Heritage railways · Mid Wales
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Also known as: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol
In or near Llanilar.
Vale of Rheidol Railway is a heritage railway in the United Kingdom.

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Best time of year
- Spring – autumn
- Nearest railway station
- Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach · 0.1 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the nearest railway station is Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach, located just 0.1 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is SY23 3JL. Entry details are not provided, so please check locally for accessibility information.
About
Vale of Rheidol Railway is a heritage railway in the United Kingdom — a preserved or volunteer-run line carrying tourist services. Records date its origin to 1897. Also known as: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol. Coordinates: 52.3760°, -3.8560°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2024
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is a historic narrow gauge railway that offers scenic steam train journeys between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge. Established in 1897, it showcases stunning Welsh landscapes and includes free entry to the Engine Shed display at Aberystwyth Station.
From the Wikipedia article
The Vale of Rheidol Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol) is a 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) narrow gauge heritage railway in Ceredigion, Wales, between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge; a journey of 11+3⁄4 miles (18.9 km). It opened in 1902 and, from the withdrawal of main line steam on British Rail in 1968 until privatisation in 1989, it was the sole steam-operated line on the 1948 nationalised British Rail network. It was one of the first parts of British Rail to be privatised. Unlike most other preserved railways in the United Kingdom, the Vale of Rheidol Railway did not have a period of closure between its being part of the national rail system and becoming a heritage railway, and so has operated a continuous service for residents and tourists.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
- Coordinates
- 52.3760, -3.8560
- District
- Ceredigion
- Parish
- Pontarfynach
- Postcode
- SY23 3JL
- Parliamentary constituency
- Ceredigion Preseli
- Established
- 1897
- Nearest railway station
- Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach — 0.1 km
- Opening
- Daily train services until 1st November 2026
- Official site
- www.vor.wales
Sources
- osm: w1192037300 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Vale of Rheidol Railway (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: No 9 At Devil's Bridge.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Heritage railways · 0.0 km

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Heritage railways · 0.1 km

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Heritage railways · 0.1 km

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Heritage railways · 0.1 km

Devils Bridge
Villages · 0.1 km

Devil's Bridge railway station
Historic bridges · 0.1 km

The Hafod Hotel
Hotels · 0.3 km

Devil's Bridge Viewpoint
Viewpoints · 0.4 km

Mynach Falls
Historic bridges · 0.4 km

Afon Mynach
Reservoirs & lochs · 0.4 km

Devil's Cauldron
Viewpoints · 0.4 km

Devil's Bridge Falls
Waterfalls · 0.5 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Vale of Rheidol Railway?
- Vale of Rheidol Railway is in Mid Wales, United Kingdom (postcode SY23 3JL), in the parish of Pontarfynach.
- What is Vale of Rheidol Railway?
- Vale of Rheidol Railway is a heritage railway in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Vale of Rheidol Railway?
- The nearest railway station is Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach, about 0.1 km away. Drivers can use postcode SY23 3JL.
- When was Vale of Rheidol Railway built?
- Built or established in 1897.
- Who owns Vale of Rheidol Railway?
- Vale of Rheidol Railway is owned by Vale of Rheidol Railway Limited.
- How do I get to Vale of Rheidol Railway?
- The nearest railway station is Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach, about 0.1 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SY23 3JL.