The Cable Car from
the Happy Valley to the Great Orme Summit
is, at over one mile each way, the longest Aerial Cabin Lift in the
United Kingdom. It was built in 1969 and fully overhauled in
2006.
The four
seater cars are carried on an endless cable over
two miles long and which weighs over 17 tons. The lower
cable car
station (telephone 01492 876413) is on the lower slopes above the Happy Valley and
the entrance
is reached by the paths round either side of the building. The
following photos were all taken from the same car on a single upwards
journey.
These are just some
of the many magnificent views that can only be seen in this way as the
cabins glide almost silently through the air. Here soon after the
start
we look down on the delightful Happy Valley gardens and across the
valley at the crags and cliffs of the Great Orme overlooking the sea.
The Llandudno Ski &
Snowboard Centre with its alpine chalet bar and restaurant is open
all year and floodlit on winter evenings features a 200 metre main
slope, a training slope and a 750 metre toboggan run. The slopes are
surfaced with the latest 'Perma Snow' surface. Lessons for
beginners and active ski and snowboard clubs.
Looking to the
left (against the afternoon light) as we climb - The Tyn-y-Coed copper
mine village.
Wyddfyd
Road on the left of the ski slope and to the right of Tyn-y-Coed
village.
Looking back,
Llandudno Bay - The cable is
supported at intervals by steel pylons
and the greatest
distance
between two pylons is approximately 325 yards.
The car proceeds, quietly, smoothly, sedately ever upwards, on its way
to the
summit.
Penmynydd Uchaf
- one of the Great Orme Farms.
Crossing the
'halfway' plateau on its way to the summit. In the
distance upper left is Pyllau Farm.
Looking
back, the Halfway Tram Station on the Great Orme Tramway and the
views beyond of Maes-y-facrell and St Bueno's Road all add to the
many memories of this journey. In the distance
the modern town and resort of Llandudno.
Visit
the Bronze Age Copper
Mine explore its 3,500 year old underground passages -
the largest bronze age copper mine in Europe
and the oldest open to the public in
the world.
View the great opencast heart, the oldest part, mined out over 4,000
years ago.
In sight of the Summit Terminus. The above photos were all taken
during a single afternoon ride
and there are many more stunning views to see from the cars.
One of the many views from the summit - Saint Tudno's
churchyard in a sheltered hollow.
At the summit there is much to see
that can only be appreciated on foot.
Here at the summit and its visitor centre
one can soak up the history,
both ancient and modern, that the Great Orme provides.