Snowdonia Wales Disused Railway Walk - Mawddach Trail
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- Snowdonia Wales Disused - Railway Walk - Mawddach Trail - Dolgellau to Barmouth Junction (Morfa Mawddach).
We take a walk down one of the most scenic disused railway lines that I know of - the former Cambrian Railways Dolgelley Branch from Dolgellau to Barmouth, via Barmouth Junction taking in some of the most beautiful views in Snowdonia North Wales.
This later became part of the Great Western Railway but faced closure as part of the Beeching cut.
The railway in Dolgellau is well and truly lost. With little to no trace of the railway in the town apart from the site of the station as a main road. We do see however an old weigh bridge which was linked to the railway.
As we leave the town, we can join the former trackbed heading alongside the River Mawddach. From here the route is excellently kept and accessible, with many features still present. From old bridges, signal box, station, telegraph poles, and an old signal post.
After a few miles walking through a tree lined cutting, we emerge at Penmaenpool. A former station, hotel and signal box by the river next to a small toll bridge. This would be the last place to cross the river by car, before the river opens out into the Mawddach Estuary. You can also stop for a bite to each and a drink at the George III hotel, which sits alongside the tracked. A great spot with great views.
We continue along the railway as it begins to hug the side of the estuary in a spectacular style. What a great journey this must have been for the travellers heading for the coast. As the estuary opens out, the scenery gets even more special and we wind our way over bridges, past rows of old telegraph poles, old railway huts and picnic tables. We eventually reach the former Arthog station as the line temporarily ventures inland to begin it's approach to Barmouth Bridge.
The end of our journey today is the current station of Morfa Mawddach. Now a single platform request stop, but at one time a busy junction with four platforms. We can see remains of the old platforms from the closed side of the station. These days, we can take advantage of the free car park and toilets. From here you can either walk over the stunning Barmouth Bridge (also known as Barmouth Viaduct) into the town, or hop on a train for the short train ride over the bridge.
**Link to Barmouth Bridge sunset walk - • Barmouth Railway Bridg...
Another cracking video, this has always been one of my favourite railway walks.
Cheers Carl.
It's a great walk isn't it.
Great video. I keep coming back to Wales .
So beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Very well presented and informative as well.
New friends here.
Glad you enjoyed it. It is a beautiful part of the world.
Great video fantastic senic views love that part of the world looking faward to the next one
Cheers Steven.
I'd love to spend longer there and film more stuff.
This was well used a line that never should have closed. I traveled this line from. Ruabon to Barmouth many times. The closure of the line from Bala to Ffestiniog plus some creative accounting was used as an excuse for closure. It was much used by local people and business commuting and shopping. People who didn’t have chance to use it will never know what a gem was lost.
Totally agree Neil. I would love to travel on that line now.
What a detour it is too. When we used to go on holiday, this line would have been ideal. Instead of having to go down to Birmingham or Shrewsbury. Wales seems to have been short changed. It's like they dont want people to go North to South either.
You only need to look at a Ordinance Survey map from the early 60’s to realise the amount of lines lost in Wales and the communities left isolated by these closures . When our local line closed I was left with a five mile each way cycle ride to get to high school.
That's a great walk. Happy memories from a few years back. Holidayed just the other side of the toll bridge. Thanks
Great stuff Paul. Fantastic area isn't it.
@@WobblyRunner Have you ever done the Precipice Walk nearby? Our boys were amazed to see jets flying below them on the valley bottom!
@@paularnold4440 is that the Mach loop?
@@WobblyRunner Think it's on the approach to the actual loop
That was a truly gorgeous walk, I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, especially as it's an old family holiday spot. Those stations were beauties and even the ones without stations had platforms still in place, wonderful. It was lovely to see Mr Robin getting up close and personal with the camera, even Gordo didn't frighten him off!!! As for the toilets I can confirm that as I approach my 60th I cannot pass a block of them without needing a visit, I'm sure it's psychological - but I don't want to take the risk as I've been caught too many times going in the bushes!!!!
Cheers Seamus. It's getting to the stage where I have to have a fluid embargo if I drive anywhere 🙂
@@WobblyRunner Tell me about it!!!
brilliant did this walk a few years ago
Great isn't it John
Another interesting video, I am always interested to see where you explore next. The upright metal posts were mileage posts. They would usually have a wooden block attached to the top with the mileage shown on them every quarter of a mile.
👍 thanks very much Peter. Mileage posts make sense🙂
Been on this walk many times a great walk I even remember seeing steam locos on it . The strange posts you mention ithink are bridge rail used for lightness on bridges. Great video.
Cheers Dave. It holds so many memories for me that line. You're so lucky to have seen steam on the line. Must have been great to see 👍
I've been to this part of Wales before. Visited Portmeirion, and the village of Fairbourne, with the narrow gauge railway in it. Not actually been to Barmouth but driven through it and gone over the toll bridge in the video.
Lovely part of the world.
So much to see around there isn't there.
All the good old pictures Paul. Would these be wot your dad developed himself. Great to retrace your child hood memories
👍. He used to develop the black and white ones, but not colour.
Beautiful scenery and everywhere is empty of people. It must have brought back lots of memories of family holidays.
Such a contrast to some of your recent walks through industrial/post industrial urban places.
It sure did bring back lots of memories.
Lovely and peaceful like you say too.
Excellent informative video! My wife and I filmed it a couple of years ago and it’s on my YT channel. A great scenic walk to do, although I’ve had a couple comments on my pronunciation of Welsh names - 😅 Cheers👍
Hi Nigel.
I watched your video a few months ago, just by chance.
There's nothing folk love more than to correct someone is there 😄
@@WobblyRunner Yep, very true! Cheers 👍
That huts made of old railway sleepers.
Crikey. I didnt even realise that at the time. Seems obvious now 😄
Gordon the global trotter looks a top adventure 👌 😎 as you know I revisited my youth in May.....TOTTENHAM..fink I will do wales nxt time looks safer.
Haha chalk and cheese Tottingam and Wales
Only thing they ever had in common is BALE.
@@mrbetamax1969 😄 good response
Need more Wobbly on tour!!! Loved it all from the reminisces to the robin. When are we doing Woodhead to see if that is more scenic? ;-)
😄 I'd still say this one wins
It must be very special :-) I loved the old pictures by the way. reminded me of our family photos from the time. I had so many garish outfits and would carefully select the 10 or so tapes to take on holiday and listen to in my knockoff walkman. Happy days
@@psychicspies673 these kids dont know how good they've got it these days with their streaming and mp3 players. But there was an art of putting together a compilation tape of your favourite songs and putting careful consideration into the order too. Thinking back, did we have to turn casettes over like a side a and side b?
the later Walkmans had auto reverse which meant you didn’t have to take out the tape and swop it around. Amazing at the time!
We always talk about Corrie and Tracy Barlow’s teenage strops…’I’m going upstairs to listen to me taapes’
How come you can pronounce Welsh names, but stick you in and around Amber Valley, in Derbyshire, and you are hopeless !! ?
😄 no idea Andy. How do you know they're right? 😉
@@WobblyRunner ...oh yes and you not too good at remembering christian names !
@@gilesestram I struggle with my wife's. She's got more annoyed than you when I called her something else.
@@WobblyRunner Actually what makes it worse for you is I usually wear a blue top on the Vids that says my name on the Front !!
@@gilesestram oh my god, I only just noticed that.