The Conwy Valley Line in North Wales has been named the world's fifth most beautiful railway in a new ranking by Viva Holidays, making it the highest-placed UK line on the list.
The ranking measured how much there is to see from an average mile of track, with railways scored on altitude range, bridges and viaducts, protected landscape and water frontage, then divided by the length of the route. Every mile spent inside a tunnel counts against a route, on the grounds that passengers cannot admire scenery they are travelling underneath.
Scenic Route Through Snowdonia
The Conwy Valley Line runs from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog, covering just 26 miles through the rugged valleys of Snowdonia National Park. The journey takes over an hour due to the railway's meandering and steeply graded nature, passing a wildlife-rich estuary and striking rock formations.
Despite its leisurely pace, the route chiefly caters to everyday commuters and locals, while also attracting railway enthusiasts from across the country. One traveller commented on Tripadvisor: "The line from Blaenau Ffestiniog up to Llandudno is incredibly scenic, and if you're looking for a rail journey in Snowdonia this is right up there with the heritage narrow gauge lines."
Recent Investment and Innovations
The line reopened to passengers in October last year following four weeks of engineering works by Network Rail, part of a £1.4 million investment to bolster resilience against harsh weather. Teams felled hazardous trees and cleared 600,000m2 of vegetation along 54 miles of track to prevent fallen trees from disrupting services during storms.
Last autumn, Network Rail trialled a novel rail treatment on the line, using a road-to-rail vehicle to apply a specialist gel solution to the tracks. The organisation announced: "Network Rail is expanding the use of an innovative rail treatment across North Wales following a successful trial which saw no reported slippery-rail incidents or related delays on the Conwy Valley Line last autumn, compared with almost 500 minutes of delays the previous year."
The coating works by breaking down leaf contamination and remains effective for up to seven days before being reactivated by rainfall. Network Rail stated: "The Conwy Valley line is one of the most picturesque in Wales, but also one of the most weather-exposed. In the past decade, storms have forced the line to close for more than 500 days - disrupting passengers and the transportation of freight good."
Planned Closure in 2027
The line will be closed from Saturday 9 to Friday 29 January 2027, with no trains operating between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog during that period.
