Teifi Valley
Cwm Rheidol
Steep wooded valley below Devil’s Bridge, with a hydro station, an old lead mine and a narrow gauge railway winding along the hillside above.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 50
- Ascent
- 300 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Paths follow the Rheidol through the valley between the reservoir and Devil’s Bridge, with steep climbs to the road and the mine. The railway offers a one-way option.
Worth knowing
- Taking the steam train up from Aberystwyth and walking back down the valley makes the best of it.
- The visitor centre at the hydro station has a fish pass and information on the mines.
- The valley sides are steep and the paths rooty; boots.
What you’ll see
The Rheidol, the hydro dam and fish pass, mine workings, and the railway on the far hillside.
Background
Lead and silver were mined throughout this valley into the twentieth century. The hydro scheme was completed in 1964.