| Snowdon Sherpa Bus Timetables |
This is an unofficial website
To contact the WEBMASTER please e-mail
here
please also do so if you spot any error - so it can be quickly corrected for the benefit of other visitors
to this website ! |
Whilst this website
is kept up-to-date with all alterations advised to the webmaster..........
..........many Councils/Operators have been making major short notice
mid-timetable changes to their services over the last few months
You are STRONGLY advised to confirm any travel plans from the operator concerned before
setting out for Snowdonia.
To assist - a list of these can be found below along with notes of any 'known' errors to help avoid you being
"caught out"
Click on any logo to go to that website..........
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on the official
No printed copies
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Their website has been
updated to show the revised "reduced" Winter Sherpa timetables which
commence on Monday 1st November
There is now a
reduced winter
"S2" service between Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed
on both weekdays and Sundays
In addition there are chsnges to the "S4" and "S97" connecting
services via Beddgelert resulting in only one returnn afternoon service back to
Betws-y-Coed |
BEWARE
Many bus stop displays throughout the Gwynedd CC area have NOT been updated to reflect
the latest position |
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website
BEWARE
The LAST "S4-S97" WEEKDAY journey from Pen-y-Pass back to Porthmadog
now departs at
1635
(on Sundays it is advanced to 1005 !!!)
WARNING..........
.........the weekday 1345 "S97" departure from Porthmadog NO LONGER
has an "S4" connection for Pen-y-Pass at Beddgelert
..........also the ONLY Sunday morning "S97" departure from Porthmadog
STILL departs EIGHT minutes before the arrival of the first "3" journey
from Pwllheli
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NOTE SPECIALLY..........
.........the last Dilwyn's direct Sunday "88" journey from Llanberis back to Caernarfon departs
at 1430* - also the 1730 "S2" journey from Betws-y-Coed now terminates at
Llanberis on both weekdays and Sundays
* - However it is now possible to return from Llanberis 1630 (the long way)
via Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert
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WINTER 2021-2022
Unfortunately some of the times on their website - in particular
the last journeys from Beddgelert (which are those included on this website)
differ from those on the Gwynfor Facebook page |
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You are STRONGLY advised to confirm the correct information from
the operator before setting out as some are shown EARLIER
(despite their Website refering you to the Gwynedd website fot the latest times !!!) |
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on the official
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BEWARE
Virtually ALL departure sheet displays throughout the County
no longer shown the actual departure times
- they simply advise to to ring the helpline
- SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALREADY CONFIRMED THE TIMES OF ALL YOUR PROPOSED JOUENEYS
AS WELL AS ANY LATER 'BACK-UPS'
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MOBILE PHONE WITH YOU !!! |
The one major exception is Betws-y-Coed
where there is now a "real-time" electronic departure
display - primarily as it it now also a 'TrawsCymru' interchange stop !
Unfortunately that only show the "next hour" so unlike most other
Sherpa stops there is no longer a comprehensice display to allow you to 'plan
ahead' |
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website
WINTER 2021-2022
Their website has NOT been updated to show the revised
"much reduced" level of Sherpa service from
Betws-y-Coed to
Pen-y-Pass (for the "S4" to Beddgelert)
and Llanberis for the "88" to Caernarfon) and
return |
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BEWARE
In consequence..........
..........many of the Sherpa journeys shown
NO LONGER OPERATE also the last JOURNEYS in both directions are NOW
"considerably" EARLIER !!!!! |
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RETURN CONNECIONS AT BETWS-Y-COED
Whilst the outward Llew Jones "19" and "T19" connections into the
Gwynfor "S2" Sherpa journeys and now generally quite good.....
.....on return there are some really "silly" sub-standard connections (only three minutes)
at 1045 and 1715 (which do not always wait if the Sherpa is not 'spot on time')
Also passengers off the last return Sherpa are now forced to wait much
longer at Betws-y-Coed for the train at 1802 or return by the long way' via the
Ogwen Valley and Bangot !!!
* - all it needs is for the Council
to INSIST the last northbound "T19" of the day departs five minuts later at 1720 so a
connection would appear on the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner"
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alternatively try
No printed copies
phone:
0800 464 00 00
(between 0700
and 2000 only)
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PLEASE NOTE
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
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"the" official public transport website
IMPORTANT
The following has appeared on the TravelineCymru website.......
