VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
Press Trip Notice: As a travel writer, I was delighted to be invited to accept complimentary first-class tickets for myself and a companion for The Vale of Rheidol Railway in exchange for writing this feature post and for sharing my honest review.
The Vale of Rheidol Railway in the County of Ceredigion in Wales UK with its proud livery of lovingly restored heritage steam locomotives offers enthusiasts and visitors a chance to experience the golden age of steam train travel.
As part of The Great Little Trains of Wales, the Vale of Rheidol Railway is a historic narrow-gauge steam railway, typical of many small railways in Wales as the narrow-gauge allows for the sharp contours and steep gradients of the Welsh terrain.
Known for its scenic journey through the picturesque Rheidol Valley starting out from the west coast town of Aberystwyth, a restored steam engine locomotive (one of the oldest operational steam locomotives in the world!) will take you chugging and tooting into the Cumbrian Mountains, along a 12 mile (19 km) track to the small village of Devil’s Bridge.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
- I LOVE TO TRAVEL ON TRAINS
- THE GOLDEN AGE OF STEAM TRAINS
- THE NEW ENGINE SHED AND MUSEUM
- ALL ABOARD THE VALE OF RHEIDOL STEAM TRAIN
- MAKING SPECIAL MEMORIES
- WHAT ARE THE STATIONS AT THE VALE OF RHEIDOL?
- HOW LONG IS THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY JOURNEY?
- DEVIL’S BRIDGE
- INTERESTING FACTS ON THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
- THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES
- TEN REASONS TO VISIT THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
- FARES AND TICKETS
- GETTING THERE
I LOVE TO TRAVEL ON TRAINS
I have to tell you that I absolutely LOVE to travel on a train – and I have done so all over the world – from riding on the fastest bullet trains like the KTX in South Korea, the THSR in Taiwan, and the Shinkansen in Japan, to the much slower but equally memorable old train that I travelled in from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in Thailand.
Another vintage train trip that I’m still feeling nostalgic over was through the jungles of Malaysian Borneo, in a beautifully restored old colonial style carriage pulled by a 1896 steam locomotive, with The Heritage Railway in Northern Borneo.
So, as you can imagine, I was very excited indeed for the opportunity to travel on The Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge.
Especially as it was recently described as “The second most beautiful train journey in Europe” after The Orient Express!
THE GOLDEN AGE OF STEAM TRAINS
I arrived in Aberystwyth in good time to collect tickets from the impressive and authentically vintage looking ticket office and to browse the gift shop as well as to allow adequate time to explore the new Engine Shed and Railway Museum.
In the Engine Shed, with its fabulous wooden block flooring laid to replicate a common type of 19th century industrial flooring, you can find out about the history of The Vale of Rheidol Railway.
From photographs and information boards you can also learn about the legacy of this heritage railway and find out about steam train and railway enthusiasts Peter John Rampton and his partner Tony Hills who successfully bid on the railway back in 1987 when it came up for sale from British Rail.
And, of course, you can stand in awe to admire the many lovingly restored engines and carriages on display in the museum.
THE NEW ENGINE SHED AND MUSEUM
Opened in May 2024, the impressive new The Vale of Rheidol Railway Engine Shed and Museum is a 5000 sq/ft (approx. 465 sq/metre) area that has been converted from an original 1938 engine shed.
Check out the Vale of Rheidol Railway official website for more information on exhibits, including makes, models, and origins of the trains and rolling stock on display.
ALL ABOARD THE VALE OF RHEIDOL STEAM TRAIN
Then it was time for me to to climb aboard the train and into the first-class carriage.
On boarding, our ticket was inspected by our friendly guard, Rob (‘Batty’) who was aptly dressed in a traditional Great Western Railway uniform in the nostalgic style of yesteryear.
When I asked Rob for his photo he promptly obliged and even loaned me his hat!
Stepping into the restored carriage, I had the feeling of stepping back in time to an age when train travel was a luxurious experience for those lucky enough to travel in first-class.
From the carriage’s opulent polished wood finishes to the intricate mosaic tiles at the doorstep, to the plush upholstered furniture, to the exquisite hand painted frescos on the ceiling, and the large viewing window at the back of the carriage.
The first-class carriage is so comfortable that I immediately felt completely spoiled and in great anticipation of our journey.
MAKING SPECIAL MEMORIES
I spoke to several couples who were on holiday in Wales and a single gentleman who’d travelled from Liverpool who all told me their ride on The Vale of Rheidol Railway was about having a fabulous experience and making special memories and ticking off their travel bucket list while savouring retirement years.
This is a lifestyle choice I advocate for myself and for everyone in their midlife and later years and throughout this website.
