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Blaenau Ffestiniog sits in a deep, slate-carved bowl at the head of the Afon Ffestiniog, surrounded by the high peaks of the Moelwynion mountain range. Historically dubbed the ‘City of Slate,’ the town was once the world’s most prolific producer of the material, and the grey, rugged landscape of the surrounding tips remains its most defining geographic feature. This industrial heritage means that, unlike many towns in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Blaenau was long excluded from the park's boundaries, creating a unique enclave with its own distinct character. Practically speaking, it is one of the few places in the region where the Ffestiniog Railway’s narrow-gauge steam engines meet the Conwy Valley line, providing a direct rail link north to Llandudno Junction. It is a high-altitude town known for its significant rainfall, but this also feeds the lush, green oak woods of the lower valley. Local life centres around a long high street of independent shops and sturdy stone terraces that were built to withstand the mountain weather.