Porthmadog - Railway & Riverside

Essential Intel

Bring change for parking, Explorers, and check the railways before you set off as the railways visited on this Trail have varying opening hours.

Some of this Trail has been previously published in the Llyn Peninsula South Treasure Hunt Trail, but there is lots more to explore and plenty of new Clues to solve!

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Porthmadog Railway & Riverside, with Explorers helping Jack Pott follow his ancestor Davy Jones's notebook to recover a missing golden ship's bell and return it to the Slate Railway.

The quest covers 2.7 miles and should take around 3 hours to complete. You'll begin at the town park on the High Street, explore the harbour and llyn (lake), investigate the railway areas, pass the war memorial, pause by the waters of Afon Glaslyn and loop back to the start area on the High Street.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. There are steep hills, unpaved surfaces, roads without pavements and steps along the route.

Take care when crossing roads and the railway track, and keep Mini Explorers close near the harbour edge, marina and water. There is also a return visit to the harbour's edge, with a chance to enjoy the views from Marine Terrace before retracing your steps.

Getting There

By car: Start your adventure at the entrance to the town park on the High Street, across the road from The Australia pub (LL49 9LR).

By car: The recommended parking spot is Llyn Bach pay and display car park (LL49 9PG), just off Madog Street. There are also other, smaller car parks dotted around.

By public transport: Make your way to the entrance to the town park on the High Street, across the road from The Australia pub, to begin the quest. The circular route returns to the start area on the High Street.

Need the Loo?

Public toilets are available on the High Street near the start. Later in the hunt, refreshments and toilets are available at the Harbour Railway station around Clue 08.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can join the quest, with possible restrictions 🐾

The route includes steep hills, steps, unpaved surfaces, roads without pavements, road crossings, a railway track crossing and waterside sections around the harbour and marina, so keep canine companions close and take particular care near traffic, steps and the water.

Food & Drink Stops

Treasure-hunting along the railway and riverside calls for decent supplies.

There are plenty of refreshments along the High Street, plus a large supermarket. Refreshments are also available at the Harbour Railway station around Clue 08.

If you'd rather bring your own provisions, there are lovely picnic spots around the harbour and the llyn (lake), with another suggested pause by the waters of Afon Glaslyn.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Town Park and Children's Play Area

The adventure starts by the town park on the High Street, with a children's play area near the beginning of the Trail. It's a handy place for Mini Explorers to burn off some pre-quest excitement before Jack Pott's missing bell business gets serious.

Porthmadog Harbour and the Llyn (lake)

The route circles around the harbour and a llyn (lake), making this one of the most scenic stretches of the quest. There are lovely picnic spots here too, so it's worth slowing down once you're not busy scanning every waterside detail for treasure intel.

Ffestiniog Harbour Railway Station

The Trail passes the harbour railway station, where there are refreshments and toilets. It can be busy at times, and the slate railway is now a tourist attraction carrying hundreds of passengers up to Blaenau every day.

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

This historic narrow gauge railway was opened in 1922 and lasted just 15 years, closing in 1937. The Trail visits its station car park, and the copy says it is now 'a bit different' - a tempting extra for railway-loving Adventurers.

Porthmadog War Memorial

The route approaches Porthmadog war memorial along a winding path with several memorial plaques. It was deliberately positioned and designed by Griff Morris to give a sense of procession from street level along the monolith-lined path, making it a thoughtful place to pause during the hunt.