The Great Orme, or Pen-y-Gogarth in Welsh, rises up out of the sea and reaches a height of 679 feet. The name Orme originates from the Viking and means serpent; it is thought that to the Vikings it looked like a serpent rising from the sea.
It is a wonderful place to visit, for great views, history or wildlife, and is designates as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Heritage coast. There is far to much to cover on one blog, so this is an introduction to the fantastic Great Orme
This is the Great Orme seen from Anglesey. It’s easy to see why the Vikings may have thought it was a serpent.
The Victorian sea-side resort of Llandudno lies mainly in the low land to the right of the Great Orme.
The Great Orme with Llandudno nestling beneath it.
There are a number of ways up to the summit of the Great Orme. You can walk (if you’re fit), drive, take a cable car or the tramway.
The trams run from town, at the side of the road for most of the way.
The cable car is about a mile long and is the longest in Britain.
More details on both the cable car and tramway on the next Great Orme post.
There are wonderful views (on clear days) from high on the Great Orme. This is the view across the Conwy estuary and down the Menai Strait.
At the other end you get a view of Llandudno, it’s bay and pier. In the foreground is part of the dry ski slope and toboggan run.
A view of the cliffs from near St. Tudnos church. Marine Drive can be seen running around the cliffs. This is a scenic drive which runs all the way around.
The tiny church of Saint Tudno nestles in a hollow on the Northern side of the Great Orme. The church was built in the 12th. century, on a 6th. century christian site.
The Bronze-age Copper mines are not far from the road from the town to the summit. There is a visitor centre and tours of the mines can be taken.
A standing stone near to the copper mines, another reminder of early occupation.
The remains of medieval settlemets and field patterns can still be seen.
The summit complex has served as a hotel, golf club and as a radar station during WW2. It was bought by boxing champion Randolph Turpin in the 1950’s. he ran it as a pub and held exhibhition bouts in the grounds.
It is now a welcome stop for visitors, with it’s bar, cafe and souvenir shop. Nearby is the Great Orme visitor centre, tramway station and cable car station.
A pair of Kashmir goats were introduced in Victorian times. There are now about 150 of the goats roaming wild around the headland.
I hope to be adding further posts about the Great Orme in the near future, it’s such a fascinating place to visit.
[...] Original post: The Great Orme, Llandudno – an introduction [...]
Wonderful pictures. I’ve never been down that way before, but will be putting it on my ‘to do’ list. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the wonderful photographs and for your introduction to Llandudno’s Great Orme. I have visited once but didn’t see all the sights you describe. I will definitely go again in the spring.