BEWARE....
Large wooden "Poster boards" with a network map appeared during summer 2011 at strategic locations throughout Snowdonia
but unfortunately they STILL contain some incorrect route numbers
Important - the "S97" does NOT continue beyond Beddgelert to Penygwryd or Betws-y-Coed
(use the re-numbered "S4" between Beddgelert and Pen-y-Pass.....
.....then the connecting re-numbered S1" between
Pen-y-Pass and Betws-y-Coed)
Note THERE IS ALWAYS ONLY ONE BUS - SO DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND.....
.....especially if the indicator on the front of your "S3" or "S4" Sherpa shows an intermediate
location (eg Beddgelert) at the start of its journey
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Far more worrying the former open-top
Arriva "S2" Sherpa service north of Llanrwst (which actually started from Llandudno, NOT the Junction) was withdrawn
at the end of the 2009 season !
Use the alternative current Conwy Valley bus services
- some journeys connect with the "S2" Sherpa at Betws-y-Coed
(alternatively use the "Conwy Valley" Railway trains
which generally now make better connections
The former "S6" section of the network between
Capel Curig and Bethesda
(has now been completely withdrawn and replaced by the new "two-hourly" all-year-round "T10" TrawsCymru
service between Bangor and Corwen which also serves Llyn Ogwen (for Tryfan), Capel Curig (for the "S1" Sherpa to
Pen-y-Pass and Llanberis) and Betws-y-Coed
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The correct revised Sherpa and other current route numbers
(as further amended in early-April 2022) are shown
on the diagrams below and on the timetables throughout
this website
Weekdays
Sundays and Public Holidays
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Make sure you use the Snowdon Sherpas
in 2023
Please do your bit to help the environment by keeping all unnecesary cars out of Snowdonia
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If you MUST take you car - remember many
roads in Snowdonia are designated "clearways"
(ensure you park at an appropriate location
or you are likely to end up with
a hefty parking fine !!!!!)
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Much easier, cheaper and greener to use the Snowdon Sherpas !!!
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That way you can go up Snowdon by one path and return down by another
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Several different operators cover the Sherpa network
AND connecting services - especially on Sundays
Generally speaking, to give you maximum flexibility, the best ticket
for travelling to, round and returning from
Snowdonia for a whole day is the £6.00
"1 bws" (one bus) Day Rover
available from the driver of your first bus
(or a North Wales Day Rover if travelling from
further afield including partially travelling by train to the Sherpa network)
So make sure you select and ask for the appropriate ticket
for ALL of your proposed itineraries as many companies also offer their own day rover, which are only valid
on their services !!!
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Headline News...................
Click here for further information
including archieved items
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Easter Monday 10th April 2023 |
The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines normally operate to their weekday timetable |
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Good Friday 7th April 2023 |
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The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines normallyoperate to their weekday timetable |
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Saturday 1st April 2023 |
The Summer "Sherpa" Timetables are expected to commence
(normally from "the Saturday before Easter Weekend")..........
The level of service
on the "S1" route from Betws-y-Coed to Caernarfon is again expected to increase to
hourly throughout each way
The "S2" from Bangor to Llanberis is again expected to be extended to Pen-y-Pass....
.....with timings adjusted to give a half-hour "pattern between" Llanberis and Pen-y-Pass
Extra "S4" journeys are expected to run between Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert
along the Nant Gwynant pass
- probably similar to last year
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Sunday 12th February 2023 |
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Llew Jones have WITHDRAWN all their "T19" connecting
journeys along the east side of the Conwy Valley leaving only a very limited "19" service along the west sidde of the
valley
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Monday 2nd January 2023 |
| As New Year's Day falls at a weekend, a Sunday service
will operate throughout Conwy and Gwynedd for both the "Sherpas" and connecting journeys |
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Tuesday 27th December 2022 |
| As Christmas falls at a weekend, a Sunday service
will
operate throughout Conwy and Gwynedd for both the "Sherpas" and connecting journeys |
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Monday 26th September 2022 |
The revised/reduced level of Sherpa journeys commence for the winter period
As an exception, the houry "S1" Sherpa from Betws-y-Coed to Caernarfon
continues to operate hourly until after the local half-term week |
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Late Summer Monday 29th August 2022 |
The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other local
connecting bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines
operate to their weekday timetable |
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Late Spring 3rd June 2022 |
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The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley (services currently SUSPENDED with Rail Replacement
coaches in lieu) also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines
operate to their weekday timetable |
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Platinum Jubilee Thursday 2nd June 2022 |
The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley (services currently SUSPENDED with Rail Replacement
coaches in lieu) also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines
operate to their weekday timetable |
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Early Spring Monday 2nd May 2022 |
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The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley (services currently SUSPENDED with Rail Replacement
coaches in lieu) also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines
operate to their weekday timetable |
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Easter Monday 18th April 2022 |
The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley (services currently SUSPENDED with Rail Replacement
coaches in lieu) also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines
operate to their weekday timetable |
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Good Friday 15th April 2022 |
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The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a
light blue background) on the
Conwy Valley (services currently SUSPENDED with Rail Replacement
coaches in lieu) also the
Cambrian Coast railway lines
operate to their weekday timetable |
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Saturday 9th April 2022 |
For the first time in two decades, there is a
major change to the 'structure' of the Sherpa network which is also expanded to incorporate some
local services - thus providing better "cross-Snowdonia" journeys - meaning there is now less need
than ever to take cars into the National Park
The most significant changes are routes......
