This tiny village has waterfalls, a vintage train and the best chocolate in Wales

Portia Jones visits tiny a Welsh village that is home to legend-filled stacked bridges, a chocolate shop and a waterfall trail

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LOCATED a short hop from Aberystwyth, Pontarfynach, meaning “the bridge on the Mynach”, is a tiny village that can be reached via a heritage train that winds through woodland and countryside. It lies at the head of the Rheidol Valley and is famous for its waterfalls and narrow-gauge steam railway.

Also known as Devil's Bridge, this charming village covers a relatively small area, but here you'll find stacked bridges, the boutique Hafod Hotel, artisan chocolate and a rather vigorous waterfall trail.

To arrive in style, board the Vale of Rheidol Railway train from Aberystwyth and slowly journey through the countryside to reach the Devil's Bridge Waterfalls, a world-famous tourist attraction in Devil's Bridge village.

These cascading waterfalls have attracted visitors since the 18th century, including William Wordsworth, who wrote about the “Torrent at the Devil's Bridge”.

Devil's Bridge and the surrounding area have also featured extensively in the exciting television detective series Hinterland, filmed in both Welsh and English.

Today, the Waterfalls Nature Trails allow curious hikers to see this beautiful natural feature in the Rheidol Gorge.

While you can drive to Devil's Bridge, the best way to reach these falls is by taking the train from Aberystwyth on the popular Vale of Rheidol.

This narrow-gauge heritage railway offers a fun steam train experience in retro carriages. The track follows the contours of the countryside and takes you through some remarkable scenery at a relaxed pace.

This long-running railway first opened in 1902. The line's original primary purpose was to carry timber (for pit props in the south Wales Valleys) and lead ore from the Rheidol Valley to the sea and the mainline railway at Aberystwyth.

These days, it’s a unique tourist rail experience in the Cambrian Mountains that offers superb views of the countryside.