SUMMARY OF SNOWDON SHERPA NETWORK - WINTER 2023
    Reductions in the level of service for the Winter Sherpa services have been announced..........

    The level of "S1" Sherpa journeys via Pen-y-Pass and Llanberis" remains basically hourly - with the first and pen-ultimate journeys suspended for the winter

    "S2" Sherpa journeys from Bangor to Pen-y-Pass via Llanberis are again cut back to only operate as far Llanberis (where passengers can change into the "S1" Sherpa)
Click here for further detrails

    The level of "S3" Sherpa journeys along the western side of Snowdon is slightly reduced with the last 1902 summer return journey from Beddgelert suspended for the winter

    The level of "S4" Sherpa journeys along the Nant Gwynant pass has again been reduced to just two journeys each way during the winter periodare again.....
.....but the service remains two-hourly between Beddgelert and Porthmadog
note - the extensions to Morfa Bychan will only operate on weekdays during the winter

    All the additional "S5" "Park and Ride" journeys are again SUSPENDED for the winter - use the hourly "S1" journeys instead

    So far,   no further changes have been anounced for the Conwy Valley "19" connections,  but in view of the new 20mph speed restrictions currently having an adverse effect on performance - watch this space for PROBABLE changes........
........these will be updated on THIS website if / when anything is announced


    REMEMBER..........
    Due to so many last-minute changes to the various services in the area,  unfortunately many official websites (including the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner") continue to show journeys which have either been "CHANGED" or sometimes even "WITHDRAWN"
    Where known,  these are also included below as a warning - to help avoid you being caught out !!!


    Please bookmark and revisit nearer the time to check if there have been any further known changes since your last visit to this page

    Journeys shown on this website with a "strike through" line are still operating,  BUT it is NO LONGER possible to get a (bus) connection back to the start location of the page - eg
 1234 

    Throughout Snowdonia there are unfortunately numerous cases of "sub-standard" connections which are NOT recognised by the TravelineCymru "Journey Planner"
(as they are less than 5 minutes) - eg
11.05 11.01
    Although this website strongly advises you NOT to 'chance' them..........
..........they are included to draw your attention to the fact that if everything is 'spot on time' and you are "very quick" - it can sometimes get you to your destination considerably earlier


This "unofficial" website attempts to show what is available..... and to encourage greater use of the network
also includes some suggested "trips round Snowdonia - without your car"


WINTER WEEKDAY TRIPS by RAIL
to the SNOWDON SHERPA at Betws-y-Coed


Transport for Wales Conwy Valley Line train  

Arriva earlier morning "12" connection  

from  Chester
Prestatyn   Rhyl
Colwyn Bay   Llandudno


to  Pen-y-Pass
Llanberis  Beddgelert
Aberglaslyn   Porthmadog

      "S1" Betws-y-Coed - Llanberis
   Gwynfor Sherpa
      "S4" Pen-y-Pass - Beddgelert

 
 Timings are shown below and it can all be done for just..........
£14.90 from Llandudno/Colwyn Bay/Abergele
- 2 zones* ("C/G")
£25.40 from Rhyl/Prestatyn - 3 zones* ("D/C/G")
    £40.00 from Chester/Shotton/Flint - all zones* - all zones *) 
using the "North Wales Day Rover" which includes the "whole of the Sherpa Network"
purchase at your first station or from the driver of your first connnecting bus
(* - a discount is available for a "railcard" holder if booked at a station)

LATEST..........
Monday 30th October
    The reduced level of services for the winter commenced
Be aware most "S1" Sherpa departures from Betws-y-Coed are advanced slightly

All the regular "S1" connecting Sherpa services are operated by
'Gwynfor Coaches' and run every day throughout the year #
providing direct connections to .......
Caernarfon via Pen-y-Pass
- (start of the main tracks up Snowdon)
and Llanberis
also more limited "S4" Sherpa connections at Pen-y-Pass
to Beddgelert
(for "S3" connections to Caernarfon)
and Porthmadog
# - except Christmas Day,  Boxing Day and New Year's Day





Mondays to Saturdays - 30th October to 9th December 2023
see important note above
  Click here for suggested Monday to Saturday itineraries from 11th December 2023 until further notice
Click here for suggested Sunday and Public Holidays itineraries
"Trips round Snowdonia - without your car"
from North Wales Coast Railway Stations

out and return via the Conwy Valley Line and Betws-y-Coed
(the "Gateway to Snowdonia")
   
Outward train times
latest times should be confirmed from the individual timetables on the
official Transport for Wales/Avanti websites
   
"T for Wales"
"T for Wales"
"T for Wales"
"T for Wales"
   
