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Top: Regional: Europe: United_Kingdom: Wales: Conwy_County_Borough: Llandudno: Travel_and_Tourism: Attractions: Great_Orme

The Great Orme is a prominent limestone headland on the North Wales Coast immediately to the north of the modern tourist resort of Llandudno in the County Borough of Conwy. A smaller but very similar limestone headland separating Llandudno Bay from Penrhyn Bay is commonly called 'The Little Orme'.

The name 'Orme' is of Norse origin and is indicative of a significant Viking presence perhaps a thousand years ago. In Wales the name 'Orme' (including derivatives) occurs only at Llandudno and yet the name, in its various forms, is quite common in Scotland and Northern England.

In medieval times, the Great Orme was divided into three townships, Gogarth in the south-west (where the ruins of the Bishop of Bangor's Palace survive), Cyngreawdr to the north (the area centred on St. Tudno's church), and Yr Wyddfid to the east. The whole area, including the marshy land (now drained) on which the modern resort now stands, was of course and still is called Llandudno after the sixth century saint in whose honour the former parish church is named.

Archaeological evidence indicates human occupation of the Great Orme during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age periods and also in Roman times. Since when there has almost certainly been continuous occupation down to the present day. Several hundred people continue to live on the Great Orme, in several farms, but mostly in the modern residential township of Tyn y Coed.

The geology, wildlife, archaeology and landscape of the Great Orme, including several unique features, is of such importance that much of the headland has been officially and legally designated as a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Heritage Coast this triple designation is unusual. The designated areas are managed as a Country Park and a Local Nature Reserve by the Conwy Countryside Service.

The summit is accessible by tramway (see the subsidiary category), cable lift, road, and nature trail. There is also a very popular four-mile Marine Drive.

Tramway

Category Description

The Great Orme Tramway is Britain's only remaining cable operated street tramway and one of only three surviving in the world. The line is in two sections and passengers change cars at the Halfway Station. The lower section has a maximum grade of 1 in 4 and climbs 400 feet in about half-a-mile. It was opened for passengers on July 31st 1902. The upper section, opened in 1903, is less steep and climbs 150 feet in about the same distance to its terminus near the Summit Complex.

The tramway is situated on the Great Orme, a mountain by the town of Llandudno in the County of Conwy in Wales.

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Please read the description for Regional: Europe: United Kingdom: Wales: Conwy County Borough: Llandudno: Travel and Tourism: Attractions: Great Orme for further information.

Also, please read the description for Regional: Europe: United Kingdom: Wales: Conwy County Borough: Llandudno and the description for Regional: Europe: United Kingdom: Wales: Conwy County Borough for general information about the area.

If you are looking for general UK tram information, please see Regional: Europe: United Kingdom: Recreation and Sports: Transport: Public Transport: Trams, and, if you are looking for general tram information, please see Business: Transportation and Logistics: Urban Transport: Tramways and LRT and Recreation: Trains and Railroads.

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