The Conwy Valley line runs south from Llandudno Junction through Conwy and up the river valley to Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog — a 27-mile route through some of the most scenic countryside in Wales. The railway was built in stages between 1863 and 1879 and has somehow survived every rail rationalisation since.
The journey from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog takes around an hour, with the scenery becoming increasingly dramatic as the line climbs through Snowdonia. Betws-y-Coed, roughly halfway, is the most popular stop: a walking village with good cafes and access to the Swallow Falls and the forests of the Gwydir estate. If you are not travelling with a car, the Conwy Valley line is your best route into the mountains, though services are infrequent — check timetables before going.