###
M-F
Sat
Sat
M-F
M-F
Sat
      Chester Station dep   j
-
0652
0652
0924
0855
1231
1226
      Chester Station dep   j
      Shotton Station dep   j
-
0701
0701
0900*
0904
1200*
1159*
      Shotton Station dep   j
      Flint Station dep   j
M-F
Sat
0708
0708
0937
0910
1244
1240
      Flint Station dep   j
      Prestatyn Station dep   j
-
-
0721
0720
0951
0923
1257
1254
      Prestatyn Station dep   j
      Rhyl Station dep   j
0550b
0540b
0727
0727
0958
0929
1304
1301
      Rhyl Station dep   j
      Abergele Station dep   j
0609b
0559b
0733
0733
0931*
0935
1231*
1230*
      Abergele Station dep   j
      Colwyn Bay Station dep   j
0631b **
0621b **
0741
0741
1008
0943
1315
1312
      Colwyn Bay Station dep   j
      Llandudno Junction arr
|
|
0748
0748
1014
0951
1322
1319
      Llandudno Junction arr
      Llandudno arr
0659b
0649b
-
-
-
-
-
-
      Llandudno arr
 
                                The Conwy Valley Line
 
 
M-F
Sat
Llew Jones
bus 19
Sat
M-F
M-F
Sat
 
  Llandudno (T for Wales) dep
0708 j
0745
10.19
10.22
13.19
13.17
  Llandudno (T for Wales) dep
  Deganwy (T for Wales) dep
0712 j
|
|
\|/
10.23
10.26
13.23
13.21
  Deganwy (T for Wales) dep
 
M-F
Sat
|
|
|
|
 
  Llandudno Junction (T for Wales) dep
07.28
07.28
0758 ###
10.31
10.32
13.37
13.29
  Llandudno Junction (T for Wales) dep
  Llanrwst (T for Wales) dep
07.52
07.53
###
10.54
10.55
14.01
13.52
  Llanrwst (T for Wales) dep
  Betws-y-Coed ("The Gateway to Snowdonia") arr
07.58
07.59
###
11.00
11.01
14.07
13.58
  Betws-y-Coed ("The Gateway to Snowdonia") arr
 
 
      Betws-y-Coed "S1" Sherpa dep  (platform 2 layby)
no 0803
Sherpa
in the
winter
09.03
-
11.05
-
12.03
-
15.03
-
      Betws-y-Coed "S1" Sherpa dep  (platform 2 layby)
      Pen-y-Pass "S1"/"S4"
09.30
0933
11.30
no
1133
Sherpa
in the
winter
12.30
no
1133
Sherpa
in the
winter
15.30
1535
      Pen-y-Pass "S1"/"S4"
      Llanberis Interchange "S1" Sherpa arr
09.50
|
11.50
12.50
15.50
|
      Llanberis Interchange "S1" Sherpa arr
      Caernarfon "S1" Sherpa arr
10.17
|
12.17
13.17
16.16
|
      Caernarfon "S1" Sherpa arr
           Beddgelert Sherpa arr
-
0957
-
-
-
1557
           Beddgelert Sherpa arr
           Porthmadog Sherpa arr
-
-
1027
-
-
-
1627
           Porthmadog Sherpa arr
  Blaenau Ffestiniog arr
08.32
08.32`
-
11.34
14.40
14.32
  Blaenau Ffestiniog arr
### - Unfortunately the first Conwy Valley train continues to depart before the arrival of the first Avanti and Transport for Wales trains from Birmingham/Chester   
Passengers travelling by train should change to the Llew Jones "19" bus to Betws-y-Coed which calls at Platform 5 (station yard) at Llandudno Junction    
- depart 07.58 and change to the 0903 "S1" Sherpa at Betws-y-Coed (or the 0901 TrawsCymru "T10" to Bangor via the Ogwen Valley - for Tryfan)    
* - arrives Llandudno Junction earlier (0947/1245/1246)    
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    
Purchase a "North Wales Day Rover" ticket to cover all trains and local buses (including the Sherpa and TrawsCymru journeys) at your first railway station    
b - There is no longer a train connection from the North Wales Coast stations into the early-morning Conwy valley Line train or the first Sherpa of the day    
- an alternative Arriva "12" bus operates from Rhyl via Colwyn Bay - alight at Llandudno "Law Courts" then walk round the corner into Vaughan Street    
to join the train - ("North Wales Day Rover" tickets are also valid on the bus)    
** - the Arriva "12" bus - calls to pick up outside the Council Offices on Conway Road - NOT the railway station
   