On the day I travelled (a Saturday in September) the train was popular and busy and in the other carriages and in the open carriage, there were lots of happy smiling people and family groups, many with children, all enjoying the experience too.
As we set off down the narrow-gauge track, gathering speed, with the steam engine hooting and tooting and chugging out plumes of smoke, we waved to those who remained at the station and to those we passed along the way.
Then in an adjacent field, a team of cricketers all stopped play to wave back!
Everyone loves to wave at a steam train!
Then, in open countryside, sitting in my comfortable unholstered arm chair, I gazed out of the large picture window at the back of the train.
I found myself mesmerised as we travelled through a swirling smoky tunnel formed by lines of bowing trees in late summer foliage and the smoke from the steam engine hanging heavily in the air behind us like a dark fog.
A haunting and inspiring scene for our journey to The Devil’s Bridge!
Then, as we chugged along the side of the Rheidol Valley and up into the Cambrian Mountains, the views opened up to a sweeping vista of breath taking beauty with the Nant-y-Moch reservoir sparkling below us and Red Kites and Buzzards soaring high above us.
I was told that these magnificent bird of prey are often seen from this train.
WHAT ARE THE STATIONS AT THE VALE OF RHEIDOL?
We stopped off at several tiny heritage train stations along the way to take on water and these stations are at Llanbadarn, Glanyrafon, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen, Aberffrwd, Rheidol Falls and Rhiwfron, before arriving at Devil’s Bridge.
HOW LONG IS THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY JOURNEY?
The train journey from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge is approximately 12 miles long (approx 20 km) and takes about an hour each way.
During the scenic journey, the powerful narrow-gauge steam locomotive will climb an steadily elevating track through the Cambrian Mountains by 700ft (200m) from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge.
Trains will normally wait for one hour at Devil’s Bridge station before returning to Aberystwyth.
But, if you are on an earlier train and you’d like to spend more time at any one of the recently restored intermediate stations at Llanbadarn, Glanyrafon, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen, Aberffrwd, Rheidol Falls and Rhiwfron, then you can certainly discuss this with your Guard prior to boarding.
Then you can explore the many walks the valley has to offer before either resuming your journey onto Devil’s Bridge or returning to Aberystwyth on a later train should the schedule allow.
DEVIL’S BRIDGE
Devil’s Bridge village, known in Welsh as Pontarfynach, is a place in the heart of Wales and in the Cambrian Mountains, rich in history, legend, and natural beauty.
These days, the area is a tourist attraction and also a popular TV and movie location.
But has been a tourist attraction with visitors since the 18th century and was the subject of a poem by William Wordsworth who wrote the “Torrent at the Devil’s Bridge”.
The celebrated English author George Borrow wrote a humorous account of his stay at Devil’s Bridge in his works entitled “Wild Wales” in 1854.
THE THREE BRIDGES
Devil’s Bridge is also very famous for its unique series of three bridges stacked on top of one another and spanning the River Mynach.
The name Mynach, meaning Monk’s River, dates back to the oldest bridge that was constructed by monks from the nearby Abbey in the 11th Century.
The second bridge was built directly above the first in the 1750s to improve the crossing when the original became worn and unsuitable for the mostly horse-drawn traffic of the day.
The modern cast-iron bridge that we see here at Devil’s Bridge today is the topmost bridge, built in 1901, to accommodate today’s motorised transportation needs.
THE LEGEND OF DEVIL’S BRIDGE
According to local legend, the original bridge was so difficult to build that the Devil himself offered to construct it in exchange for the soul of the first living being to cross it.
But the monks outwitted the Devil and saved their own souls by sending a dog across the bridge first and the Devil is said to have never returned to Wales.
Interestingly, over the years the story has varied and some say it was an old woman and not the monks who made the pact with the devil and the first living being to cross was not a dog but a cow.
THE WATERFALLS
Devil’s Bridge is also famous for its dramatic waterfalls, known as the Mynach Falls, which plunges around 90 meters (300 feet) in a series of cascades down a steep, wooded gorge, creating a breath taking natural spectacle.
This makes these falls amongst the highest in Wales.
Visitors to Devil’s Bridge can hike the nature trail and the network of walking paths and steps.
One of the most popular being the “Punchbowl” walk with access to even more stunning views of the falls and the gorge.
Here you can descend Jacobs Ladder (100 steps) and go inside Robbers Cave, an old hideout place next to the waterfall.
But, you should be aware that the Devil’s Bridge nature trail and hike and steps can be challenging, especially in wet weather.
I only had an hour to spend at Devil’s Bridge before taking the last train of the day back to Aberystwyth and so I stood on the bridges and looked down at the falls before enjoying a refreshing beverage at the Hafod Hotel, sitting at a table outside to make the most of the September weather being still dry and warm.
