Exploring the Great Orme, Llandudno, Wales

On a recent trip to Llandudno, a ride to the top of the Great Orme was high on our list of must-do excursions. The word Orme is an old Norse word that means ‘serpent’s head’ and it is thought that the hill was given this name because it appears to be the head of this creature with its body wrapping around Llandudno Bay.

We chose to take the tram for our ride up the Great Orme. The Great Orme Tramway was proposed in 1898 when the pathway for the track was laid out. It was opened in 1902 and is Great Britain’s only cable operated tram…making up one of only three in the world, along with ones in San Francisco and Lisbon. Originally the tram was powered by steam, but in 1957 it was converted to electric.

The climb itself is a steep ascent that wastes no time in taking you up, up, up, the side of the hill. The total ride takes about 20 minutes and transports you 1500 metres to the summit of the Great Orme. Keep your gaze looking back down to catch some fantastic views of Llandudno and the shoreline. A bit of a tip here…try and sit on the right hand side when you are facing the rear of the tram.

The Great Orme itself was once used as a copper mine that dates back 4000 years to the Bronze Age. It was used on and off over the centuries until the late-1800’s when it was abandoned. At the half-point of the tram-ride, where you must disembark and catch the second tram. Here you can visit the Bronze Age Copper Mine and explore the caves below.

From this location you can then choose to walk the rest of the way to the top (about a 15 minute walk) or catch the second tram to transport you to the summit of the Great Orme. We chose to walk and get some more views of the valley below.

Once you reach the summit the panoramic views of land and sea are truly spectacular! There are pathways that will lead you around the edge of the Great Orme where you can look south towards the Conwy Estuary and, on a clear day, the Snowdonia Mountains behind.

As you continue to meander along the western side of the Great Orme, walking beside the stone wall and enjoying the colourful wildflowers that grow here, look to your left and you will be able to see the island of Anglesey directly across the Menai Straits.

While at the summit you can also check out the visitor centre, the wildflower garden, and the restaurant, as well as wander the remains of a limestone rock quarry where you can search for fossils in the exposed rocks.

Other options to reach the top of the Great Orme are to drive, take the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, or ride the cable-car. If you decide to take the cable-car check first as it does not operate if the wind gusts are too high.

We spent quite a bit of time exploring the Great Orme. There was lots to see and do, and the scenery was incredible. Make sure and include this location on any trip to Llandudno!