GYPSY WOOD PARK. Nr.CAERNARFON.
SCENIC OUTDOOR MODEL RAILWAYS.
Surrounded by the majestic backdrop of the Snowdonia National Park, a unique new venture at Bontnewydd on Llanberis road near Caernarfon is the interactive and educational country experience, which incorporates horse grooming, fishing, and woodland, wetland nature walk.
The highlight of any visit is one of the largest outdoor model railway displays covering 25meters by 20meters.This showpiece models several of the North Wales narrow gauge railways, including Snowdon (at 2 meters high) and its rack railway to the top.
Outdoor model railways (garden railways) are seen in ever increasing numbers, reflecting the expanding interest in garden design, and big scale trains can be obtained off the shelf. The trains at Gypsy Wood are Gauge and G-Scale models of the little trains of Wales-Talyllyn, Welshpool, Bala, Vale of Rheidol, North Wales Highland Line. These are all testimony to our industrial past. Visitors to Caernarfon can watch the model trains pass by while they picnic by the lake, then go and ride the real thing.
There is a common thread to all the pieces of our working past, the antiquity and variety to be seen. Each has its own distinctive rolling stock and steam locomotives. The models even have real recordings of the sounds, steam and diesel, to enhance the realism of the railway experience. While this miniature Wales would not be complete without Snowdon, there is also a lake, and a canal (with barges). Above these is a typical
Slate quary. To complete this world in miniature there are over two hundred passengers, workmen, and general population. They wait at stations and live in model buildings supplied by British Outline Buildings, noted for their realistic creations of railway infrastructure. David Pratt, the noted garden railway builder and author, designed the railway.
The educational uses of the attraction are many. Children learn about engineering, electrics/electronics, horticulture, our industrial past and heritage, even farming-there are 200 sheep!
The railways of the world are at the forefront of technology. Educational visits welcomed and teacher packs can be made available.
There is a visitors line constructed in the most life like Gauge-3 where there can be seen running GWR locomotives and trains which only a few years ago steamed into history, condemned by Dr.Beeching. However, today’s railways are featured with the Virgin Pendolino train providing high-speed enjoyment. The big G-Scale train over 2m long and 15cms high is a shop bought model which can be purchased, with track circle and controller, for the same price as a children’s ‘00` gauge train set.
The railway display operates daily, when the park is open.
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Explore at your leisure
The beauty of this natural landscaped Gypsy-wood-park. Begin your journey through the natural woodland, were we encourage you to feed the wild birds. Take time here to just sit and relax. Hopefully when you least expect it, you may catch a glimpse of a Tree creeper, Nuthatch, Robin or several other native birds. Even grey squirrels may approach you if you remain really quiet. The best things come to those who wait
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