No visit to North Wales would be complete without a ride on one of the Great Little Trains of Wales. The Llanberis Lake Railway offers unrivalled views of the mountains of Snowdonia from viewpoints quite inaccessible by road.

Starting at Gilfach Ddu station in the Padarn Country Park, the trip begins with a ride on the recently opened extension up to Llanberis Village, passing the Welsh Slate Museum and historic Dolbadarn Castle on the way.

On a clear day magnificent views across Peris Lake to the Llanberis Pass open up.

Llanberis Station is a convenient stopping off place for the shops, hotels and restaurants of the village, as well as the Snowdon Mountain Railway and Electric Mountain Visitor Centre. From here the train runs non-stop back through the Padarn Country Park and along the shore of Padarn Lake (Llyn Padarn) to the terminus at Penllyn. Due to limited access, it is advisable to stay on the train here and enjoy the views. The train makes a short stop at Cei Llydan on the homeward run. You may break your journey here for a lakeside picnic or to visit the nearby Cwm Derwen Woodland Centre and catch a later train back to Gilfach Ddu. The complete trip takes around 60 minutes if you decide to stay on the train.

The station cafeteria at Gilfach Ddu is open when trains are running from Easter to October and the recently extended souvenir shop offers a wide selection of goods for all the family.