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Riding the rails in Wales: a steam train into the Welsh hills
If you like old trains, you're going to love Wales. The region has several narrow-gauge steam locomotives. The website Great Little Trains of Wales tells you about ten of them traveling various routes around the country. Most are clustered in the north and west, which most travelers say has the best scenery.
Having never been on a steam train and knowing it would be a guaranteed hit with our five-year-old son, we took the Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth up into the Welsh hills to Devil's Bridge. Our train, the Prince of Wales, dates to the 1920s and has been lovingly restored. It makes the 12-mile run in about an hour.
We set off to much chugging and hooting, which was taken up by all the children on board. As we cleared the station we saw that strangest of British animals, a trainspotter, filming our departure. Leaving Aberystwyth and the trainspotter behind, we picked up speed and soon started to ascend into the hills. Parts of the route are very steep and winding, which is why a narrow-gauge is used, and goes along the southern side of the Vale (Valley) of Rheidol. To our north the valley opened up to view, a gleaming strip of river winding far below, and here and there a farm. Only a few farms and houses stood near the rails and most of the time we were in countryside. A Red Kite flew by looking for prey. The engineer said that buzzards are a common sight too.
Gallery: Steam train to Devil's Bridge
One thing that was very noticeable was just how loud steam trains are. Our forefathers did not get a quiet, relaxing ride!
We continued to climb up the side of the valley past a few farms, thick woodland, and fields covered in wildflowers until we made it to Devil's Bridge, where the trainspotter from Aberystwyth was waiting to film our arrival. There's a beautiful waterfall tumbling through thick greenery here, and three bridges passing over it. The lowest bridge is said to have been built by the Devil in an attempt to get an old woman's soul. The woman was too clever for him, though. You can read the story here. Two trails offer views of the falls.
There's also a Robber's Cave that local folklore says was used by three thieves--two brothers and their sister. The cave was a great hideout and they managed to live a life of crime for many years until they accidentally killed one of their victims. The locals came out with dogs and traced them to this cave. The men were hung and the woman burnt at the stake.
If you've never been on a steam train before, it's a fun novelty and a great way to see the countryside. Our son loved it, of course, and all the other kids seemed to be entertained too!
We continued to climb up the side of the valley past a few farms, thick woodland, and fields covered in wildflowers until we made it to Devil's Bridge, where the trainspotter from Aberystwyth was waiting to film our arrival. There's a beautiful waterfall tumbling through thick greenery here, and three bridges passing over it. The lowest bridge is said to have been built by the Devil in an attempt to get an old woman's soul. The woman was too clever for him, though. You can read the story here. Two trails offer views of the falls.
There's also a Robber's Cave that local folklore says was used by three thieves--two brothers and their sister. The cave was a great hideout and they managed to live a life of crime for many years until they accidentally killed one of their victims. The locals came out with dogs and traced them to this cave. The men were hung and the woman burnt at the stake.
If you've never been on a steam train before, it's a fun novelty and a great way to see the countryside. Our son loved it, of course, and all the other kids seemed to be entertained too!
Filed under: Europe, United Kingdom, Transportation
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