| 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 coincide with the new Sherpa network and timetables which commenced on
Saturday 9th April 2022
There is now a
much increased summer
"S1" service between Betws-y-Coed and Caernarfon (which now incorporates
the former local "88" service between Llanberis and Caernarfon) on both weekdays
and Sundays
In addition the basically hourly former local "85" service between
Bangor and Llanberis has been re-branded as the Sherpa "S2" service - with most journeys
extended to/from Pen-y-Pass (this replaces their former Summer Weekend
only "S6" Sherpa service to Pen-y-Pass via the Ogwen valley) which is
partially replaced by the daily "T10"
TrawsCymru service via the Ogwen pass.....
.....details of the alternative new connections at
Capel Curig can be found
here
The level of service on the new "S3" Sherpa service has increased between
Beddgelert and Caernarfon (with most journeys extended to either Llanrug
or Dinorwig) replacing part of the former local "S4" and "83" services
Also the service on both the former "S97" and part "S4"
services become the re-branded "S4 Sherpa from Pen-y-Pass to Porthmadog
and the number of journeys increased (with much improved "10 "minute"
connections off the "S1" from both Betws-y-Coed Llanberis)
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website
BEWARE
Many bus stop displays throughout the Gwynedd CC area had NOT been updated
to reflect the latest position when they were personally checked on Friday 9th April
(the day before the new Sherpa timetable started)
It is "hoped" that the Council will rectify that shortly - MAKE SURE THE
INFORMATION YOU CHECK AT ANY BUS TOP DISPLAY AGREES WITH THE COMMENTS IN THE LEFT HAND COLUMN
OF THIS PAGE (otherwise the information at that particular stop should be regarded as
"STILL TO BE UPDATED" !) |
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on the official
No printed copies
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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 or END UP IN ONE OF THE MANY
PHONE SIGNAL "BLIND SPOTS" throught the more mountainous parts of
Snowdonia !!! |
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 shows the "next hour" so unlike most other
Sherpa stops there is no longer a comprehensice display to allow you to 'plan
ahead'
The actual electronic display has been "OUT OF
ACTION" for several weeks and was still not working when it was personally
checked on Friday 9th April (the day before the new Sherpa timetable started)
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website
SHERPA NETWORK
Their website NO LONGER provides any timetables and is simply a
list of "links" to other websites
In the case of the Sherpas, it simply goes to a page on the
Gwynedd CC website |
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BEWARE
CURRENTLY THIS IS DISPLAYING "PAGE NOT FOUND and
the standard internet error coed "404" !!!!! |
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RETURN CONNECIONS AT
BETWS-Y-COED
The last northbound bus journey of the day now departs very early
at 17.15 - there is a slightly later train at 1802, but the
"1 bws" Day Ticket is NOT valid |
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BEWARE
This is EXACTLY the same time as the 1623 "T10" TrawsCymru
journey from Bangor via Llyn Ogwen (for Tryfan) arrives
All it needs is the Council (with their Transport
co-ordinating "hat" on ) to INSIST the last northbound
"T19" of the day departs five minutes later at 1720 so a connection
would appear on the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner"
No wonder there are so many cars being
forced to park illegally along the main "A5" road through the Ogwen Valley
when the council does NOT provide a reliable convienient "public transport"
alternative !!!
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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" normally requires minimum of five minutes for a connection
at any location - this also applies when there is a 'through journey' - often the case on the alternative
'through' journeys at Bangor when the route number changes en-route
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)
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"the" official public transport website
IMPORTANT
The following is included on their website
04/04/2022 - When accessing your public transport information, please:
Double check our ‘Short Notice Service Updates’ page for timetable changes.
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or the official
Unlike several other
operators in the area,
they do not produce
any printed copies
phone:
01248 722 694
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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 |
Their website has been
updated to coincide with the new Sherpa network and timetables which commenced on
Saturday 9th April 2022
There is now a
much increased summer
"S1" service between Betws-y-Coed and Caernarfon (which now incorporates
the former local "88" service between Llanberis and Caernarfon) on both weekdays
and Sundays
In addition the basically hourly former local "85" service between
Bangor and Llanberis has been re-branded as the Sherpa "S2" service - with most journeys
extended to/from Pen-y-Pass (this replaces their former Summer Weekend
only "S6" Sherpa service to Pen-y-Pass via the Ogwen valley) which is
partially replaced by the daily "T10"
TrawsCymru service via the Ogwen pass.....
.....details of the alternative new connections at
Capel Curig can be found
here
The level of service on the new "S3" Sherpa service has increased between
Beddgelert and Caernarfon (with most journeys extended to either Llanrug
or Dinorwig) replacing part of the former local "S4" and "83" services
Also the service on both the former "S97" and part "S4"
services become the re-branded "S4 Sherpa from Pen-y-Pass to Porthmadog
and the number of journeys increased (with much improved "10 "minute"
connections off the "S1" from both Betws-y-Coed Llanberis)
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website
MID-MORNING CONNECTION AT BETWS-Y-COED
UNFORTUNATELY advancing the 11.10 "S1" Sherpa journey to Caernarfon to 11.04
(on pattern with the rest of the day) means there is NO LONGER the "traditional
connctionn" of either the Transport for Wales train or the Llew Jones bus from
Llandudno
The TravelineCymru "Journey Planner" advises you to wait until the next
"S1" Sherpa at 12.04 BUT NOTE SPECIALLY THERE IS NO ONWARD CONNECTION at
PEN-Y-PASS FOR BEDDGELERT AND PORTHMADOG OFF THE LATER SHERPA
IF you want to spend the full day in Snowdonia,
this website advises you to catch the earlier "T19" TrawsCymru journey which depoarts
Llandudno at 0905 to ensure you reliably catch the 1104 "S1" Shrepa from Betws-y-Coed
To be fair to Gwynfor
Coaches, this very "silly" situtation is because Transport for Wales have dictated
that the Sherpa buses are contracted to operate at the times specified by them
They seem to have completely ignored the Conwy Valley train
connections even though they also specify AND operate those too !!!!!
If this causes you inconvenience or addition
expense, COMPLAIN to Transport for
Wales at Cardiff - not the poor operator who is only acting as
instructed by the transport department of the Welsh Government |
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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
No printed copies
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This company - part of the transport department of the Welsh Government - operate a
network of long distance coach journeys across the whole of Wales including the "T19" route which
provides connections into the Sherpa from Llandudno and the "T2" route providing the same
function from Aberystwyth and Dolgellau, also Bangor and Caernarfon
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website
TRAWS-CYMRU OPERATORS
This company has sub-contracted.....
Lloyds Coaches to operate the "T2" Sherpa connections at Porthmadog
and Llew Jones to operte the "T19" Sherpa connections at
Betws-y-Coed
on their behalf |
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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" journeys which also require an hour's wait at 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
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 19th May 2022
e-mail webmaster
(c)2009-2022
