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Location notes
Old Colwyn overlooks Colwyn Bay which is on the North Wales Coast Main Line. Colwyn Bay is a busy seaside resort, Old Colwyn is a residential area.
Railway type and traffic
Class 158 and 175 units work the majority of services along this line with Virgin's Voyagers and loco-hauled Pendolinos operating services to London.
The Penmaenmawr stone train runs as required (very rare too) and the Valley flasks vary traction from 20s, 37s and 57s.
The Penmaenmawr stone train runs as required (very rare too) and the Valley flasks vary traction from 20s, 37s and 57s.
Environment
Being high up over Colwyn Bay the path down the cliff is very steep. The area is quiet and the location itself is secluded.
Road directions
Take the A547 east from Colwyn Bay and at the top of the climb out of the bay there are some new houses with a large lay-by in front on a bend in the road, this is just after the left turn for Tanllwyfan.
From the Chester direction take the Llanddulas junction on the A55 and take the A547 west until you reach the new houses.
There is a footpath heading down some steep steps.
After passing down two flights the path levels out slightly. There is a small, overgrown path heading towards the sea about half way down the cliff and by pushing through the bushes along this you reach a clearing giving views over the houses and across the bay.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Old Colwyn map co-ordinates
From the Chester direction take the Llanddulas junction on the A55 and take the A547 west until you reach the new houses.
There is a footpath heading down some steep steps.
After passing down two flights the path levels out slightly. There is a small, overgrown path heading towards the sea about half way down the cliff and by pushing through the bushes along this you reach a clearing giving views over the houses and across the bay.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Old Colwyn map co-ordinates
Parking
You can park easily in the lay-by.
Public transport
Arriva service 12 runs every 10 minutes between Rhyl, Abergele, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno and stops along the A547.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no facilities in the immediate area, the nearest being about a mile along the main road towards Colwyn Bay.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Old Colwyn
Streetmap links
Old Colwyn general view map
Old Colwyn close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Old Colwyn
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Old Colwyn
Googly map
Old Colwyn general view map
Old Colwyn close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Old Colwyn
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The light is best here in a morning for trains heading east towards Chester. Due to this being more of a panoramic view, afternoon pictures are still good.
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west - Image © Jack Bowey
Fig 2 - Looking west
An older view from 2004
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
