Vale of Ffestiniog and Its Hinterland, The

• Vale of Ffestiniog and Its Hinterland, The
• SBN: 9781845242251
• Michael Senior
• Publication August 2014
• Format: Paperback, 210x148 mm, 80 pages

The Vale of Ffestiniog is a land of contrasts with a surprising, largely hidden, depth of history. Its industrial past is evident enough at Blaenau Ffestiniog, and at its lower end some gems such as Portmeirion and Plas Brondanw are monuments to design and pleasure. Tying the varied ingredients of the vale together is the famous Ffestiniog Railway.

Further Information:

The Vale of Ffestiniog is a land of contrasts with a surprising, largely hidden, depth of history. Its industrial past is evident enough at Blaenau Ffestiniog, and at its lower end some gems such as Portmeirion and Plas Brondanw are monuments to design and pleasure. In the middle, largely unknown, lies the residue of thousands of years of mythology. Through the whole thing, tying the vales varied ingredients together, the famous Ffestiniog Railway runs through what may confidently be said to be some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

This book tells the story of the economic revolution caused by the slate industry, where vast fortunes were made and lost, the boom and decline of Blaenau as an industrial town, and its current rebirth as a tourist centre. It tells of past times in the rural central vale and the stories of the Mabinogion associated with it. It ends with an account of the railway links and the heroic maritime history of Porthmadog.