history of the slate industry.
Llanberis is approx. 30 miles North East of Bala and is also the home of The Welsh Slate Museum, Padarn Country Park and Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Llangollen Railway
The railway has reopened a section of the former Ruabon to Barmouth route. Now a mainly Steam hauled Heritage Railway Line starting at Llangollen Station located beside the Dee River Bridge in Llangollen Town, and continuing for 7 ½ miles upstream, following the River Dee to the village of Carrog. Trains now operate at weekends for most of the year, and all week from April to October. Llangollen is 15 miles East of Bala on the A5.
The Talyllyn Railway
An historic narrow-gauge steam railway, set in the beautiful Mid-Wales countryside. Operating from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn & Nant Gwernol. The line runs for 7 ¼ miles (11.8 km) through the beautiful Fathew valley passing the delightful Dolgoch Falls and providing excellent forest walks at it's Nant Gwernol terminus.
The railways HQ is at Tywyn, which is approx 28 miles South East of Bala on the A493.
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
A 2' 6" gauge railway linking the towns of Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion, a distance of some eight miles, and just over 30 miles South East of Bala. The railway runs through attractive green countryside & on the approach to the headquarters at Llanfair shares the picturesque valley with the river Banwy, crossing it once at Banwy Bridge. You may well see deer, hawks and even otters during your journey.
The Welsh Highland Railway
Snowdonia’s newest railway. Trains currently run on a 12-mile journey from the main station in Caernarfon, overlooked by the magnificent castle, to the village of Rhyd Ddu nestling 650 feet above sea level on the slopes of Snowdon.
This is the halfway stage of this exciting project – work is in full swing on the remaining section to Porthmadog. Caernarfon is approx. 57 miles North of Bala.
Other Rail Attractions
The Great Orme Tramway, Llandudno, North Wales, has been delighting visitors since it opened on July 31st 1902. Llandudno is approx. 53 miles from Bala.
Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway, Chester a 7¼" gauge railway located only a few minutes walk from Chester's historic city centre. Chester is approx. 51 miles from Bala.
