Cyfeillion Cadw Tremadog

Porthmadog did not exist before William Madocks, in 1811, built a sea wall, the Cob, to reclaim a large proportion of Traeth Mawr from the sea for agricultural use.  The diversion of the Glaslyn river caused it to scour out a new natural harbour and the first wharves were built in 1825.

The rapidly expanding cities of England and northern Europe needed high quality roofing slate, which was transported from the quarries to the new port by tramway.  The Ffestiniog Railway opened in 1836, followed by other tramways.

Shipbuilding was a major industry with nearly three hundred vessels built at Porthmadog and Borth-y-gest including, latterly, the famous Western Ocean Yachts.

The local ships engaged in other deep-sea trade, carrying phosphates from the West Indies and salt cod from Newfoundland and Labrador.  The outbreak of WWI brought a halt to shipbuilding and the start of an acceleration of the decline in slate exports.  The last cargo was loaded in 1948.

Ships continued to call at the port up to the 1980s.  The Florence Cooke was a regular caller to load explosives and unload general cargoes.  Heavy equipment was brought in for building Trawsfynydd and other power stations in the 1960s and 1980s.

The museum, situated in the last remaining slate shed on the harbour, has a large collection of artefacts depicting the seafaring activities of the area - the development of the port, the shipbuilding, the ships, and the lives of the seafarers.
 
There is a special area with activities for children.

Why not combine a trip on the Ffestiniog Railway with a visit to the museum to see the full story and discover the maritime history of the area?

From the Mountains to the Sea

Experience a narrow-gauge railway restoration project first hand. Our volunteer staff are committed to restoring the Welsh Highland Railway which, in 1922, was the longest narrow-gauge railway in Wales. Enjoy the short train ride to Pen-Y-Mount to see a replica WHR Halt being constructed as it would have been in 1922. On the way we stop at Gelerts Farm Works for a guided tour, before arriving back in Porthmadog where you can browse through the books and videos in the shop or enjoy the home-cooked food in the cafe.

With some of the most comfortable carriages on any preserved railway - standard or narrow gauge - you can step back in time to a more civilised age.

Relax and enjoy the stunning scenery of Snowdonia in comfort, with at-seat buffet service, snacks, refreshments and a fully-licenced bar featuring locally-brewed award-winning beers.

As the oldest railway company in the world still operating trains, we know a bit about what makes a journey special. Even a short trip on our railways will help you unwind - so much so, we think you'll want to do it all over again...

The Ffestiniog Railway is the world's oldest narrow gauge railway with almost 200 years of history, taking you on a 13½-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

We still operate three of our original locomotives - over 150 years old - and original carriages, offering an unrivalled journey back into the golden age of rail travel.

Our historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round tight bends (even a complete spiral) clinging to the side of the mountain or tunnelling through it.

Discover why engineers from around the world visited the Ffestiniog to see how it should be done.

A Welsh Highland Railway Garratt heads through the Aberglaslyn Pass towards Beddgelert

The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK's longest heritage railway and runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon, past the foot of Snowdon and the picture postcard village of Beddgelert, then through the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog. Passengers ride in some of the most comfortable carriages on any heritage railway in the UK, including first class Pullman luxury and freshly-cooked food delivered to your seat.

2014 saw the opening of the new £1.25 million Porthmadog Harbour Station, offering greatly-improved passenger facilities and a convenient cross-platform interchange between the two railways. The opening in 2018 of our futuristic new station in Caernarfon will offer world class facilites.