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Heritage railways · Mid Wales

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Also known as: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol

In or near Llanilar.

Victorian👪 Family-friendly

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
Capel Bangor · 1.5 km
  • Family-friendly

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the nearest railway station is Capel Bangor, located 1.5 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is SY23 4ED. Entry details are not provided, so please check in advance for any fees and accessibility options.

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 Capel Bangor, about 1.5 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 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
52.3978, -4.0115
District
Ceredigion
Parish
Llanfarian
Postcode
SY23 4ED
Parliamentary constituency
Ceredigion Preseli
Established
1897
Nearest railway station
Capel Bangor1.5 km
Opening
Daily train services until 1st November 2026

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

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Heritage railway stations · Mid Wales

Capel Bangor railway station

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Where to eat & stay near Vale of Rheidol Railway

Places to stay

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Caravan parks · Mid Wales

Maes Bangor Caravan Park

Maes Bangor Caravan Park — a caravan park in wales mid.

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Campsites · Mid Wales

Midfield Caravan Park

Midfield Caravan Park — a campsite in wales mid.

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Bryncarnedd

Bryncarnedd — a campsite in wales mid.

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Caravan parks · Mid Wales

Bryncarnedd

Bryncarnedd — a caravan park in wales mid.

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Caravan parks · Mid Wales

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Clwb Rugby Aberystwyth Motorhome Park — a caravan park in wales mid.

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Caravan parks · Mid Wales

Aberystwyth Holiday Village

Aberystwyth Holiday Village — a caravan park in wales mid.

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Places to eat & drink

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Cafés · Mid Wales

Consti

Consti — a café in wales mid.

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Cafés · Mid Wales

Llywernog Silver Lead Mine

Llywernog Silver Lead Mine — a café in wales mid.

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Restaurants · Mid Wales

The Wildfowler

The Wildfowler — a restaurant in wales mid.

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Historic pubs · Mid Wales

Penuwch

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Historic pubs · Mid Wales

The Commercial Inn

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Restaurants · Mid Wales

The White Lion Hotel

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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 4ED), in the parish of Llanfarian.
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 Capel Bangor, about 1.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode SY23 4ED.
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 Capel Bangor, about 1.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SY23 4ED.