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The Great Britain Guide

Heritage railways · Mid Wales

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Also known as: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol

In or near Llanilar.

VictorianPaid admission4.6 · 131 Google reviews££££

Vale of Rheidol Railway is a heritage railway in the United Kingdom.

Vale of Rheidol Railway, heritage railways in Mid Wales

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 · 0.2 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 0.2 km away. The postcode for the site is SY23 4QY. Entry details are not specified, so please check ahead for accessibility information.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Vale of Rheidol Railway is a place of interest in Mid Wales. Built or established in 1897, it dates from the Victorian period. Owned by Vale of Rheidol Railway Limited. It sits within the Ceredigion Preseli parliamentary constituency. The nearest railway station is Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach, about 0.2 km away. Postcode area SY23.

Photo gallery

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 the stunning Welsh countryside and provides visitors with a glimpse into railway history through its restored locomotives and carriages.

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
52.3764, -3.8571
District
Ceredigion
Parish
Pontarfynach
Postcode
SY23 4QY
Parliamentary constituency
Ceredigion Preseli
Established
1897
Nearest railway station
Devil's Bridge / Pontarfynach0.2 km
Opening
Daily train services until 1st November 2026

Sources

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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 4QY), 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 0.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode SY23 4QY.
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 0.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SY23 4QY.