Best Waterfalls Near Aberystwyth
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls near Aberystwyth are Rheidol Falls, Devil's Bridge Falls, Rhaeadr Peiran, Dolgoch Falls, Rhaeadr Blaenhafren, Abergynolwyn Waterfall, Ffrwd Fawr and Arthog Waterfalls.
Aberystwyth sits on the Ceredigion coast with a broad spread of falling water tucked into the hills behind it. Head up the wooded Rheidol valley and you soon reach Rheidol Falls, while a little further east the River Mynach plunges through its gorge at Devil's Bridge.
Climb on into the Ceredigion hills and the Hafod Estate hides Rhaeadr Peiran among its forest paths. To the north, near Tywyn, Dolgoch Falls and the cascades of Abergynolwyn drop through steep oak woodland beside the little railways.
Inland toward Llanidloes, the infant River Severn slips over Rhaeadr Blaenhafren in the Hafren Forest, and out on the high moors near Dylife the Afon Twymyn makes its long leap at Ffrwd Fawr. Further north still, above the Mawddach estuary opposite Barmouth, the Arthog Waterfalls tumble almost to the sea.
Some of these lie close to town and others need a proper drive into the hills, but each rewards the journey. Here are eight waterfalls to seek out near Aberystwyth.
Rheidol Falls
Photo: John Lucas via Geograph.org.uk
Rheidol Falls Just a short drive up the wooded Rheidol valley, these falls run along the Afon Rheidol lower down than the better-known Devil's Bridge cascades and quite separate from them. They sit beside the Cwm Rheidol power station, part of a hydro-electric scheme built in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and how full they run depends on the water that scheme releases.
The narrow-gauge Vale of Rheidol railway threads through the valley with a request stop near the falls, though you reach the water itself on foot. There is a free visitor centre at the power station, and a fish ladder built for migrating salmon lies close by.
Devil's Bridge Falls
Photo: Mr M Evison via Geograph.org.uk
Devil's Bridge Falls East of Aberystwyth at Pontarfynach, the River Mynach drops through a deep, wooded gorge before joining the Rheidol, and the effect is unforgettable. Three bridges stand stacked one above another over the top of the gorge, each raised above the last across the centuries.
Paths lead down past the Punchbowl, where the swirling river has drilled neat round holes into the rock, and on down the steep steps of Jacob's Ladder. Below the bridges the falls tumble a long way through the trees, filling the gorge with sound.
It is a set-piece of the Ceredigion hills, and well worth the climb back up afterwards.
Rhaeadr Peiran
Photo: Nigel Brown via Geograph.org.uk
Rhaeadr Peiran Up in the hills of Ceredigion at Cwmystwyth, this waterfall drops in two steps through woodland on the Nant Peiran, within the historic Hafod Estate. You reach it on foot along the estate's waymarked forest paths from the car park near the church, a lovely walk in its own right.
Hafod is an eighteenth-century designed landscape, and the falls are one of its carefully placed water features, with a rock-cut tunnel leading on to another cascade close by. It is a quieter alternative to the busier falls nearer town, rewarding those who like their scenery with a little history woven through it.
Dolgoch Falls
Photo: Gareth James via Geograph.org.uk
Dolgoch Falls North of Aberystwyth, near Tywyn, Dolgoch Falls is a series of cascades set in a deep, wooded ravine of steep, tree-hung slopes. A circular path takes in all three levels of the falls, climbing steep steps to reach the uppermost.
The narrow-gauge Talyllyn railway has a station right beside the water, and its Victorian viaduct strides across the gorge nearby, so you can arrive by steam train if you time it well. The wood is free to wander, with donation boxes at the entrance to help with upkeep.
It makes a fine half-day out, combining woodland, waterfalls and a memorable little railway.
