Top 5 stations in Wales
When ever I do a Q&A on Twitter one of the questions I always get is "Which is your favourite station so far?" It is very tough to choose a top 10 nationwide... So I have decided to split it up into a collection of Top 5's...
It's time to head to the land that they call Wales, although this top 5 should probably be called 'Top 5 in North Wales' as I have been to only three stations in South Wales... Anyway, on with the countdown.
5. Conwy
Station: Conwy
Line: North Wales Coast Line
Managed By: Transport For Wales
A station within a castle, I mean for that alone meant it had to be included in my top 5! If you think the station is in a lovely setting, take a walk around the local area and your in for a shock. Even more beauty!
I first visited this station when on a planned trip to visit the North Wales Coast Line and Anglesey. I even stayed in Conwy. I quite often try to stay in places that interest me, it allows me time to visit the area. I stayed at the YHA accommodation which was only a 15 minute walk from the station, all be it all uphill.
Sadly this station is very poorly served due to Covid restrictions, only 2 carriage trains can stop here. Which makes me wonder, would it be possible to lengthen the platforms here? or even relocate to allow for longer trains to call here. Such a tourist destination surly justifies it???
4. Bodorgan
Station: Bodorgan
Line: North Wales Coast Line
Managed By: Transport for Wales
Like old stations signs? like old station buildings? like barrow crossings? like remote stations? Then this is the station for you. This station was a complete surprise to me. Having done very little research on this line before travelling I really didn't know what to expect.
I remember the day well. My previous two stations included a walk between Ty Croes & Rhosneigr which took me much longer than I had expected. This meant I missed the train I was meant to be boarding at Rhosneigr. So I had to head north again to Holyhead and then back down to Bodorgan. I was rather fed up by the time I alighted at Bodorgan. That mood soon changed when I had a look about the station. It was lovely. It was everything I like about rural stations.
Then to just make the station visit totally complete, the sunset was absolutely terrific! Memorable is an understatement!
3. Pont-y-Pant
Station: Pont-y-Pant
Line: Conwy Valley Line
Managed By: Transport for Wales
The Conwy Valley Line is in a league of its own when it comes to branch lines in Great Britain. In a top 10, 6-10 could easily all be stations from this line. It's a credit to the rest of North Wales that this is the only station on the line to make the top 5.
This was a lovely day, after visiting both the stations in Llanrwst I then boarded a bus that would take me down towards Pont-y-Pant. The bus drops off about a 15 minute walk from the station. Down a narrow country lane this was just beautiful, with the river flowing to the right it really was very tranquil and relaxing.
When I arrived at the station I decided to just sit on one of the lovely benches and read a book while enjoying the sounds of the Conwy Valley.
2. Tygwyn
Station: Tygwyn
Line: Cambrian Coast Line
Managed By: Transport For Wales
Some stations wow you with beauty, some stations amaze you with their location, some stations impress you by their facilities and some simply just leave you jaw dropping amazed... Tygwyn ticks every single box on this list!
Visiting this station was definitely a highlight for me, I boarded at Abererch and immediately put my request in for Tygwyn. The guard was less than impressed, me requesting Tygwyn meant that he now had a request for every single request stop on the line. I guess for guards on the Cambrian Coast its the same as when guards have to stop at every request stop on the Cumbrian Coast.
After I had eaten my lunch in the shelter I headed to the road end to catch the bus to my next station, coincidentally that was the next station in this countdown...
1. Llanaber
Station: Llanaber
Line: Cambrian Coast Line
Managed By: Transport for Wales
It's Just perfection. Simple perfection, When you think of places to go where you cannot be disturbed for hours on end you really need to add Llanaber to the very top of the list. Crashing waves, birds singing, wind howling, trains few and far between. It is simply heaven on earth.
After visiting Tygwyn I took the short walk down the lane and caught a bus which was destined for Barmouth. I wouldn't be going all the way to Barmouth, or I wasn't meant to I should say. Despite me ringing the bell for the nearest bus stop to Llanaber station the driver decided to have a death moment and drove straight past. Despite me getting up and going to the front of the bus the driver would not stop until the next stop, on the outskirts of Barmouth. Meaning a hefty walk back up the hill.
Having done very little research on this line I was not prepared for the beauty that was to meet me at the end of the footpath to the station. At this point I was cursing the bus driver as my hour fester I had at Llanaber now had been cut to only 25 minutes. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of it. I will be back again, just try and stop me!
