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
- 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.
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 Bangor — 1.5 km
- Opening
- Daily train services until 1st November 2026
Sources
- osm: w28522734 (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

Pen Glasgrug
Mountains & hills · 1.0 km

Wales Coast Path
Military museums · 1.2 km

Moriah
Mountains & hills · 1.2 km

Blaen-geuffordd
Other places · 1.6 km

Nanteos
Historic houses · 1.6 km

Capel Bangor railway station
Heritage railway stations · 1.7 km

Rheidol Shingles and Backwaters
Natural landmarks · 1.8 km

Glanyrafon railway station
Heritage railway stations · 1.9 km

Old Warren Hill
Vineyards · 1.9 km

Glanyrafon
Other places · 2.0 km

Pen-llwyn
Other places · 2.1 km

Lewis Edwards Memorial outside Penllwyn Calvinistic Methodist Chapel
Public art & sculpture · 2.2 km
Nearby

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Capel Bangor railway station
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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.