"S1" - Betws-y-Coed
- Pen-y-Pass - Llanberis - Caernarfon
(in lieu of the local "88" and the former "S2")
"S2" - Bangor - Llanberis
- Pen-y-Pass
(in lieu of the local "85" also the former 'Park and Ride' from Llanberis)
"S3" - Beddgelert
- Caernarfon - Deiniolen
(in lieu of the local "83" and 'part' of the former "S4")
"S4" - Porthmadog
- Beddgelert - Pen-y-Pass
(in lieu of the local "S97" and 'part' of the former "S4")
"S5" - "Nant Peris Car Park - Pen-y-Pass "Park and Ride"in lieu of the former "S1" from Llanberis)
also the
"T10" TrawsCymru
Bangor - Llyn Ogwen - Capel Curig - Betws-y-Coed
- Corwen experimental service to provide daily
connections into and out of the new hourly "S1" Sherpa at
Capel Curig |
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Monday 3rd January 2022 |
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As New Year falls at a weekend, a Sunday service will operate
throughout Gwynedd for both the "Sherpas" and connecting journeys
Normal weekday services re-commence on Tuesday 4th January |
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Monday 27th December 2020 |
| As Christmas falls at a weekend, a Sunday service will operate
throughout Gwynedd for both the "Sherpas" and connecting journeys |
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Monday 1st November 2021 |
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The "S2" "S4" and "S97" winter Sherpa timetables were reduced
for the winter
The extra summer Sherpa routes "S1" and "S6" were SUSPENDED from the same date
and are expected to be re-introduced from Easter 2022
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Monday 6th September 2021 |
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Yet further changes to the weekday
"88"
timetable will commence --- improving some "S2" connections at Llanberis..........
..........but there are also some very short margins between arrivals and onward departures which
are NOT included in the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner" |
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Saturday 31st July 2021 |
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A new daily two-hourly "T10" TrawsCymru service between
Bangor-Betws-y-Coed-Corwen service now augments the weekend only "S6" Sherpa service
along the Ogwen Valley
It has re-instated regular direct journeys between
Betws-y-Coed and Llyn Ogwen (for Tryfan) |
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Wednesday 23rd June 2021 |
Following weeks of traffic chaos in the Caernarfon area,
a TEMPORARY revised, reduced level "88"
timetable will commence to try and improve timekeeping
Passenegrs intending to connect with the Sherpa at Llanberis should
familiarise themselves with the changes before setting out |
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Late Spring Public Holiday Monday 31st 2021 |
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The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a light
blue background) on the Conwy Valley and
Cambrian Coast railway lines will operate to their
weekday timetable |
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Saturday 29th May 2021 |
| The former connecting "X19" service along the
East Side of the Conwy Valley will become past of the TrawsCymru network and be renumbered "T19" |
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Monday 12th April 2021 |
Most of the non-Sherpa connections which
were again suspended during the coronavirus precautions period are re-instated throughout the area
providing "good" connections in the morning at Betws-y-Coed and Porthmadog into the Sherpa network
Very worrying - Llew Jones has made a "silly"
sub-standard connection at 1715, just when visitors to Snowdonia want to
return home !!!!!
Even worse passengers off
the additional late summer Sherpa now have to wait a FURTHER
hour at Betws-y-Coed before being able to continue to Llandudno |
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Saturday 27th March 2021 |
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The level of service
on the "S2" route is again double from five to ten journeys each way and the former
'School Days Only' extensions to Llanrwst operate 'daily'
Both the seasonal "S1" and "S6" services (augmented on School Holiday weekends) have been
re-instated for the summer
In addition, later "S4" journeys have been re-introduced through the Nant Gwynant Pass
to/from Beddgelert from both Pen-y-Pass - with the last journey from Pen-y-Pass to Beddgelert extended
to Caernarfon
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Thursday 14th January 2021 |
Once again it was necessary to introduce a skeleton Sherpa
service as the Coronavirus Precations took effect again
Just one "S2"round trip operates between Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed every day and a very much reduced
'one bus' service covers the basic "S4" and "S97" journeys on weekdays only - with no service between Beddgelert
and Pen-y-Pass
PLEASE REMEMBER THESE JOURNEYS ARE CURRENTLY FOR "ESSENTIAL" LOCAL TRAVEL ONLY
- as defined by Welsh Law |
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Monday 9th November 2020 |
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Llew Jones has made further changes to the connecting
journeys in the Conwy Valley which
means several former 'long-standing' journeys NO LONGER CONNECT with the Sherpas - PARTICULARLY RFETURNING IN
THE AFTERNOON
In most cases the is an alternative train on the
Conwy Valley line
- unfotunately still requiring a "wait" at Betws-y-Coed.....
