First time I have written a none bus related outing however it still has a transport theme so hopefully interesting. Not in the North East but thought it worth sharing as its quite a unique experience in the UK.

When on a family holiday to Chester last week, I visited a number of different places including Llandudno in North Wales. This is a popular seaside destination with the usual activities found but also some things a bit different.

Of particular interest is my visit to the Great Orme Tramway. This is a tram that opened in 1902 and carries people up to the summit of the Great Orme, the trams used today are the same as in 1902 having been fully restored so visitors can enjoy the journey on a vintage tram. This is the only cable hauled tram in the UK.

When we arrived at Victoria Station (lowest level) we were greeted by a large queue however this passed fairly quickly as trams were operating at a peak time 10 minute frequency rather than the usual 20 minute frequency. Return tickets cost £8.10 for an adult which I don't think is too bad when you consider the unique experience and costs associated with restoring and maintaining the tram cars. 

We boarded the first tram (car number 4) which would take us to the halfway point. Each tram holds 48 people and as it was the school holidays, all seats were taken but no matter where you sat, there was still a great view. On our way to halfway I noticed a large number of houses on the slope, there was a narrow steep road which certainly did not look fun to drive up. As we got higher the houses slowly disappeared and the views over the bay improved.

At halfway point there is a small museum which tells you about the history of mining in the area and some information about the trams, you can also see the large tram motors.

After a brief stop at halfway we boarded tram car 6 to the summit, views were really great on this ride, the roads became fewer and we were amongst sheep fields as we approached the top.

When we got to the top, the first thing I noticed was the temperature. At sea level it was fairly warm but got steadily colder as we got higher. Most people were prepared for this with coats and hats but unfortunately I wasn't so it was quite chilly with just a T shirt. This was on a summers day so I can only imagine the temperature at winter (I later found out this is used as a ski resort during winter months).

Views from the top are stunning not only just of Llandudno but also surrounding areas, it was cloudy when I was there and even then views were great so during clear skies it must be even better.

After visiting the cafe area and taking some photos, we queued up for the tram ride back down, this time tram car 7 on the upper section and tram car 5 on the lower section. Each section needs 2 cars during peak frequency.

There are many ways to reach the summit of the Great Orme, these include walking, cycling, cable car or even the Arriva 26 bus route but I think that in this case the tram wins.

Overall I really enjoyed this experience. I would recommend if anyone is in the area. Just remember whatever the weather at sea level, always take a coat!

Thanks for reading

Great Orme Tramway - Llandudno by Pulsar Photos, on Flickr