Aberystwyth Cliff Railway and Camera Obscura
About
Rheilffordd y Graig runs from the north end of the prom up Constitution Hill, or Y Consti to locals. It opened on 1 August 1896 as a water-balance line and was electrified in 1921; the track is 778 feet long, and the Grade II listed line is now run by Constitution Hill Ltd, a registered charity with volunteer trustees. At the top are the Y Consti cafe, a games room, miniature golf, and a camera obscura built in 1985, with a 14-inch lens that shows the town and the bay in moving colour. The camera obscura is closed from November to March. The first Aberystwyth camera obscura, built in 1880, stood in the castle grounds at the other end of the prom.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓778 feet of track, opened 1 August 1896, Grade II listed since 1987
- ✓Run by a charity whose profits go back into the site
- ✓Camera obscura with a 14-inch lens, £1 for adults
- ✓Trains every few minutes in high season, no booking
- ✓Coast path to Clarach Bay starts at the top
Tips
- →Trains run 10:00 to 17:00, seven days a week from April to October, sometimes to 18:00 in high season. From November to mid-March the timetable is limited: ring 01970 617642.
- →The camera obscura is open daily 11:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:45) and closed November to March.
- →Dogs are welcome on the trains and across the site if well managed.
- →North Road car park is about 300 metres from the lower station.
Best Season
Accessibility
Paved ramp at the lower station, wheelchair compartment with 830mm doors, lift at the upper station and wheelchair-friendly paths at the summit, per the operator.
Last verified 2026-09-29
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