Devil's Bridge Falls is my favourite waterfall to visit in mid-wales, found along the Afon Mynach near Aberystwyth. You can visit by car or take the Vale of Rheidol steam railway from Aberystwyth.
In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly how you can visit the waterfall for yourself and what you should expect when you arrive.
What is Devil’s Bridge Falls?
Mynach Falls (or Rhaeadr Mynach in Welsh) is the official name of the waterfall next to Devil’s Bridge near Aberystwyth. But, it’s more commonly referred to as Devil’s Bridge Falls. This is the name I’ll use in this article.
Devil's Bridge Falls is a 90m (300ft) high waterfall where the Afon Mynach (or River Mynach) plunges over five drops through a steep ravine in the Rheidol Gorge. It's way bigger than it looks in photos, you have to see it in real life to truly understand how big it is.
The waterfall is named after Devil’s Bridge which is right next to it. This bridge is famous because three separate bridges have been built on top of each other, without demolishing the old bridge.
Why is it called Devil’s Bridge?
In Welsh, the bridge is called Pontarfynach which means ‘Bridge Over the Mynach River', whereas in English, it's called Devil's Bridge. The small village near the waterfall is also known as Devil's Bridge or Pontarfynach.
The English name for the bridge comes from an old legend. According to the story, an old woman's cow wandered across the river. The Devil offered to build a bridge so the woman could retrieve her cow, but only in exchange for the first living thing to cross.
The woman agreed and the devil expected the old woman to be the first to cross. However, she tricks the Devil by throwing a piece of bread halfway over the bridge, and her dog follows it.
The devil had the dog and the old woman was able to get her cow back.
How To Visit Devil’s Bridge Falls
By Car: Devil's Bridge Falls is around 25 minutes from Aberystwyth by car along the A4120. The best place to park is at the free car park right next to Devil’s Bridge. Find it here.
This car park has a maximum 4-hour stay which is more than enough to do the waterfall walk and have food at the hotel on the other side. You cannot camp overnight in the car park.
By Train: You can also take the Vale of Rheidol railway from Aberystwyth. Tourist steam trains run along this route between March and October with prices starting at £35 for an adult return.
You will need to return on a later train if you want time to complete the full waterfall walk so this will only work if you depart Aberystwyth on an earlier service. See the latest timetable here.
When you reach Devil’s Bridge, there are two entrances on either side of the road. You need to go through the entrance called ‘Waterfall, Nature Trail, and the Three Bridges’.
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When I visited in 2023, the cost was £4 per person. This is payable using coins or with a contactless card.
Important: Don’t take the entrance called ‘Punchbowl and the Three Bridges’ on the other side of the road as you will not reach the waterfall. Later in this article, I’ll share some images of what this route contains.
The route will take you down the gorge and up the other side past the waterfall. There are over 600 steps in total and the full route takes around 30 minutes at an average pace, including time for photos.
There are handrails most of the way and several points to stop of interest where you can stop.
You do not necessarily need to complete the full route. There is an excellent viewpoint after about 6 minutes of walking. I took the below photos from the viewpoint. You could always turn around after this and go back rather than continuing all the way. down.
The following photos were taken during the full route in which you walk back up the other side of the gorge, right next to the waterfall.
If you do complete the full route, you’ll end near the Hafod Hotel (shown below) which is a great spot to grab food and drink after your walk. It is also possible to begin your walk at the Hafon Hotel, although I prefer to start near Devil’s Bridge.
There is visitor information and leaflets near the start of the tour. If you want more information, you can download a free PDF guide here which explains the different points in more detail.
Visitor Information
Where To Park?
Parking for Devil’s Bridge Falls is at the car park directly next to Devil’s Bridge. The postcode is SY23 3JW and here is a Google Maps pin.
The car park is quite small. If it is full, you may be able to park along the roadside or you can use car parks at the Hafod Hotel or further around near the Vale of Rheidol Railway.
How Much is it to Visit Devil’s Bridge Falls?
The full walk at Devil’s Bridge Falls is £4 per person, payable by coins or contactless card.
Is Devil’s Bridge Falls Accessible?
No, Devil’s Bridge Falls has over 600 steps so it’s not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
There is an accessible viewing deck from the 'Punchbowl and the Three Bridges' route where you can see the famous Devil’s Bridge, although you can’t see the waterfall from here. Find out more about this route (with photos) below.
Facilities at Devil’s Bridge Falls
There are no facilities at Devil’s Bridge Falls. However, there is a shop right next to it where you can buy drinks and snacks. The nearest public toilets are by the Vale of Rheidol Railway. You can also use the toilets at the Hafod Hotel if you are a paying customer.
What To Look For on the Walk
Here are some things to look for on your visit to Devil’s Bridge Falls:
- Robbers Cave – A small cave next to the waterfall is a good place to catch your breath on the route back up. It is likely a man-made cave since this type of rock doesn’t usually form caves. It is famous for housing a family of highway robbers who would hide here and steal from travellers passing over the road above. An information panel in the cave gives more details.
- Iron Bridge – The green iron footbridge sits at the lowest point of the walk and is how you’ll cross over the river to ascend the other side.
- AA Sentry Box - Look out for the old AA sentry box near Devil's Bridge (next to the Hafod Hotel). These sentry boxes existed in the UK between 1911 and the 1960s. An AA patrolman would be stationed here to help with directions or car trouble. At their height, there were 1000s of sentry boxes in the country, but this is one of just 18 that remain in their original location.
What is the 'Punchbowl and the Three Bridges' Route?
The entrance called Punchbowl and the Three Bridges does not take you to the waterfall.
Instead, you’ll reach a small viewing area where you can see the bridge. You can also walk down 110 steps to see the punchbowl which is a small whirlpool formed where the river is forced through a narrow channel. The below photos were taken from this route:
The cost of this route is £2, also payable by coin or contactless card. The entire stop takes less than 10 minutes. I would only recommend this option if you are very short on time or if you are visiting with people who have mobility problems and cannot attempt the steps on the other side. The ‘Waterfall, Nature Trail, and the Three Bridges’ route is much better.
The viewing platform is accessible with prams and wheelchairs, but only when the woodland kiosk shop is open as the accessible route is through their shop.
Published: 26 April 2023