Glide from Happy Valley to the summit for wide, airy panoramas across the bay, estuary and Irish Sea — a memorable, camera-friendly experience that feels special without being strenuous.
If the tramway is the historic way up the Great Orme, the cable car is the spectacular one. Opened in June 1969, it is the longest passenger cable car system in Britain, running just over a mile from its lower station in Happy Valley Gardens all the way to the summit at 207 metres (679 feet). On a clear day the views on the way up are simply outstanding.
The cars -- painted in red, yellow, orange, light blue and purple -- travel on an endless steel cable over two miles long, supported by nine pylons across the hillside. At its highest point the cable reaches around 80 feet above the valley floor. There are 20 cabins in service, departing at roughly one-minute intervals, each holding up to four people. The journey to the summit takes around nine minutes each way, gliding silently and smoothly above the slopes of the Orme with the bay spreading out below you.
From the cars you get views over Llandudno Bay, the Little Orme, the Conwy Estuary, and far out across the Irish Sea. On exceptional days you can see Rhyl along the coast and the Isle of Man on the horizon, with Snowdonia filling the view inland. It is one of the better vantage points in North Wales, and the ride itself is half the point.
The cable car operates from around Easter to late October. It is cash only -- no card payments are accepted -- and tickets cannot be booked in advance. It cannot operate in high winds, so operating times can vary depending on conditions on the Orme. If you are combining a visit with the tramway, note that tickets are not transferable between the two -- but taking one up and the other down makes for a very satisfying day out.
- ✦ Highly rated by our guests
- ✦ Easy to reach from The Rosedene
- ✦ Suitable for all guests