"Arriva Buses Wales
Due to strike action across the Arriva Buses Wales network, from 6am on
Sunday 14th November until 1am on Sunday 18th December, Arriva Buses Wales services
will not run (except for Arriva Midlands services 2, 2A and 2C in Wrexham and Arriva North
West services 84 and X30 into Chester)
We will NOT be able to update our Journey Planner and Timetables page to
reflect these changes, so please follow Arriva Buses Wales on Twitter @arrivabuswales
and the Arriva Buses Wales website for the latest updates"
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or the official
Unlike several other
operators in the area,
they do not produce
any printed copies
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Gwynfor have removed all timetables from their
website - instead it now gives a "link" to the
Gwynedd CC website for their latest 'official' information |
SUMMER
Gwynfor are now operating their full summer timetables for Sherpa
services "S1" "S2" "S4" "S6" and "S97"
On the positive side, limited Sunday "S97" and "S4" journeys have
been reinstated after being SUSPENDED throughout the whole of 2020, BUT
BEWARE, the 1730 "S2" journey from Betws-y-Coed now terminates at Llanberis $$
on both weekdays and Sundays creating a much wider gap between services JUST
AT THE TIME WALKERS FROM SNOWDON WANT TO RETURN TO CAERNARFON !!!
$$ - as a result of the TEMPORARY changes to the "88" - the
last westbound "88" WEEKDAY journey to Caernarfon has been retarded to 1815 (this providing a
connection by default in the short term)
BEWARE - there is no guarentee this will not revert to
its earlier earlier departure at short notice when the temporaty "88" changes are lifted
- ring Gwynfor for confirmation of the latest position
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phone:
01248 722 694
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website
STOP PRESS
Remember a further revised TEMPORARY weekday
connecting "88" timetable is NOW in operation (commenced Monday 6th September)
----- make sure you check your
REVISED connecting times from/to Caernarfon
BEFORE YOU SET OUT !!!
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IMPORTANT
This company has again "split" their previously through
journeys between Porthmadog and Pen-y-Pass into "S97" between Porthmadog and Beddgelert where
passengers now have to change buses into the "S4" to carry on from Beddgelert to Pen-y-Pass
BEWARE - whilst in most cases there is a reasonable connection time,
there is a "silly" situation during the early-afternoon where there is only one minute
off the 1345 "S97" journey from Porthmadog which being less than five minutes means it does
NOT appear as a connection on the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner".........
..........ALL IT NEEDED WAS FOR THE 1345 JOURNEY FROM PORTHMADOG and the
inward 1230 journey from Caernarfon TO RUN FIVE MINUTES EARLIER THROUGHOUT AND THE PROBLEM
WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY !!!!!
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PLEASE NOTE
Some 'day-to-day' information can be found
here
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or the official
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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 revised timetables !!!
Alternatively use their own 'journey planner' to confirm times providing you already know
when and where you want to go !!!
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train website
All local train services throughout Wales are currently operated
by "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 Avanti
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UPDATE
Initially There were are no major changes to the times previously
advertised to commence in December 2019
However to give the 'appearance' of "speeding up" the trains along the North Wales Coast,
several journeys have had important intermediate stops removed - much to the annoyance of the locals
who previously used them
.......... an "own goal" is probably the politest way to describe what they have
done !!!!!
In consequence most connections between the North Wales Resort
stations and the Conwy Valley Line (and v.v.) have increased CONSIDERABLY - clearly no-one at the
Cardiff HQ 'appears' to care about this totally unnecessary inconvenience |
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or the official
printed copies of their Conwy Valley services
are sometimes available on the buses
(during the summer)
phone:
01492 640 320
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WINTER 2021
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their website has at last been updated to shown their REVISED
weekday and Sunday timetables for their "19" and "T19"
connecting journeys along the Conwy Valley
WHICH INCLUDE THE SUSPENSION of ALL EVENING SERVICES
on both weekdays and Sundays from 3rd October 2021
BEWARE - whilst "outward" journeys from
Llandudno generally have good Sherpa connections, on return there
are some "silly" sub-standard connections (which do not
always wait if the Sherpa is not 'spot on time')
UNBELIEVABLE
Their last Northbound "T19" journey of the day now leaves Betws-y-Coed EXACTLY
the same time as their new arriving "T10" from Llyn Ogwen *
- meaning passengers off this and the last 'all-year-round' Sherpa from Llanberis
are now forced to either return on the 1802 train (MOST 'Return' and 'Day
Rover' tickets are NOT valid)
or travel the "long way" via the Ogwen Valley
and Bangor
THIS IS JUST WHEN MOST PEOPLE WANT TO RETURN HOME
FROM A DAY OUT TO EITHER SNOWDON or TRYFAN !!!