Rhaeadr Blaenhafren
Photo: John Lucas via Geograph.org.uk
Rhaeadr Blaenhafren This one calls for a drive inland toward Llanidloes, into the Hafren Forest where the infant River Severn tumbles over Rhaeadr Blaenhafren, not far below its source on the slopes of Plynlimon. Well-made forest paths and boardwalks follow the young river up through the conifers from a car park, and the falls sit on the way toward the source itself, which many walkers carry on to reach.
The water drops through mossy rock in a quiet, remote stretch of forest that feels a world away from the coast. It is free to visit, on a walk of a few miles, and best paired with the source beyond.
Abergynolwyn Waterfall
Photo: Chris Andrews via Geograph.org.uk
Abergynolwyn Waterfall A drive north toward Tywyn brings you to Abergynolwyn, where the Nant Gwernol runs down a steep wooded ravine in a string of cascades and falls at the eastern edge of the village. Oak woodland cloaks the sides of the gorge, and the little Talyllyn Railway ends here at Nant Gwernol station where the trees close in.
Waymarked paths climb beside the water, crossing a wooden footbridge between mossy rock and the noise of the stream. Higher up, the ground opens to the ruins and grey spoil heaps of the old Bryn Eglwys slate quarry, part of a slate landscape that now carries World Heritage status.
The walk is short but steep.
Ffrwd Fawr
Photo: nick macneill via Geograph.org.uk
Ffrwd Fawr Out on the high moors near Dylife, reached by a drive into the bare hill country between Machynlleth and Llanidloes, the Afon Twymyn drops around forty metres over a rock face at the head of a gorge. This is Ffrwd Fawr, an overlooked fall in open, windswept country.
There is a small parking spot by the road but no made path to the foot of the drop, which is viewed from a footpath above or reached by an informal scramble for the sure-footed. It runs at its best after heavy rain, when the Twymyn is in full spate.
For anyone who likes their waterfalls wild and unfussy, it delivers.
Arthog Waterfalls
Photo: Peter S via Geograph.org.uk
Arthog Waterfalls The Afon Arthog comes off the high ground near the Cregennan Lakes and drops almost to sea level in a hurry, throwing itself down a steep wooded slope in a long chain of cascades and pools. The path that follows it climbs hard through oak woodland strewn with moss and boulders, footbridges hopping over the loud water again and again.
On the south side of the Mawddach estuary opposite Barmouth, it meets the old railway line near the bottom, now a flat walking and cycling route with sweeping views over the estuary to Barmouth and the sea. Many climb one way and loop back by the water, or carry on up to the lakes.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Aberystwyth is easiest to reach?
Rheidol Falls is among the most accessible, lying just a short drive up the Rheidol valley from Aberystwyth, with a free visitor centre at the Cwm Rheidol power station and a request stop on the Vale of Rheidol railway close by.
Can you get to any of these falls by train?
Yes. The Vale of Rheidol railway from Aberystwyth has a request stop near Rheidol Falls, while the Talyllyn railway near Tywyn serves both Dolgoch Falls and the Nant Gwernol cascades at Abergynolwyn.
When is the best time to see Ffrwd Fawr?
Ffrwd Fawr, on the moors near Dylife between Machynlleth and Llanidloes, runs at its fullest after heavy rain, so head out following a wet spell for the most dramatic flow down its forty-metre rock face.
Conclusion
From the wooded Rheidol valley on the town's doorstep to the wild moors around Dylife and the estuary slopes above Barmouth, this stretch of mid-Wales packs in an extraordinary range of falling water. Some, like Rheidol Falls and Devil's Bridge, sit within an easy trip and come with railways, visitor centres and centuries of history.
Others, such as Blaenhafren, Ffrwd Fawr and Arthog, reward a longer drive into the hills with quiet, remote scenery and the feeling of having a place to yourself. Whether you fancy a gentle woodland stroll or a steep scramble after rain, there is something here for every mood and every season.
Pull on sturdy boots, pick your weather and set out: these are the waterfalls to seek out near Aberystwyth.
