Contact - Snowdon Sherpa

Links to official websites
and contact details

Snowdon Sherpa Bus Timetables

This is an unofficial website
To contact the WEBMASTER please e-mail here
please do so if you spot any error, so it can be quickly corrected for the benefit of other visitors !

Whilst this website is kept fully up-to-date with all alterations advised to the webmaster
latest times should always be confirmed from official council sources, such as.......
(click on any logo to go to that website)

on the official

No printed copies

WINTER
Their website has been updated to show the revised winter "S2" "S4" and "S97" Sherpa timetables which commenced on 4th November --- the weekend "S1" and "S6" services have been WITHDRAWN for the winter
There is the usual "halving" of the "S2" service for the winter and the timetables for the "S4" and "S97 routes are further amended including the WITHDRAWAL of two journeys in each direction through the Nant Gwynant Pass

BEWARE
Unfotunately Gwynedd CC still insist on specifying a 'zero' minute call at Beddgelert when some Sherpa journeys continue to Caernarfon, Pen-y-Pass or Porthmadog even when the route number changes en-route
Although following the November changes some journeys now stand five minutes at Beddgelert so they are picked up by the 'automatic' minimum five minutes required by the Traveline Cymru "Journey Planner," several others don't, so you end up being advised to travel on an earlier journey and to hang around in the cold - sometimes for hours - for the next one !!!

This website is the ONLY one which clearly shows the throughout journey - look for a "double" route number (eg "S4-S97" or "S97-S4")
Don't be tempted to alight from any Sherpa at Beddgelert without first confirming with the driver
I have received several reports of passengers alighting, then by the time they realised it was the same bus they should have been on - it had gone !

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

website

BEWARE
The LAST "S97-S4-S2" SUNDAY journey from Porthmadog to
Betws-y-Coed via Pen-y-Pass now departs VERY early at 1355
If you miss it and need to get back to Betws-y-Coed (or beyond) there
are alternative later "1S-X19 or train" non-Sherpa connecting services at 1640 and 1840 via Blaenau Ffestiniog (note - the latter involves a train
from Blaenau Ffestiniog)

UPDATE
Gwynfor took over the "85" weekday and Sunday service from Arriva
BEWARE - The level of weekday "85" connecting journeys from and back to Bangor was reduced with all evening journeys withdrawn as an economy measure
Evening journeys now require you to take a taxi betyween Llanberis and Caernarfon or v.v.

UPDATE
Dilwyns is now operating the "88" Sunday service
BEWARE
..........the last journeys were ADVANCED to 1645 from Llanberis* and 1820 from Caernarfon
* - there WAS a later Sunday "S2" journey from Llanberis at 1920 DURING THE SUMMER ONLY - but even then it was NOT included on their Table "88" to match the early-morning outward journey

on the official

printed
copies dated July 2019 are still available
BUT make sure you also pick up the replacment sheets from September

BEWARE
Their departure sheet at Betws-y-Coed Railway Station (Platforn "2" bus lay-by) continue to show the 'out-of-date' full summer "S2" Sherpa departures..........
..........meaning several journeys show NO LONGER OPERATE
You are STRONGLY advised to IGNORE the information on their website and confirm the latest Sherpa services from either the Gwunedd CC or TravelineCymru websites

BEWARE
The majority of bus departure sheets throughout the Conwy CC area were updated in January 2019 BUT MOST ARE NOW OUT OF DATE as a result of numerous subsequent changes to the services now operating

website

WINTER
Their website has NOT YET been updated to show the reduced level of the winter "S2" Sherpa service from Betws-y-Coed to Pen-y-Pass (for the "S4" to Beddgelert) and Llanberis (for the "88" to Caernarfon) and return.....
.....click here for details of the journeys still operating along with a note advising those which no longer operate

CONWY VALLEY CONNECTIONS
The links to the Conwy Valley "19-X19" bus also the Conwy Valley connecting train services are OUT OF DATE as some services were further amended in September 2019.....
.....click here for details of the journeys which are currently operating along with the "S2" Sherpa connections from Betws-y-Coed and return

