First ever journey on the Ffestiniog Railway did not disappoint. After reading and watching many documentaries and reading so many books on the railway, myself and my parents decided to visit the railway. We left enough time to travel to Porthmadog from where we were staying. I had originally planned to travel to Beddgelert, but for whatever reason the journey was cancelled, the staff contacted me and allowed me to change my train to the Mountain Spirit journey to Blaenau Ffestiniog. This was in no means a downgrade and I was still so happy on the journey, despite rain being forecast for the majority of the journey we had sun and great views. Rain started again the moment we reached Blennau Ffestiniog and had to step outside! The only disappointing thing was the amount of time we had in Blennau Ffestiniog, it was only 40 minutes and with the downpour of rain it was not worth venturing beyond the station as we would have been in such a rush. I would have loved to have visited some smaller businesses while there, but alas. Maybe this is something they can improve on. My parents and I realised by the time we returned back to Porthmadog, we would only have 10 minutes to reach our connecting train back to where we were staying and the next train home would be very late. I asked the guard would it be okay if we stopped Minnffordd which has a connecting station to the main line and he was more than happy to oblige. The train stopped and the guard guided us to the crossing point. Very pleasant chap and good bit of service I have to say. We only had to wait 15 minutes at Minffordd for the connecting train home then. All in all this was a terrific journey and did not disappoint my childhood dreams of what I expected this railway journey to be like. I hope to return one day with my partner to try out the Welsh Highland stretch of the journey to Caernarfon.

Great little trip up to Blaenau Ffestiniog and back from Porthmadog. Disappointed as only got 35min stay at Blaenau Ffestiniog when we got there as had to come back; only train of the day. Beautiful steam train and we were able to get some lovely pictures of it and travel as you would ‘back in the day’. All staff were lovely from booking in to alighting on the return. Thanks to all the volunteers for the work they do and we hope they have a great season.

A really enjoyable experience for my 7-year old daughter, wife and I. We booked the woodland wanderer trip and the duration was just enough. Service was on time, staff were very professional, and the trains and facilities were in excellent working order. The car park coordinator and the front of station staff were particularly welcoming and helpful. Great value for money.

Just returned from a wonderful trip from Porthmadog to Caenarfon and back. Views were fantastic and visibility amazing we were even able to see the buildings at the top of Mt Snowdon. Service on board from Lyn and her team was excellent, as was that from the train host and his team. However our train was delayed a while in Beddgelert as this was not a normal day, the ferns and bracken near the tracks was tinder dry and a small fire had developed, so we had to wait until the fire brigade had extinguished the fire near the tracks. The teams on our train and the other going in the opposite direction were exceptional, they kept us informed at all times regarding the wait and progress, they provided us with free refreshment. The engine drivers and firemen gave detailed information about 'the world of steam' and their engines to many interested passengers especially children, while others in the crew enthusiastically entertained us with histories of the railway and its rolling stock. Anyone who has ever been delayed going on holiday can only dream of this level of professionalism and customer service, and they're all volunteers. A great day out and a wonderful adventure.

We went on the Woodland Wanderer train leaving from Porthmadog to Tan-Y-Bwlch. Lovely train ride through the woodlands, not too long or short, around 30/35 mins, perfect timing with an 18 month old in tow! Perfect for small children. We stopped at a nice tea room with a play area and short woodland walk. We had around 50 minutes there which was just enough to get a hot drink and have a wander down to the lake. Friendly staff at both ends and during to assist with tickets, train boarding and important information. Lovely, well kept station at Porthmadog with toilets, a gift shop and a cafe. Booking was easy and efficient, we rung up but booking online was also an option. Maybe a little expensive for the duration of the trip, depending on your budget, however we did really enjoy it and had no complaints at all! Perfect for a rainy day as well as sunny as carriages enclosed!

We went on the Woodland Wanderer, we were really enjoying our ride. Unfortunately the loco broke down halfway through our journey. The staff could not have been more helpful. Giving us regular updates on what was happening and organising a diesel logo to rescue us. Before we were even back I had a text message and email to say I had been refunded in full. Then received another text message inviting us for a free drink in the bar on our return. Fantastic customer service! Hope to go back one day to do the full trip.

The trip was brilliant taking us through the most beautiful scenery. The stop at Tanybwlch station was just long enough to have a nice cuppa and use the immaculate facilities before returning to Porthmadog. Every staff member and volunteer we met were friendly, polite and knowledgeable.

Very well run , first class tourism experience which is operated by people who are really engaged with the whole project. It's a great example of what can be achieved in Wales by responsibly exploiting Wales's unique characteristics and history and benefiting the local area. The only disappointment was the weather on the day which meant visibility was a little limited.

Travelled from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, lovely scenic views, done this trip a few times, still quite magical. A bit expensive, but we had a quieter carriage, so no screaming kids or right in the main season. Most enjoyable.

I traveled on the harbourmaster from Portmadog to Carmarthen, and what a pleasure to travel where your made to feel special from the moment you book in, lovely clean carriage, great on train service and stunning scenery made for a fabulous day out, great to have the option to sit alfresco in the open carriage too. It could have been even better if the stop over in Carmarthen was longer, and more needs to be made of the gradients. Highly recommended for adults and families.