Then, a walk back up the hill to the Devil’s Bridge station, in anticipation of a wonderful and relaxing trip back in our luxurious first class carriage on The Vale of Rheidol steam train.
INTERESTING FACTS ON THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
The Rheidol Railway was first authorised by an Act of Parliament on 6th August 1897.
The Rheidol Railway line was opened in 1902 to carry lead and timber but soon became popular with tourists.
The railway was one of the last steam railways operated by British Rail until it was privatized in 1989.
The locomotives and carriages currently in use on The Vale of Rheidol Railway were built for the line by the Great Western Railway between 1923 and 1938.
BUT, at the time of my visit, one of the original locomotives commissioned for the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog – The Palmerston – built in 1864 and one of the UK’s oldest working steam trains was running at The Vale of Rheidol in Aberystwyth.
The railway is now owned by a charitable trust, dedicated to the preservation of the railway at Aberystwyth, and as well as many old steam locomotives and vintage carriages that date back to the 1920’s and 1930’s.
There are many restoration projects currently ongoing in the workshops which will eventually be on display in the museum.
THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES
There is an impressive roster of restored engines in use on the railway to pull the carriages and transport visitors.
These working engines have names like Owain Glyndwr (#7 – Built in 1923), Llewelyn (#8 – Built in 1923), Prince of Wales (#9 – Built in 1924), and Drakensberg (#60 – Built in 1927).
The fleet of fully restored locomotives are painted either in their original livery or the distinctive blue livery of the Vale of Rheidol Railway.
TEN REASONS TO VISIT THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
1. See 12 miles of stunning Welsh scenery on one of the most spectacular railway journeys in Europe!
2. Travel behind one of the restored vintage steam locomotives built in the 1920s.
3. Talk to the friendly and knowledgeable locomotive crews, guards, and station staff.
4. See the red kites. Once endangered, these birds of prey are now often seen from the train.
5. Visit the famous Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls and discover the legend of Devil’s Bridge.
6. Visit the award-winning Sarah Bunton’s Chocolate Shop at Devil’s Bridge.
7. Realise those childhood dreams and have a go at driving a steam locomotive at Devil’s Bridge station with the Driver Experience on selected days during the summer and for a small fee. Find out more about Driver Experience here.
8. Enjoy refreshments in the cafe at Devil’s Bridge or a meal and a drink at the Hafod Hotel, just steps away from The Devil’s Bridge.
9. Take a walk between the restored stations on one of the many paths and trails.
10. The Vale of Rheidol Railway is a not for profit charity. This means all fare revenue gets reinvested into the railway and so your visit helps to keep to keep the railway running for future generations to enjoy.
FARES AND TICKETS
You can find information on the timetable and the current price of fares and dates of special events and for entry only price to the museum and engine shed display for none travellers on the official website.
Note: There are two fares – a basic fare – or a donation fare which includes an additional voluntary donation of 10%.
Train ticket fares includes free museum and engine shed entry.
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the website or bought from the Booking Offices on the day of travel.
Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Find out about accessibility here.
Children aged 2 years old and under travel free of charge.
Dogs can travel for a fee but restrictions apply in the first class carriage with the exception of assistance dogs.
Season tickets are available for both railway travel and the museum.
GETTING THERE
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales.
By Car: the postcode for Google Maps and for Sat Nav is SY23 1PG
There is a dedicated car park located off Park Avenue / Boulevard St Brieuc.
By Train: Aberystwyth mainline railway station is a short distance from the Vale of Rheidol station with regular rail services to Shrewsbury and Birmingham (New Street or International.)
By Bus: Aberystwyth is served by regular bus services from across Wales.
The bus station is short walk (approx. 10 minutes) to the Vale of Rheidol Booking Office.
Public transport timetable information is available from Traveline Cymru.
Note: Devil’s Bridge is a rural location and is not served by public transport.
I do hope you’ve enjoyed joining me on this fabulous day trip to Aberystwyth, through the Cambrian Mountains into the heart of Wales and The Devil’s Bridge, on a wonderful and nostalgic vintage steam train run by the welcoming and hard working people at The Vale of Rheidol Railway.
CHOOSE WHERE TO STAY IN ABERYSTWYTH
HIGHLY RATED
OR CHOOSE YOUR PERFECT ACCOMODATION USING THIS MAP
I heartily recommend this train journey to you!
Have you ever travelled by steam train?
Have you ever been to Wales UK?
Are you planning to do so?
Let me know – I’ll be delighted to hear from you!
THE BACKPACKING HOUSEWIFE RECOMMENDS TRAVEL INSURANCE
GET A NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE TODAY FROM WORLD NOMADS
