Gwili Railway

Gwili Railway

Gwili Railway
4.4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
9:45 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Take a step back in time at the Gwili Steam Railway, a delightful preserved railway set in rural CarmarthenshireWest Wales. Experience life as it once was for many rural areas of Great Britain, all of which came to rely upon the railways for their livelihood. Ride a typical country branch line, interact with some of staff and volunteers to get a glimpse of what railway life was once like. Set in beautiful countryside with abundant wildlife, the line follows the River Gwili on a steady uphill journey through farmland and wooded hillsides. Beyond the locomotives, history and scenery, the railway’s appeal lies in the friendliness and enthusiasm of the volunteers who maintain the railway and operate the services. They’re justly proud of the part they play in recreating the golden age of steam and their love of the railway is infectious; they’ll be happy to regale you with information and stories about The Gwili and it’s historical importance to this part of West Wales. SA31 2DG
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Ramesh Charan
    London, United Kingdom302 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    As a group of six we booked to go on the Gwili Steam Train and choose the Cream Tea option. Despite the weather everyone was in good spirits. Once we were on board and the train took off we were served with our Cream Tea, two delicious scones, clotted cream, strawberry preserve, butter and freshly cut strawberries. Yummy 😋 All of that was washed down with refillable tea and fresh ground coffee. The train terminated at Llwyfan Cerric where passengers could visit the Railway Museum and the book shop. Because of the weather the miniature railway was not in operation. Overall a great experience. All the staff were very friendly and happy to assist in every way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 13, 2024
  • lawrence e
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    From the friendliness of the volunteers upon arrival to the final farewell from the station staff, the Gwili railway really provides visitors with a special experience. The leisurely journey along the Gwili valley feels like a real step back in time. A time when railways like this meandered across the landscape. It was lovely to see people of all ages enjoying the magic of steam and the beautiful views both from the carriages and the station platforms. This is a gem which should be discovered by everyone - you will not be disappointed.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 11, 2024
  • LeedsTeddy
    Ilkley, United Kingdom134 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited this on a September day that was more like April with heavy showers and sunny spells - it was a good thing to do in these conditions! The staff really make the visit, super friendly and enthusiastic. The trip up the valley is pleasant and the 30 min station stop is very interesting, particularly for railway enthusiasts, but if you are less interested in old rolling stock that is waiting to be restored then the Royal Mail mobile post office and the mini train are fun. We just paid for an open ticket and as others have said this is in an enclosed carriage but you may have to share a table with others depending on how many are in your group/how busy it is. I was born in the 1970s and found the carriage very evocative of childhood train journeys.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 7, 2024
  • Hammyontour
    Fareham, United Kingdom104 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A really enthusiastic and lovely bunch of volunteers running this delightful little steam railway. A great way to experience the old times with authentic sights and sounds of a rural Welsh branch line. Don’t expect any record speeds as you amble along the Gwili valley to Danycoed halt where the locomotive runs round the train and returns to Gwili junction with a stop at Llyfan Cerrig station where there is a picnic area, museum and miniature railway. They offer basic steam train rides plus a cream tea option which is limited in number so early booking would be advisable. Booking is absolutely essential as it gets very busy and this can be done on their website.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 22, 2024
  • r_ruthie14
    17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We chose this for two reasons - our 2 year old LOVES trains, and we needed something to do on a rainy day. We were not disappointed. Everyone we spoke to, from the man in the ticket office, the person selling refreshments and the conductor were all so friendly and welcoming. Even though it was hammering down with rain we went on the miniature railway and our son thought it was brilliant! We enjoyed looking at the scenery as we chugged along. All in all, a great way to spend a couple of hours, even on a wet day. Good value for money.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 10, 2024
  • sangaz
