ANY tourist attraction that bills itself as 'Britain's only public road cable tramway' needs to take a good look at its publicity department. It's not the most scintillating boast, but the Great Orme Tramway is a hugely popular attraction - and deservedly so. Not because it is 'Britain's only public road cable tramway', but because it reeks of Victorian charm and takes almost every visitor to Llandudno on a delightfully old-fashioned trip up to the summit of the resort's most notable natural feature. What's more, the tramway played a pivotal role in the development of Llandudno as a tourist resort. In Victorian times, roads to the Great Orme were hazardous. Since the Great Orme is such an inescapable part of the Llandudno skyline, local businessmen were desperate to use it to increase tourist numbers. So they came up with the idea of a cable tramway, which opened in 1902. Construction took just 15 months! Things got done quickly in those days. It is frightening to think how long such a scheme would take nowadays - two decades perhaps, after all the focus groups and unforeseen delays? After it opened, the cable allowed visitors to safely visit the Great Orme. Once up there, they could enjoy the newly built attractions and the timeless view of Snowdonia and the bay. The lower funicular starts in a narrow street, and is laid in a paved roadway just like the famous trams of San Francisco. The cars are hauled by a single rope driven from the engine-house: as one car ascends, the other descends. The upper funicular is laid as open tracks, with the cable running over its pulleys. In 2002 the Great Orme Tramway will celebrate its centenary. What better excuse could you have for a visit?
Directions to the Great Orme Tramway | 
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