.....but far better than a "much longer wait" for the next bus !
The most noticable change was the WITHDRAWAL of the timetabled bus connections from
Corwen -
but this was replaced by a new "Fflecsi service in
in the area operated by Alpine |
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Saturday 24th October 2020 |
REVISED start date for the "S2" "S4" and "S97" winter Sherpa timetables
- advanced from early-November, due to the Welsh Coronavirus precautions two week
"Lock Down"
Summer Sherpa routes "S1" and "S6" were SUSPENDED from the same date
Llew Jones connecting Conwy Valley "19" and "X19" journeys were also reduced for the period
of the "Lock Down" |
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Tuesday 1st September 2020 |
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With local schools re-opening, there were NUMEROUS changes to many
of the connecting journeys - most of which have resulted in an increased frequency........
..........BUT the changes by Llew Jones in the
Conwy Valley meant several former 'long-standing' journeys NO LONGER CONNECTED with the Sherpas
- particularly returning in the afternoon
The most noticable change was the WITHDRAWAL of a connection from Llandudno into the
first "S2" Sherpa of the day (except on "TUESDAYS
ONLY" using the local route "70" market day journey to Corwen as a "link" between Llanrwst and
Betws-y-Coed !!!!! |
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Monday 17th August 2020 |
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Most of the Snowdon Sherpa network returned to the pre-Coronavirus
restrictions level.........
..........with the exception of the Sunday "S4" and "S97" routes which remained SUSPENDED on Sundays
To assist with "Social Distancing, the majority of "S2" journeys were operated by larger
double-deck buses instead of the usual mini-buses |
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Saturday 11th July 2020 |
Additional "S1" and "S2" Saturday Sherpa journeys were added to give
more or less the normal peak-summer level..........
..........although on other days of the week, the normal winter level of journeys continued |
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Tuesday 29th June 2020 |
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Some additional "S2" Sherpa journeys were re-instated following easement
of the Coronoavirus precautions, but nowhere near the "usual" level
However the "skeleton" service for 'locals only' remained on the "S97" and "S4" routes |
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Tuesday 14th April 2020 |
Caelloi increase the level of their weekday connecting
"3" service from/back to Pwllheli - which augments the basic Arriva service - to hourly during
the daytime
All weekday evening and Sunday journeys continue to be operated by Arriva (unaltered) |
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Easter Monday 13th April 2020 |
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The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a light
blue background) on the Conwy Valley and
Cambrian Coast railway lines will operate to their
weekday timetable |
|
Good Friday 10th April 2020 |
The "Snowdon Sherpa Network" (and all other connecting local bus routes)
operate a normal SUNDAY timetable as it is a public holiday
However the connecting train services (shown against a light
blue background) on the Conwy Valley and
Cambrian Coast railway lines will operate to their
weekday timetable |
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Saturday 4th April 2020 |
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DEFERRED "until further notice"
due to the coronavirus restrictions |
The Summer "Sherpa" Timetables commence
The level of service
on the "S2" route is again EXPECTED to double from five to ten journeys each way
Both the seasonal "S1" and "S6" services SHOULD be re-instated for summer weekends
In addition, later journeys are EXPECTED to be re-introduced to/from Beddgelert
from both Pen-y-Pass and Porthmadog - also Caernarfon on weekdays - similar to 2019
Also, there are minor changes to the weekday Gwynfor connecting services "85" and "88" from
Bangor and Caernarfon respectively
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Sunday 12th January 2020 |
Arriva make numerous changes to their services in the area
- whilst this will NOT change any Sherpa journey, it will mean changes to several connections
- especially at Porthmadog from Pwllheli
and Blaenau Ffestioniog
| BEWARE - several journeys are considerably EARLIER than
previously
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| Wednesday 31st March
2010 |
Snow in Snowdonia on 31st March 2010 |
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The first week of the 2010 Summer Timetable !
It snowed so hard causing the roads to be closed and the Sherpa services to be suspended for
the day
A very unusual occurance (even in the middle of winter !)
BUT BEWARE !
Walking on the hills when covered with snow can be very dangerous
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| Click here for all the news items |
This "unofficial" website
attempts to give full details of what services are available today
and for the next few months
It also includes some suggested "trips round Snowdonia - without your
car"
If you spot any error on this website (or have any additional information), please
e-mail the webmaster so the information can be corrected / updated for the benefit of other visitors
to this website |
This page last  on 21th March 2023
e-mail webmaster
(c)2009-2023
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