Видео

A wonderful journey with glorious scenery and great food and drink, you really kicked a goal with that day out. Take care and stay safe, cheers from Oz.

You are in Paddy land my good man, where everything and infrastructure is 50years behind Europe and the UK

I agree with you about Purple Moose Brewery. The best beer in Wales.

Greetings from Australia. Recall doing that journey around twenty years ago. Was staying in Wrexham. At the time there was available a 20 pound day ticket for trains in North Wales, which included a journey on the Ffestiniog Railway. Really got a scenic trip and value for money back then. We first went to Llandudno Junction, then on the branch line to Blaenau. Then on the Ffestionog to Porthmadoc, where we changed trains for the coast line to Shrewsbury. Even then the two car train was very busy, I remember we were invaded by scores of school kids in the afternoon from Harlech to Barmouth. I seem to recall we again changed trains in Shrewsbury for our return to Wrexham, and the final train consisted of a considerable number of carriages for our final leg.

I'd say the reason the platforms in ballybrophy were numbered like that is that once upon a time there were just two platforms facing each other, then three and four were added later and they just kept the original numbers.

Never been disappointed with purple moose brewery

Who was shouting and what did they say? 10.02 Half the station turned around. 🤦‍♂️

TfW trains always seem crowded. I've watched a number of RUclips videos and it seems to be an ongoing theme. The network seems to lack carriages / additional seating. A nice scenic route, you seemed to have got decent weather.

Just looked up Barmouth Bridge, the Victorians didn't mess about did they!

This looks great. I recently found out that Transport for Wales still offer a nectar points collection scheme . Most train companies did before (C-word) but I can only find one other that still does (eurostar) . You log in to nectar , look for the list of partners , there's a box that says travel , they'll be a link for various travel companies . Find the Transport for Wales one and I think you have to ''reserve'' a place on a tfw service to collect the nectar points but this reservation serves no other purpose on flexible tickets.

Great day out..

What a fabulous day out. Thanks for taking us along.

I've commented on the Eurpstar video, I've of course also done the connecting part with this train each time. next time I will take the new Eurostar Ruby formerly known as Thalys tho, curious how different it will feel. The ICE 3M are only allowed 250 km/h on the Belgian HSL due to them throwing up stones from the track bed and damaging the train if they go faster, the ICE 3 Neo are supposedly not having this problem anymore and the ex-Thalys also *should* go the full 300. Altho in return only go 200 on the leg between Cologne to Aachen, due to power conversion inefficiencies... Anyway, looking forward to that trip.

Don't know what day you filmed this but the mornings round Shrewsbury last few days have been broken train central 😂 Marks 4s ey 😂

Done this route 4 times now, twice each way. WIll be doing a 5th in october, but as I'm based in Hamburg, which is quite far away, opted for a flight back from England this time. Always traveling in Standard Premier, the light meal service, free drinks (including wine) and spacious seats are just really good. Business Premier gets a bigger meal and lounge access, but is not worth the money I'd say. It's more for people who accumulate points via Eurostar Club and get an upgrade.

Great rail journey - signal box at Shrewsbury, Barmouth bridge and the scenery is amazing,. The wife and I did it last summer and also went to Portmerion by bus and a walk. There is also the narrow gauge Welsh Highland rail to Caernorfon which is an exceptional journey And Purple Moose 👍

That food was horrendously expensive, I can get a 3 course very tasty meal in a pub here for €15. €30 for 2, even less if a midweek deal on. £18 is about €22. I won't comment on the pronunciation of Shrewsbury.

What a fantastic train journey, plus the pub looked great too

Shell islands a magical place. Highly recommended if your into camping. Great video as always.

And the best chip shop is walkers in aberdovey,.

How much do you tip the driver? I always give them £10

It would be cheaper to get the Tube from Victoria than Golders Green.

That was a great trip thanks. I often stay at Portmerion but have never looked around Port Madoc but will now on your recommendation.

Terrific video of a wonderful journey. Yep, Wales has come a long way in the past couple of decades with the quality of cafes, bistros and restaurants, as for the sartorially challenged punters that are out and about these days...........jeez.............

