Languishing At Llandudno - 2

Serving The Enormous Orme

You could once buy a postcard which shows the historic public transport available in Llandudno. On the left is a maroon painted bus operated by Llandudno Urban District Council; then a tram from the Colwyn Bay local authority and on the right a Crosville bus. 

fbb rode on a similar tram 75 years ago (Yikes!) aged c. 4 and the diddy maroon buses ceased operation in 1974.

They were best known for the route round the private road that rings the Great Orme, predecessors of today's tour buses.

Open charabanc types ...

... were later replaced by a variety of quaint but small vehicles.

Whilst the obvious way to the Great Orme Summit has always been the tram ...

... the UDC did serve the area. Photos show a bus to St Tudno's Church but whether it ran via Marine Drive and wiggled up the hill ...

... fbb knows not and can find no tangible evidence.

This remote church, on the slopes of Great Orme, gives its name to the modern town of "Llan Tudno". 

Does a map help?

Maybe, maybe not. But here's a bus doing it!

The bus looks like it is climbing up or trundling down the wiggle!

By the time of a privatised Crossville Cymru, route 73 rather garishly advertises a destination of Tyn Y Coed Road ...

... which would be a short working on the way to the Summit.

Nothing runs along this road today but the present bus service to the Summit passes the end - as does the tram.

Crosville Cymru begat Arriva Cymru and a variety of route numbers have been used for a trip to the caff at the top of the hill.

We shall meet route 19 later this week!

Today's service is provided by the summer season only Arriva 26 and Solos usually do the slow hourly run up  the hill. It's low gear grind all the way!

We can take a ride c/o Streetview

At the top end of Mostyn Street (main shopping thoroughfare) we jiggle across following the brown and white signs to Great Orme.

We hang a sharp left ...

... and climb up ...

... until the tram comes up its hill to join us.

We stay with the first (lower) tram ...

... until Halfway station.

From here the second (higher) tram takes over and follows a less undulating climb.

Soon the bus passes the turn to St Tudno's ...

... complete with a minimalist level crossing and cable car above!

Eschewing the line of the track, our 26 continues its ascent ...

... until the joys and delights of the Summit come into view.

It would be fair to say that the main white building with tower has "seen better days", BUT ...

... if you have access to your personal helicopter, or even a good quality drone, the Great Orme is a fantastic place.

But coming down is more fun, as we shall see tomorrow.

 Next Orme Descent : Wednesday 18th Sept