M-F - Mondays to Fridays only     Sat - Saturdays only     j - change trains at Llandudno Junction     A - operated by Avanti     * - depart Llandudno Junction 1653    
  GSch - Gwynedd School Days only --- these are understood to be Mondays to Fridays 17th April to 26th May,  5th June to 14th July and 4th September to 20th October    
(excluding local public holidays
)
    $ - Saturdays also Gwynedd School Holidays only --- confirm actual dates locally before setting out    
   
Llyn Gwynant                     Snowdon and Twin Lakes                        Llanberis Pass

                            Capel Curig and Twin lakes           Nant Gwynant Pass              Aberglaslyn Pass
BETWS-Y-COED <---> Pen-y-Pass <---> Beddgelert <---> Porthmadog
                                                     /|\                               /|\                        /|\
                                                     |                                |                        |
                         Llanberis Pass   |      SNOWDON                |
                                                     |                                           |
                                                   
   \|/                                          \|/
                                               Llanberis  <-------->   Caernarfon

 
Suggested Sherpa itineraries
latest bus times should be confirmed from the individual timetables on the official Gwynedd CC website
 

Click here for a selection of trips round Snowdonia from Betws-y-Coed station
(exit station and turn right to the "Platform 2" bus stop at the layby)

Passengers already holding a "North Wales Day Rover" can travel free on all the Sherpa and TrawsCymru connecting buses

Anyone without a combined train/bus ticket should purchase a £6.00 "1 bws" (one bus) day ticket" to cover ALL bus journeys from the driver of your first bus
M-F - Mondays to Fridays only     Sat - Saturdays only     j - change trains at Llandudno Junction     A - operated by Avanti     * - depart Llandudno Junction 1653    
  GSch - Gwynedd School Days only $ - Saturdays also Gwynedd School Holidays only --- confirm locally before setting out    
Return train times
latest times should be confirmed from the individual timetables on the official Transport for Wales website
   
M-F
Sat
 
M-F
Sat
 
M-F
Sat
   
           Porthmadog "S4" Sherpa dep
no
1330
Sherpa
in the
winter
-
-
-
1430
-
no
1530
Sherpa
in the
winter
-
no
1630
Sherpa
in the
winter
-
1635
-
-
no
1730
Sherpa
in the
winter
-
1905
-
-
           Porthmadog "S4" Sherpa dep
  Blaenau Ffestiniog (T for Wales) dep
-
14.57
14.56
|
-
-
-
1707
17.35
17.38
-
1937
20.27
20.22
  Blaenau Ffestiniog (T for Wales) dep
           Beddgelert "S4" Sherpa dep
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
\|/
|
|
|
|
|
|
\|/
1500
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
\|/
|
|
|
|
|
|
\|/
-
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
\|/
|
|
|
|
|
|
\|/
           Beddgelert "S4" Sherpa dep
      Caernarfon "S1" Sherpa dep
13.41
|
14.41
15.41
no
1641
Sherpa
in the
winter
-
17.41
-
      Caernarfon "S1" Sherpa dep
      Llanberis Interchange "S1" Sherpa dep 
14.10
|
15.10
16.10
-
18.10
-
      Llanberis Interchange "S1" Sherpa dep 
      Pen-y-Pass "S4"/"S1"
14.30
1522
15.30
16.30
-
18.30
-
      Pen-y-Pass "S4"/"S1"
      Betws-y-Coed "S1" Sherpa arr
-
14.55
-
15.55
>>>>>>>
16.55
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
-
18.55
>>>>
      Betws-y-Coed "S1" Sherpa arr
 
                                The Conwy Valley Line   (click here for alternative return connections via Bangor)
 
   
M-F
Sat
 
M-F
Sat
 
M-F
Sat
 
  Betws-y-Coed (T for Wales) dep
-
15.24
15.23
-
18.02
18.05
 
20.54
20.49
  Betws-y-Coed (T for Wales) dep
  Llanrwst (T for Wales) dep
-
15.30
15.29
-
18.08
18.11
 
21.00
20.55
  Llanrwst (T for Wales) dep
  Llandudno Junction (T for Wales) arr
-
15.59
15.58
-
18.36
18.40
 
21.25
21.23
  Llandudno Junction (T for Wales) arr
  Deganwy (T for Wales)
-
16.07
16.08
-
18.40
18.44
 
21.35
21.34
  Deganwy (T for Wales)
  Llandudno (T for Wales) arr
-
16.14
16.15
-
18.47
18.51
 
21.43
21.42
  Llandudno (T for Wales) arr
-
M-F
Sat
-
M-F
M-F
Sat
 
M-F
M-F
Sat
      Llandudno Junction (T for Wales) dep   j
-
1623
1630
-
1839
1853
1855
 
