Getting to Betws-y-Coed
How to reach Betws-y-Coed by train, bus, taxi, or car.
Train
Betws-y-Coed station (CRS code BYC) is on the Conwy Valley line, which runs between Llandudno Junction on the north Wales coast and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Transport for Wales runs the trains. The station opened in 1868 and is unstaffed, with no ticket office, so buy your ticket on the train. It is also the village's bus interchange: the Sherpa'r Wyddfa S1 leaves from the station for Swallow Falls and Pen-y-Pass, and Transport for Wales's timetable consultation says the trains are timed to connect with it. The line has had long closures after storms and floods, including March 2019, after flooding in December 2020, and after flooding in April 2024, so check tfw.wales on the day.
- Station
- Betws-y-Coed, CRS code BYC, Station Road, LL24 0AE. Transport for Wales says the walk to the village centre takes about a minute. St Michael's Old Church is about 100 metres east of the station.
- Parking
- Station car park run by Conwy Council: 75 spaces, 4 accessible, listed as free by Transport for Wales.
- Access
- Step-free category B1 per Transport for Wales: step-free access to the platform, which may be by ramp or via the street.
- Frequency
- Transport for Wales's 2025 consultation gave the last train from Llandudno as 19:04 at that time. A new Conwy Valley timetable was consulted on for December 2026; check which version is running.
- Verification
- National Rail and Transport for Wales list Betws-y-Coed station, Station Road, LL24 0AE, as BYC. A live TransportAPI board for BYC on 16 October 2026 at 07:44 returned station_name Betws Y Coed with Transport for Wales departures to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno.
- Disruption
- Rail replacement buses stop in the layby on Station Road, per Transport for Wales.
Tips
- •Buy tickets on the train; there is no ticket office.
- •Change at Llandudno Junction for trains along the north Wales coast and to Manchester Airport.
- •The miniature railway beside the station is part of the Conwy Valley Railway Museum, a separate business from the Conwy Valley line.
🚆 National Rail from Betws-y-Coed
Live departures
National Rail service from Betws-y-Coed. Updates every half hour.
Bus
The Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses are how most people without a car get from Betws to the start of the Yr Wyddfa paths. Eryri National Park's Sherpa page says to take the S1 from Betws-y-Coed to Pen-y-Pass, and the 2026 Sherpa timetable from 28 March has the S1 leaving Betws-y-Coed train station hourly at three minutes past, calling at Swallow Falls six minutes later and reaching Pen-y-Pass 22 minutes after leaving Betws; the last bus back from Pen-y-Pass on that timetable left at 18:30. The timetable shows Sherpa day tickets at £7.50 for an adult. Betws-y-Coed Community Council also names the T10 to Bangor as a bus past Swallow Falls. Winter Sherpa services are reduced, so check the current timetable before relying on a bus back down.
- Sherpa S1
- Betws-y-Coed train station to Pen-y-Pass, 22 minutes on the 2026 timetable, hourly; Swallow Falls is six minutes from the station.
- Fares
- Sherpa day ticket £7.50 adult on the 2026 timetable.
- Winter
- Reduced winter network; check the current Sherpa'r Wyddfa timetable.
- Caveat
- Times are from the timetable in force from 28 March 2026; check Traveline Cymru on the day.
Tips
- •Know the time of the last bus down before you start walking.
- •The S1 stops at Swallow Falls, which saves walking the A5.
Useful Links
Taxis
No taxi firm could be confirmed for this guide, so none is listed. Ask your accommodation or check Traveline Cymru for local operators, and book ahead rather than expecting a car at the station.
- Status
- No operator listed.
Tips
- •Book ahead for early or late trains.
Driving and Parking
Betws is on the A5, Telford's Shrewsbury to Holyhead road, which comes in over Waterloo Bridge at the south-east end of the village and runs through it as Holyhead Road towards Swallow Falls and Capel Curig. The A470 also passes the village: Zip World's site and the Fairy Glen are both off it.
- Routes
- A5 through the village from Waterloo Bridge; A470 past Zip World and the Fairy Glen.
- Station
- Station car park: 75 spaces, run by Conwy Council, listed as free by Transport for Wales.
- Forest
- Pont y Pair car park, by the bridge, is the start for NRW's Gwydir Forest trails from the village and is charged, per Natural Resources Wales. The public toilets there are run by the council and also charge.
- Caveat
- Car park charges and limits change; check the signs.
Tips
- •On busy summer weekends, come by train if you can.
- •Swallow Falls and Tŷ Hyll are both on the A5 west of the village; Conwy Falls is on the A5 to the south-east.
- •Zip World's on-site parking is charged unless you pre-pay with your booking.
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Manchester AirportMAN
- Duration
- Not confirmed in this research; check a journey planner
- Cost
- Variable by ticket; check when booking
Transport for Wales runs direct trains between Manchester Airport and Llandudno Junction (a live Llandudno Junction board on 16 October 2026 showed a 07:57 departure to Manchester Airport). Change at Llandudno Junction for the Conwy Valley line. Plan the full journey and connection times on tfw.wales.
Operator: Transport for Wales
- Duration
- Not confirmed in this research
- Cost
- Fuel
Route not checked against a live planner.
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
Accessibility Facilities
Royal Oak Hotel and Y Stablau accessible toilets
Accessible toilet · Royal Oak Hotel, Holyhead Road
Accessible toilets with baby changing in the main hotel and in Y Stablau, per the hotel's access statement.
Tŷ Hyll Blue Badge space
Blue badge parking · Tŷ Hyll upper car park, A5
One space reserved for Blue Badge holders, per the Snowdonia Society.
Parking
Parking options in and around Betws-y-Coed. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the train is recommended.
Betws-y-Coed station car park
Run by Conwy Council and listed as free by Transport for Wales. It fills on summer weekends.
Pont y Pair car park
By the bridge; the start for NRW's Gwydir Forest trails from the village. Charged, per Natural Resources Wales; check the tariff on the machines.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around United Kingdom.
Getting Around United Kingdom →Top Tip
The train is the best way to get to Betws-y-Coed. You arrive right in the heart of Betws-y-Coed, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.