"S4" BEDDGELERT CONNECTIONS
Gwynedd CC have agreed cuts to the level of "S4" journeys between Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert and v.v.
These greatly restrict the opportunities for Conwy CC area passengers to visit Beddgelert or Porthmadog via Pen-y-Pass and the Nant Gwynant Pass
BEWARE
The former return connecting journeys from Beddgelert at 1405 and 1745 have been WITHDRAWN leaving just one return afternoon "S4" journey at 1612
.....click here for details of the limited outward connecting journeys and here for the even moire restrictive return connecting journeys

on the official

printed copies
are available

IGNORE Table "70" as it is now well out of date (it shows the position immediately after the demise of GHA well over two and a half years ago)
Most critical - there are no longer any Friday journeys..........
..........also the detailed times of several Tuesday and Saturday journeys have altered - a change of vehicle is now necessary when continuing to Llandudno
The updated TIMES can be confirmed from the official TravelineCymru or Llew Jones websites

UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!
Not only did these errors apply to their three 2017 editions and again to their two 2018 editions - but the same 'out-of-date' timetable has yet again been included in their February 2019 version

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

website

UPDATE
There have been numerous changes to many services in the area
Most important are the revised "12" and "13" times - some of which provide a connection into and out of the Sherpa network via Llandudno or Llandudno Junction (station)
If you have already saved a copy of ANY of their tables, make sure you have downloaded the correct version - if in doubt DELETE it and start again
..........and confirm from the Arriva bus website ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT !

alternatively try

No printed copies

IMPORTANT
Their "Journey Planner" requires minimum of five minutes for a connection at any location - this also applies when there is a 'through journey' - often the case at Beddgelert where the Sherpa route number changes
- eg ["S4"-"S97"] or ["S97"-"S4"]
A similar situation applies on the altertnative later evening ["5C"-"5"] journeys from Caernarfon to Llandudno via Bangor
Unfotunately in these cases they automatically advise you to travel an earlier journey and to hang around - sometimes for hours - for the next one !!! (althouigh "some" - but not all - options have since been manually updated)
This website is the only one which gives an appropriate note on the individual timetable pages to show when to remain on the Sherpa to get to your destination quicker

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

"the" official public transport website

PLEASE NOTE
There was a reduction in the level of "88" Monday to Friday connecting journeys after this Friday (19th May) which has now been updated

UPDATE
Dilwyns have made major mid-season changes to the times of some Sunday journeys from 14th July 2019
BEWARE - The last journeys have been ADVANCED to
1645 from Llanberis* and 1820 from Caernarfon
* - there is a later Gwynfor summer only Sunday "S2" journey from Llanberis but this is NOT shown on their Table "88"

UPDATE
Llew Jones has made major mid-season changes to the times of both their "19" and "X19" journeys from 22nd July 2019 and again in September
BEWARE - The some journeys have been ADVANCED

or the official

Unlike several other
operators in the area,
they do not produce
any printed copies

SUMMER
Gwynfor have registered changes for all their Sherpa services on the GOV.UK website (posted 11th February) to come into effect on Saturday 4th April 2020
Unfortunately - so far - none of this information has appeared on their website pages - despite people wanting to plan ahead for their Easter Holidays !

WINTER
Their website Timetable Page "links" have been updated - now directly linking to the relevant Gwynedd CC website tables
- see also this website for composite times and more important it also identifies which journeys are no longer operating during the winter

phone:
01248 722 694

PLEASE NOTE
They have also reduced the level of their "S4" weekday journeys between Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert
As well as suspending the additional summer early-evening journeys for the winter, they have also withdrawn the early-afternoon round trip leaving only one afternoon journey in each direction
DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT !

