Devil's Bridge (Welsh: Pontarfynach, lit. "The bridge on the Mynach") is a village in Ceredigion, Wales. Its main feature is the bridge of the same name which spans the Mynach, a tributary of the Rheidol. It consists of three bridges built above each other. The most recently built was an iron bridge in 1901 which was built over a stone bridge constructed in 1753 when the original bridge was thought to be unstable, using the original bridge built (1075 - 1200) to support the scaffolding.
The bridge is at a point where the Mynach falls around 90 metres (300 ft) and meets the Rheidol.
Legend says that the bridge was built by the Devil as it was too difficult for mortal people to build. The Devil built the bridge in return for the soul of the first life to cross the bridge, but the Devil was tricked by an old woman who threw bread onto the bridge and her dog followed, thus becoming the first life to cross the new bridge.
The bridge is a major tourist attraction; turnstiles control access (in 2008, at £1 a person) to a view of the bridges, as shown in the picture. Over the other side of the road, £3.50 grants a longer walk to view the Mynach Falls (note - if you're between trains, there isn't really time to take the longer walk). This longer walk also includes the precipitous stone steps of Jacob's Ladder.
Devil's Bridge is served by Devil's Bridge railway station on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, which opened between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge in 1902.
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Hafod Estate
The lands of the village were once part of the Hafod Estate owned by Thomas Johnes. He built the Hafod Arms Hotel to encourage tourism of the area, and his Picturesque landscape. [1]
References
- ^ Peacocks in Paradise, Elizabeth Ingles-Jones, 1950
External links
- Devil's Bridge, famous thrice over.
- Photos of Devil's Bridge and surrounding area
- grid reference SN740770
See also
- Devil's Bridge for other bridges of the same name.
Coordinates: 52°22′37″N 3°51′00″W / 52.377°N 3.850°W
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