    Erith, United Kingdom12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We very much recommend this steam railway for a day trip. They have just recently extended the line and have a new station in Carmarthen with good parking. My husband is disabled and the volunteers went out of their way to assist him with getting on and off the train. Like most heritage railways, the volunteers are the life blood and the ones at Gwili are particularly friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our day out. The journey had scenic views and the stops at the stations had related areas of interest including a Royal Mail sorting carriage. Our only regret was that we booked last minute and too late to get a place in the cream tea carriage. Perhaps next time we come to Wales!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 21, 2024
  • johnb07
    31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A most interesting ride whilst travelling through beautiful countryside on a short section of the old GWR line which until closed many years ago joined Carmarthen with Aberystwyth. Free large parking area is easily located within a short distance of the booking office and cafe with the platform only a few further steps away. All staff were friendly and helpful making our vist most enjoyable. We hope to return in the future. R & JB Visited Sunday morning 16th June 2024.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 17, 2024
  • LeamBull
    Leamington Spa, United Kingdom52 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I went on one of the railway's "cream tea" rides. The online booking process works well, and on arrival you check in and are given a small printed ticket. The Gwili Junction station consists of a rather odd collection of structures that include a small shop, cafe and toilets. The car park is huge but roughly surfaced ( I dis notice a couple of disabled parking spots near the buildings but would not fancy it if pushing a wheelchair). There is little to do at the station apart from having a cuppa and waiting for your train. The volunteer staff were all great, and the organisation for getting you to your right carriage is very good. The rolling stock used was nothing to write home about, being 50s/60s as far as I could tell (no expert here) but was comfortable enough for the journey. Its a fairly slow jaunt up a steepening river valley, with very nice views in places although for much of the time it is obscured by tree and bush growth. Sitting on the left as you go away from Gwili, you do get a very nice and lengthy view of the river, rushing down over rocks. Spotted a heron at one point. On the return leg, there is a 20 minute halt at another station that is again a bit ramshackle. It does however give time for a leg stretch, toilet and a look at the train and a few other items of rolling stock parked there. I have been on a few steam railways before and I have to say this one would not come high on my list for a revisit, but it is certainly pleasant and I hope it continues to thrive.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written June 12, 2024
  • Vania B
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was GREAT! love a steam train. The whole experience was 1.5hours as stated on the website with a stop off. The journey was very picturesque, green, and lovely views. We went with two small dogs and they were welcome aboard and bad a great time! My fav section was being able to pop into the engine room and learn about how it works , shovel some coal, and most importantly blow the whistle! The conduct was lovely friendly informative! The train assistant that checked your ticket was also knowledgeable when asked questions and helpful. So overall really lovely day.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 19, 2024
  • Brian H
    Leeds, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We were welcomed by friendly, helpful staff who told us about the journey, the stops and the opportunities for photographs as the engine changed ends. Our carriage was clean, comfortable and spacious. The various engines and carriages on show at the main stop tell years of railway history. The miniature railway is terrific fun for children, of any age (69 for example). A fabulous outing that exceeds expectations.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.4 of 5 bubbles936 reviews
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Bill B
Crawley, UK53 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Solo
Having read the reviews of this attraction I thought it might be a fun way to spend 90 mins. To be frank, I found it underwhelming. The enthusiastic reviews must be from people who paid the extra to have a cream tea or some such. We, in the cheap seats, we're crammed together, four to a table watching hopefully for the "stunning" Welsh scenery to pass by our window. Heavy scrub either side of the track hid any rural majesty. The train rattled along at about 15mph and with two stops of 10 and 30 minutes. The whole thing could be done and dusted in an hour I think. If you have to go, have a cream tea, especially if you have kids. This is how I personally found the experience and in no way disminishes the respect i have for the hard work and dedication of the train staff.
Written September 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

