Blaenau Ffestiniog played a huge part in Snowdonia's slate industry, thanks in part to the Ffestiniog Railway, which connected the town to the port of Porthmadog. The remnants of this time tower above the town in the form of dark blue slate waste tips. Some see them as an eyesore, whilst others think they should be celebrated as a great reminder of a once thriving industry.
What is not in doubt is that Blaenau Ffestiniog is a magnificent base for adventures in the superb Moelwynion range. Dramatic mountains that make for excellent days out on the hill.
Around the town are plenty of other places of interest, from the Llechwedd Slate Caverns to the Antur Stiniog mountain biking trails. Blaenau Ffestiniog is a wonderful town to explore.