IMPORTANT
Please note Gwynfor have temporarily SUSPENDED their "S2" Sherpa service between Betws-y-Coed and Llanberis "until further notice"
All other Sherpa routes continue to operate to the advertised Winter Timetable

website
This company is now operating the whole of the Sherpa network
following a slight easement of running times in the critical sections..........
summer weekend "S1"
all-year-round "S2"
all-year-round "S4"
summer weekend "S6"
and the all-year-round "S97"
They also operate also the......
weekday and Sunday "85" connecting journeys from Bangor
weekday "88" connecting journeys from Caernarfon
and the Sunday "2" connecting journeys from Barmouth

BEWARE........
Even now, their "S4" and "S97" timetable pages fail to show many journeys on arrival at Beddgelert immediately continue onto Porthmadog or Caernarfon respectivcely after changhing their route number
IGNORE the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner" advice to wait around in the cold for the following journey - generated automatiocally when the standing time at Beddgelert is less than 5 minutes, even it is the same bus !!!!!
This website unlike ANY official one is unique in that it gives a note on the individual timetable pages to show when to remain on the Sherpa to get to your destination earlier - so don't alight and let the bus go, only to find you should have stayed on !!!!!
eg ["S4"-"S97"] or ["S97"-"S4"]

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

PLEASE NOTE
Some 'day-to-day' information can be found here

or the official

BEWARE

The former Arriva Wales booklets for the North Wales and Cambrian Coasts have simply been reprinted with a new cover
To find a "Transport for Wales" journey you must look for a train still showing AW (for Arriva Wales)
- surprisingly this is still the case with the new winter timnetables !!!
Most worrying summer dated services - which finished before TforW took over - are still shown !!!!
Alternatively use their own 'journey planner' to confirm times providing you already know when and where you want to go !!!

train website
All local train services throughout Wales are now operated
by the KeolisAmey of behalf of "Transport for Wales"
- this includes the connecting Conwy Valley line and
the Cambrian Coast line
In addition, a limited number of InterCity services between
North Wales and London continue to be operated by Virgin

UPDATE
At this stage there are no major changes to the times previously operated by Arriva Wales

or the official

printed copies of their Conwy Valley services are usually available on the buses
(during the summer)

phone:
01492 640 320

WINTER
Their website has been updated to shown the revised level of their weekday "X19" service along the east side of the Conwy Valley
together with some changes to their "19" journeys from September
Their "subsidised" Sunday service remains unaltered

website
This company operates the weekday and Sunday "19" and "X19" connecting journeys along the Conwy Valley from and back to Llandudno
it also operates the very limited NORTHBOUND ONLY "6B" service along the Ogwen Valley between Capel Curig and Ogwen Cottage

LATEST
Their former 0745 Saturdays and School Holidays "19" journey from Llandudno to Llanrwst has been extended to Betws-y-Coed (destination Cwm Penmamcno) and now connects into the first westbound "S2" Sherpa service at 0910 to Pen-y-Pass (connection for Beddgelert) and Llanberis

BEWARE
Their "stand alone" weekday service "6-6A" which included a very useful late northbound "6B" journey along the Ogwen Valley has been WITHDRAWN
A new "76-76A" service has been introduced showing journeys from Bethesda via an alternative route to Bangor, but that unfortunately NO LONGER includes the former 1820 "6B" journey from Llyn Ogwen (extended to Betws-y-Coed or Llanrwst by request)

PLEASE NOTE
Some 'day-to-day' information can be found here

or the official

printed copies sometimes
available on the bus immediately
after any change

website
This company previously operated the Sunday "S97" Sherpas
but now only operate some connecting journeys in Snowdonia

PLEASE NOTE
They have now withdrawn their former connecting
"88" Sunday service between Caernarfon and Llanberis also their "85" weekday and Sunday services between Bangor and Llanberis
A reduced version of these services are now operated by Dilwyns and Gwynfor respectively
They continue to provide weekday and Sunday connections into the Sherpa network from Pwllheli..........
..........as well as from Blaenau Ffestiniog on weekdays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They also provide useful an alternative evening service from Caernarfon back to Llandudno (via Bangor) for anyone returning after the last Sherpa via Betws-y-Coed

