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
- Rheidol Falls · 0.7 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the nearest railway station is Rheidol Falls, which is 0.7 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is SY23 3NB. Entry details are not specified, so please check in advance for any charges or accessibility options.
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 Rheidol Falls, about 0.7 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 stunning Welsh landscapes and provides visitors with a glimpse into the rich history of railway travel in the region.
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
- 52.3864, -3.8936
- District
- Ceredigion
- Parish
- Melindwr
- Postcode
- SY23 3NB
- Parliamentary constituency
- Ceredigion Preseli
- Established
- 1897
- Nearest railway station
- Rheidol Falls — 0.7 km
- Opening
- Daily train services until 1st November 2026
- Official site
- www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Sources
- osm: w1318079255 (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

The Magic of Life Butterfly House
Historic houses · 0.5 km

Rheidol Falls railway station
Heritage railway stations · 0.6 km

Fron Ddu
Mountains & hills · 1.0 km

Rheidol Power Station
Other places · 1.2 km

Coed Rheidol National Nature Reserve
Forests & woodlands · 1.2 km

Ffordd Coed Dol-Fawr
Natural landmarks · 1.2 km

Castell Bwa-drain Camp
Hill forts · 1.3 km

Castell Bwa-Drain
Archaeological sites · 1.3 km

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Heritage railways · 1.4 km

Castell Faen Grach
Forts · 1.6 km

Rhiwfron railway station
Heritage railway stations · 1.7 km

Mynydd Fynnon-wen
Mountains & hills · 1.9 km
Nearby
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The Magic of Life Butterfly House
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Rheidol Falls railway station
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Coed Rheidol National Nature Reserve
Coed Rheidol National Nature Reserve is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.
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Ffordd Coed Dol-Fawr
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Where to eat & stay near Vale of Rheidol Railway
Places to stay
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George Borrow Hotel
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Places to eat & drink
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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 3NB), in the parish of Melindwr.
- 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 Rheidol Falls, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode SY23 3NB.
- 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 Rheidol Falls, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SY23 3NB.