Yes, Luxair remains one of the very few true full service airlines. It's catering service, first and foremost on it's luxair tours holiday flights, is unmatched on intraeuropean flights.

oh wowzers mark yet another brilliant video mate the beautiful scenery on the train lovely food also you couldn't resist a good old beer in beautiful wales who was the lady who was with you was she a friend or yours take mate

The Cambrian Coast Express which I think left London at 10am, in the steam days did the same split with one portion for Pwhelli and one for Aber. I might have this wrong but back them it stopped either at Oxford or Banbury then onto Birmingham Snow Hill. At Wolverhampton the restaurant car was taken off, then at Shrewsbury the Castle or Kings loco was swopped for a Manor class loco as there was a strict weight limit and the Manors were the heaviest locos permitted on the rest of the route. I only know this from books.

Brilliant, and you were blessed with amazing weather for the most part. That cafe, in particular, looked to be astounding value for money.

Purple Mouse Beers are very good i do like the dark one they do a lot. The tap room does look good.

rode the same stretch last year on a glorious summer's day. it is very picturesque indeed. there are great views on both sides, too. But the train does get really really busy. As for pylons.. I actually like them

Red Sauce or Brown Sauce is the question on the bap

Another brilliant video Mark. Im heading to Porthmadog in few weeks so will try your recommendations. When youre doing your pub / cafe reviews would it be possible to tell us if we can bring out furry friends in with us : )

Irish Rail is a notoriously poorly run state company. The kitchen closed during Covid like everything else in IR, they saw an opportunity to stop a service, for it never to be seen again.

Enjoyed your video again as I live in Harlech near the castle, the pylons you mentioned are slowly being replaced by underground cables across the estuary, there has been a lot of work going on by the new bridge you crossed on the train over the last few months. Have been in the Big Rock cafe several times as Porthmadog is our nearest small shopping centre. Shame you didn't continue on to Phwelli as you would have last our favourite place Criccieth were we go most weeks for Fish & Chips by the castle and then an ice cream shop opposite where you can sit with great views across the bay.

great video love the welsh trips

Wicked video mate and place looks awesome too

TY.

13:08 It looks more like a restaurant than a normal café

I don't know what it's like now in these more Health & Safety conscious days, but back in the 70s my memory of the ramparts of Harlech Castle was of being scarily vulnerable up there. Even without the price saving that would be a terrific value journey, 3 and a half hours of beautiful scenery for the equivalent of a 20 minute journey into central London.

😮 nice 1 mark and jo great café and I didn't catch the price of the pint M8 what a day out ✅ thanks for the wonderful 📹 Pal all the best John 😊😊

Great! How was the mountain bit to Machynlleth? My parents live near Aberystwyth and I now live in the US, so whenever I come home I always drive, but I might take the train up next time (if Trainline fares look ok). That said - with just 2 cars, there might not be space for a suitcase.

Remember! You can join me and order online from Purple Moose. My favourites are High Hops and Dark Side.

Great Video, Inspired me to head out to the castle for sure.. Food looks amazing, Great to see Jo in the video, good choice with the cake 👍

Great as always 👍

Stunning journey, I've done it a couple of times. Not sure the new class 197s will be suitable to that line with the old, jointed single track, the class 158s are miles ahead of comfort and suspension. Modern times?

I travelled on this same route on the Ben My Chree last May and had no complaints other than the interior was looking very aged. Done the same route this last Monday, returning this afternoon, 5.6.24 on the Manxman and all I can say is WOW!, I had high expectations from viewing various You Tube videos, but this ship is different class to anything I've travelled on before. Clean,modern and comfortable on the main deck,7. I'm.normally very sea sick in anything other than a smooth sea,but despite a near gale force seven on the outward crossing, the ships stabilisers cancelled this out, apart from walking a bit unsteady. If I had to make any complaint, it would be that there is very little seating on deck 9. Overall 10/ 10. Great review,BTW 🙂

Great Video Mark

No camping but we did stay at the Ty Mawr Hotel at Llanbedr a few years ago, the weather was so good it was breakfast on the patio every morning. Totally agree with you on Purple Moose beers and we visited the Australia a few times and on subsequent visits to the area. Currently in our fridge is a can of Chocolate Moose (chocolate & vanilla porter) acquired in Welshpool last weekend when visiting the W&L Light Railway that coincidentally had beer festival on! Keep up the good work with trip reports.

tfw are crap on on passenger comfort......Cardiff to Manchester...2 car...come on!!!

Seeing Barmouth (AKA the Costa Del Wolverhampton!) reminded me of my honeymoon trip there, we were sat outside the B&B as the night fell and I heard the train coming from Twywn - it was so dark that the bridge was invisible and I was treated to the ghostly sight of a Transport for Wales train floating across the estuary! Great memory. 😀😀😀😀