You can check the "real time" position of any Arriva connecting bus here
- remember to "zoom in" to the North Wales area first !

or the official

No printed copies

website
This company operates connecting journeys only

They still INSIST on their only mid-morning "35" journey to Dolgellau from Blaenau Ffestiniog departing at 1130 - EXACTLY the same time as the ONLY mid-morning Conwy Valley Line train arrives !!!
On behalf of visitors to this website, your webmaster did ask them to consider re-timing the bus slightly later, but a somewhat "unhelpful" reply from their Bethan Jones completely avoided answering the point

PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found here

or the official

NO WEBSITE

phone:
01248 600 098

UPDATE
They have made major mid-season changes to the times of some journeys from 14th July 2019
BEWARE - The last journeys have been ADVANCED to
1645 from Llanberis* and 1820 from Caernarfon
* - DURING THE SUMMER ONLY there is a later Sunday "S2" Gwynfor journey from Llanberis at 1920 but this was NOT shown on any official Table "88"

PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found here

or the official

No printed copies

website
although this company no longer operates Sunday connecting timetabled services from Blaenau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon - it still operates the weekday local service in Blaenau Ffestiniog

their former website is no longer
active

although this company no longer operates connecting
timetabled services from Caernarfon
- it still operates private hire coaches and school buses in the area

PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found here

yet another official
website giving
incorrect information !

the links on this website are all out of date
in addition the "S6" Sherpa no longer serves Bangor or Betws-y-Coed

.....but do check ANY of the above official websites have been fully updated,
as some are considerably old and (at least partially) out-of-date !!!!
Known errors in official publications are included above
(these 'warning' are there to try to help avoid you being "caught out")

Please remember all official publications were only correct at the time
of going to press, so make sure you also have any relevant amendment leaflets/notices
which may appear as the season progresses
[ If I am advised of any, this website WILL be updated accordingly ]

If you come across any changes not reflected here or you spot any error (or find any broken link)
please e-mail the webmaster so it can be corrected for the benefit of other visitors to this website - thank you !

This website attempts to show what services are currently available
along with those planned for future periods as soon as the information has been announced

In particular it highlights known errors in official publications
in order the help avoid visitors being "caught out" !

It contains composite timetables of connecting services on a cross-Snowdonia route basis
including where a change of bus is necessary --- hopefully it will help you plan your days out

It also includes details of some suggested "trips round Snowdonia - without your car"
including the ability to stop-off en-route - sometimes at more than one location
- then join a later service to continue your trip out
These are shown from both locations within Snowdonia itself
as well as some of which commence on the North Wales and Cambrian Coast resorts
using connecting buses or trains (thus enabling you to leave the car behind and avoid paying any car parking fees !!!)

Home Page

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Contacts

Contents

Timetables

Suggested Sherpa Trips

Click here for the latest news about the Sherpa services

Later non-Sherpa weekday journeys from......
Beddgelert area to Llandudno/Conwy Valley
Pen-y-Pass area to Llandudno/Conwy Valley
Porthmadog area to Llandudno/Conwy Valley
Beddgelert area to Llanberis
Betws-y-Coed area to Llanberis
Porthmadog area to Llanberis
Llanberis area to Caernarfon
Llanberis area to Porthmadog area

Later non-Sherpa Sunday journeys from......
Beddgelert area to Llandudno/Conwy Valley
Pen-y-Pass area to Llandudno/Conwy Valley
Porthmadog area to Llandudno/Conwy Valley
Beddgelert area to Llanberis
Betws-y-Coed area to Llanberis
Porthmadog area to Llanberis
Llanberis area to Caernarfon
Llanberis area to Porthmadog area

Additional and updated pages are in the process of being prepared - please bookmark this page and keep returning for the very latest information available

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