Although it offers you more flexibility, a car is not essential for exploring North Wales. Public transport is quite good for such a rural area but does not compare with city frequencies so you will need to plan your outings to get the best out of your holiday. If you bring your bikes on the train you’ve got your own transport for exploring the area. You can buy Rover tickets valid on local buses and/or trains.
We have local transport timetables at Graianfryn.
Walking from the house
From Graianfryn you can walk round Moel y ci (2 hours) or Moel y Rhiwen (90 minutes) both being gentle walks with fine sea and mountain views. For a more strenuous walk you could walk up to Marchlyn reservoir then tackle the steep climb to the summit of Elidir Fawr (3030 feet). Llanberis is 3 miles away: the first mile is along the road, then you can walk along the old railway line which runs the length of the lake and is now a cycle path. At Llanberis you can
- Hire a rowing boat on the lake (Llyn Padarn)
- Climb Snowdon via the Llanberis Path
- Take the Sherpa bus to the top of the pass and climb Snowdon via the Miners Track or the Pyg Track
- Ride the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the summit
- Tour the Power of Wales exhibition and the pumped storage power scheme
- View the waterfall
- Explore the Country Park and perhaps complete a circuit of the lake
- Enjoy a leisurely steam train trip along Llyn Padarn
Getting around by bus
We have bus timetables at Graianfryn.
One mile from Graianfryn is Penisarwaun village where you can catch a bus to Caernarfon, a mediaeval town by the Menai Strait with a world-famous castle (journey time 15 minutes). There’s also a service to Bangor and by changing at Bangor or Caernarfon you can get to other destinations.
Cycling
You can hire cycles in Caernarfon at Beics Menai.
Caernarfon’s a good place to start cycling from as part of the old railway line from Bangor to Afon Wen is now a cycle path. You can cycle south to Bryncir (12 miles) and possibly continue to Criccieth to see the castle and the coast. Or you could pedal along the Menai Strait then along quiet country lanes to the beach at Dinas Dinlle.
Cycling to Holyhead along some of Anglesey’s back roads which form the northern end of the Welsh National Cycle route makes a great outing. You can return the same way, devise a different return route, or put your bikes on the train as far as Bangor and cycle the seven miles from the station to Graianfryn.
We have mapped a few cycle routes from Graianfryn, maps and descriptions are at www.everytrail.com
Getting around by train
Take the bus to Bangor then use the North Wales Coast Line.
Sample timings from Bangor
| 27 minutes | Rhosneigr (Anglesey) | Sandy beaches, coastal walks |
| 8 minutes | Llanfairfechan | Hillwalking |
| 19 minutes | Conwy | Conwy Castle, World Teapot Museum, Aberconwy House, Conwy Visitor Centre, Mediaeval Town Walls, Conwy Mountain |
| 17 minutes | Llandudno Junction | Change here for the Conwy Valley Line (see below). There’s nothing else of interest |
| 24 minutes | Colwyn Bay | Beach, Promenade, Eirias Park, Welsh Mountain Zoo |
| 36 minutes | Rhyl | Brash holiday resort, childrens amusements, beach |
| 42 minutes | Prestatyn | Holiday resort with sandy beaches. Northern terminus of Offa’s Dyke long-distance footpath |
| 69 minutes | Chester | Mediaeval Walled City, Roman remains, river Dee, shops. |
Conwy Valley Line timings from Llandudno Junction
| 9 minutes | Llandudno | Elegant Victorian seaside town with pier and sandy beaches. Walk up the Great Orme or take a cable car or the Victorian tram. |
| 15 minutes | Talycafn | Bodnant Gardens (National Trust) |
| 25 minutes | North Llanrwst | Trefriw Wells Spa, Trefriw Woollen Mills |
| 32 minutes | Bettws y Coed | Conwy Falls, Swallow Falls, National Park Visitor Centre,Riverside walks, Fairy Glen |
| 57 minutes | Blaenau Ffestiniog | Llechwedd slate mines, Bounce Below & Zip World Titan. You could take the Ffestiniog Railway from here to Porthmadog and return to Graianfryn by bus via Caernarfon |