The Great Orme
OS Grid ref:-SH 276 384
The Great Orme's Head, Llandudno, known as Pen y Gogarth in Welsh, is an isolated promontory of Carboniferous Limestone that rises to nearly 225 metres above sea level. The massive limestone headland dominates the town of Llandudno. There is a cafe on the summit of Great Orme, which rises to 679 feet (207m). The summit can be reached on foot or by car, tramway or cable lift, which operate daily during the summer months.
Marine Drive toll road encircles the headland of Great Orme providing spectacular views of the steep cliffs and the magnificent coastline to the south of the town and passes the Great Orme Lighthouse. It also leads to the seventh century St. Tudno's Church.
The Marine Drive offers some spectacular scenery
The Great Orme is home to a community of feral goats, a gift to the town from Queen Victoria and is notable for its butterflies and sea bird colonies, fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots haunt its towering cliffs. The Orme is a paradise for botanists, and flaunts a profusion of maritime flowers in the spring and summer. These include the rare goldilocks aster, spiked speedwell and Nottingham catchfly, as well as several species of cotoneaster not found elsewhere in Britain.
An artificial ski slope, which provides instruction for beginners, along with the largest toboggan run in Britain are located a the summit. There is also a cafe and tourist shop. The Great Orme Tramway has been opened since 1902, it is the only cable hauled tramway still operating on British public roads, climbing a mile of track to the summit. The Halfway Station Exhibition covers the history of this funicular tramway, where the Victorian engineering can be viewed. The 100 year old tramway has now been lovingly restored. Trams operate:- late March - late October, seven days a week, 10am - 6pm. The Summit Complex has a restaurant and shop.
Along the lower slopes of the Orme are landscaped gardens in the Happy Valley and terraces in the Haulfre Garden on the steeply sloping southern side.
The Great Orme Nature Trail takes the visitor by a number of the ancient monuments which litter the Great Orme, the Great Orme Copper Mines are probably the most important Bronze Age Copper Mines to be excavated.
A storm brews over the dramatic Welsh coastline beyond the Great Orme
The Little Orme, a similar, but smaller headland stands at the other side of Llandudno Bay. The name Orme is said by some authorities to derive from the old norse word for sea serpent.