* - all it needs is for the 1650 "T19"
journey from Blaenau Ffestiniog to depart Betws-y-Coed five minutes later
at 1720 ! |
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website
This company operates the weekday and Sunday "19" and "T19" connecting
journeys along the Conwy Valley from and back to Llandudno
In addition they operate the
Sunday "link"
between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog - an 'alternative' to the now VERY
LIMITED Sunday Sherpa "S4" and S97" journeys via Beddgelert
Prior to the Coronavirus restrictions, they also
operated the very limited
NORTHBOUND ONLY "6B" service along the Ogwen Valley between Capel Curig and Ogwen
Cottage (for Tryfan)..........
..........However this has now been replaced by a new daily 'two hourly" TrawsCymru service
between Corwen/Betws-y-Coed and Bangor along the Ogwen Pass
SURPRISINGLY they have still not bothered to include this timetable on their
website !!!!! .....but details can be found on
this site
IMPORTANT
Unlike most other local bus operators in the North Wales area, with
less than 48 hours to go, they amended both their "19" and "T19" services
along the Conwy Valley
- make sure you check the latest information on their website - especially if you are
planning a day trip to/from Snowdonia
NOTE SPECIALLY the long standing
afternoon Sherpa connection from Llandudno now departs 30 minutes EARLIER at 1150
Ironically in most cases, BETTER connections
with the "S2" Sherpa at Betws-y-Coed can NOW be made using the
Conwy Valley Railway train journeys - ESPECIALLY ON RETURN
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Some 'day-to-day' information can also be found
here
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new link - with extra information
Click on map to enlarge
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website
A new weekdays only Demand Response - "flexi service" operated
by Alpine Travel
has been introduced (from 9th November) in the 'greater' Llanrwst-Betws-y-Coed are ( se map on
the left for details)
On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays it will also extend as far as Corwen on request
Remember you MUST prebook through "flecsi" stating when and where you want to travel -
if you plan to connect into or out of a Sherpa (or any other bus/train)
journey, make sure you clearly say so when you
"book"
This is particularly important if you want to use it to "link"
between a Conwy Valley "19" journey and a Sherpa" where Llew Jones no longer provides a
timetabled journey between Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed
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or the official
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printed copies sometimes
available on the bus immediately
after any major change
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website
This company previously operated the Sunday "S97" Sherpas
but now only operate some connecting journeys to/from Snowdonia
at Llandudno/Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Bangor and Caernarfon
PLEASE NOTE
The five week industrial action
by Arriva drivers has been SUSPENFDED to allow further talks..........
..........ALL the Arriva bus journeys which provide connections into and out of the Sherpa
network are expected to restart running to the previously advertised times - see
here for
further details of the connecting journeys involved
None of this has affected any of the "Sherpa" journey which have continued
to operate to their normal WINTER timetables
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or the official
No printed copies
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The company has taken over the the
"3B" connecting service between
Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog
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website
This company operates connecting journeys from
Caernarfon, Barmouth, Harlech, Dolgellau and Blaenau Ffestiniog also the
local journeys from Morfa Bychan
Unfortunately they still INSIST on
their ONLY mid-morning "35" journey to Dolgellau from Blaenau Ffestiniog
departing at 1130
- JUST AS or slightly BEFORE 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
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PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found
here
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or the official
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phone:
01248 600 098
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Their website is currently "under construction"
IGNORE their "timetables" link which currently
goes to an OUT OF DATE external website
which also erroneously "suggests" they operate weekday "88" journeys
UPDATE
They have made major short term changes to the
times of some connecting journeys
as a result of the post-Coronavirus restrictions
IN PARTICULAR BEWARE - their last Sunday "88" journeys have been ADVANCED to
1430 from Llanberis *
and 1600 from Caernarfon
* - there WERE later "S2" Sunday westbound (only) journeys
operated by Gwynfor departing Llanberis at 1810 and 1910 (summer only), but from Easter
2021 the 1730 "S2 Sherpa from Betws-y-Coed terminates at Llanberis at 1810..........
..........click here to see what is left
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PLEASE NOTE
Some day-to-day information can now also be found
here
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or the official
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No printed copies
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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
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their former website is no longer
active
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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
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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
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.....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")
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on 18th November 2021
e-mail webmaster
(c)2009-2021