2129
2157
2133
      Llandudno Junction (T for Wales) dep   j
      Colwyn Bay (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1629
1636
-
1845
1859
1901
 
2135
2203
2139
      Colwyn Bay (T for Wales) arr   j
      Abergele (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1705*
1705*
-
|
1905
1907
 
2141
2211
2145
      Abergele (T for Wales) arr   j
      Rhyl (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1640
1647
-
1855
1912
1914
 
2147
2218
2151
      Rhyl (T for Wales) arr   j
      Prestatyn (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1646
1653
-
1901
1918
1920
 
2153
2224
2157
      Prestatyn (T for Wales) arr   j
      Flint (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1700
1707
-
1915
1931
1933
 
2207
2239
2210
      Flint (T for Wales) arr   j
      Shotton (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1737*
1737*
-
|
1937
1939
 
2213
2246
2215
      Shotton (T for Wales) arr   j
      Chester (T for Wales) arr   j
-
1717
1725
-
1931
1949
1951
 
2225
2259
2227
      Chester (T for Wales) arr   j
- Sherpa journey operated by      
M-F - Mondays to Fridays only     Sat - Saturdays only     j - change trains at Llandudno Junction     A - operated by Avanti     * - depart Llandudno Junction 1653    
  GSch - Gwynedd School Days only (excluding local public holidays)
    $ - Saturdays also Gwynedd School Holidays only --- - confirm dates locally before setting out    
  latest times should always be confirmed from the individual timetables on the official Gwynedd CC or Conwy CC websites  and any subsequent amendments thereto  

    Home Page    


    News Page    


    Tickets    


    Contacts    


    Contents    
Timetables
Suggested Sherpa Trips
Click here for the next period of this page

Bangor - Snowdonia  (via Llanberis)
Barmouth - Snowdonia  (via Porthmadog)
Bethesda - Capel Curig - Betws-y-Coed
Bethesda - Capel Curig - Llanberis
Betws-y-Coed - Capel Curig - Bethesda
Betws-y-Coed - Pen-y-Pass - Llanberis - Caernarfon
Betws-y-Coed - Llandudno  (connections)
Betws-y-Coed - Pen-y-Pass - Porthmadog
Caernarfon - Llanberis - Pen-y-Pass - Betws-y-Coed
Caernarfon/Porthmadog - Beddgelert - Llanberis
Caernarfon - Beddgelert - Porthmadog
Llanberis Pass --- Park and Ride
Llanberis - Capel Curig - Bethesda
Llanberis - Pen-y-Pass - Betws-y-Coed
Llanberis - Beddgelert - Caernarfon/Porthmadog
Llandudno/Colwyn Bay - Betws-y-Coed  (connections)
Llandudno - Snowdonia  (via Betws-y-Coed)
Porthmadog - Beddgelert - Caernarfon
Porthmadog/Caernarfon - Beddgelert - Llanberis
Porthmadog - Pen-y-Pass - Betws-y-Coed
Pwllheli - Snowdonia  (via Porthmadog)
Snowdonia - Bangor  (via Llanberis) 
Snowdonia - Barmouth  (via Porthmadog)
 Snowdonia - Llandudno  (via Betws-y-Coed or Caernarfon) 
Snowdonia - Pwllheli  (via Porthmadog)
Climb Snowdon - with the Sherpas   (summary)
Ride Round Snowdon - with the Sherpas   (summary)

Suggested weekday trips from Barmouth
Suggested weekday trips from Beddgelert
Suggested weekday trips from Betws-y-Coed
Suggested weekday trips from Caernarfon
Suggested weekday trips from Conwy
Suggested weekday trips from Llanberis
Suggested weekday trips from Llandudno
Suggested weekday trips from Llanrwst
Suggested weekday trips from Porthmadog

Suggested Sunday trips from Barmouth
Suggested Sunday trips from Beddgelert
Suggested Sunday trips from Betws-y-Coed
Suggested Sunday trips from Caernarfon
Suggested Sunday trips from Conwy
Suggested Sunday trips from Llanberis
Suggested Sunday trips from Llandudno
Suggested Sunday trips from Llanrwst
Suggested Sunday trips from Porthmadog

Suggested weekday trips from
Suggested Sunday trips from
North Wales Coast Railway stations
(via Betws-y-Coed)

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
Porthmadog area to Llanberis
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
Porthmadog area to Llanberis
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


This page last  Updated - snowdon sherpa bus service on 24th November 2023   e-mail webmaster   (c)2023

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