john p
Barnsley, UK25 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
This railway is not finished and when the weather is very wet you will drown if you turn up 30 mins before your train time as the restaurant is not finished and there is no shelter. It is also a long walk in gravel from the car park to the train. The train itself is O.K. and the coaches comfortable but if you open a window you will get wet. The scenery is nothing to write home about so £67.50 for a compartment for 5 people is not cheap.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Firstly, we cannot control the weather for our visitors, as much as we would like too, its impossible. Same goes for us working hard to try and make everyone enjoy their experience with us on a whole. The compartments are charged at £67.50 which for 5 people works out at £13.50 each, this is saving you money and your family are all seated together. I have visited many heritage railways around the country and find that most of them have a fair distance to walk to get to the train itself, ours is far less than most of them and that is a fact. As for opening a window on a wet day, I am not surprised water came in, again, that cannot be helped.
Written December 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Steven O
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Solo
I visited the railway for the first time since 2018. I was intending to spend the day at the railway.
Apparently day rover tickets are no longer available, why?

At £17 for an eight mile trip it did not compare well with other steam railways where I can get a days travel for a similar price over a greater distance.
Whilst the volunteer staff were friendly and helpful not many of them were actually doing any work. Repainting coaches would be a priority. The journey was very slow and the line sides very unkempt. The grassy tracks caused the engine to slip at several places, something needs to be done about forming a trackside gang to improve this.
Written June 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a negative review. This is purely based on the fact you could not buy a rover ticket. We now allocate seats to customers because we are so busy. This guarantees you have a seat both up and down the line. Our guys are out on a very regular basis cutting back the trees and bushes, this takes planning and time. You have to remember that 90% of staff here are volunteers.
Written June 27, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

WillandBud
Herts.195 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Hats of and Full admiration to the team attempting to improve this visitor attraction - It is not cheap but running costs on these old machines is expensive. On our trip the car park was laid stones leading to a 'shed' for ticket purchase. To board the train, presently you have a bit of a trek to the platform to board and said trek is on the aforementioned stones so wheelchair and pushchair access will be difficult.
There is a buffet car made in an old carriage but despite the fact it was holiday time the buffet was not open.
The ticket 'office' doubles as a small shop (tiny) but what is on offer is limited - They are missing a trick not having station totems and branded Gwili clothing.
I would happily go again but not at least for a year so hopefully things have moved on in their extensive plans
Written August 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

G_O_C479
Swansea, UK1,480 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Couples
Pre booked for open carriage seating long before coming to ensure a seat. No extra charge for dogs which is a bonus.

Yes the car park is inadequate but the tea room chap did a rather impressive side hustle of marshalling people in and out and I gather they’re relocating the main base to the new terminus currently under construction so it’s in hand and has no bearing on my appraisal. Decent cup of tea too.

The helpful guard directed us to the correct coach to sit in for our ticket and on time (13:00) the train set off on its round trip. The volunteer who gave information around the artefacts stored at the second stop was very friendly and knowledgeable.

Sadly the attitude lady in the ticket office (who I think is the person who responds to the reviews on here) let the side down. I gave her my name as asked and proffered my proof of booking she cut me off and again demanded “name” like a prison guard, I asked if would be possible to upgrade to a compartment rather than open seating, or rather I tried, she again cut me off with plain “no” which I accepted despite feeling rather badly treated for no apparent reason. Imagine my surprise when on the train I found almost an entire carriage worth of unoccupied compartments. Perhaps she thought I meant I wanted a cream tea however if she’d been a bit less dismissive she would’ve understood my intent, you know, found out what her customer wanted. I would’ve given benefit of the doubt if it were manic and the train was blowing it’s whistle to leave however the train was taking on water with over 30minutes before departure and still had to run through the station down to the end of the line and back so although there were some people arriving there was plenty of time to provide civil answers to simple questions. I appreciate staff are volunteers but we are paying customers and this sort of reception doesn’t go down well with anyone and in this case cost the railway the difference in amounts between 2 open-seating tickets and a compartment.

I’ve tried to be constructive in my criticism here and not let one person cloud my review of the railway which would otherwise be undeserved given everything else.
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mr C, Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Please accept my sincere apologies for the treatment you say you received from myself on the 22nd September. I will admit, I have absolutely no recollection of this event ever taking place. Had you received the shocking level of customer service from myself, I would whole heartedly agree with the character assassination. Again, had you received such treatment, why didn't you make a complaint to us via email or even to someone at the station on the day? I have never spoken to a customer in the tone you have accused me of doing, mainly because our customers are the lifeblood of the railway and deserved to be treated with curtesy and politeness at all times. This is something I take pride in. Also, when a customer asks for an upgrade, as long as we have a spare compartment available, the upgrade is welcomed. Again, I have no recollection of you asking for one. To add a point to your review, dogs are charged at £2.00. This is not yet available to book on line, but our customers always ask and check before they board. Your other comments I will pass on to those mentioned.
Written October 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jackie
Lancashire, UK9 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Went for the classic transport day whilst on holiday. Was a bit of a mixed bag and I think the weather had something to do with this as it was very hot ( a few days before the red weather alert/heatwave). We arrived at Bronwydd Arms Station 45 mins before the train ride booked for 1pm. The website had stated that other forms of vintage transport including cars/buses etc. would be on show so we planned to look at that first but when we arrived there was just a row and half of cars parked on the same field as the car park for visitors. Some vintage cars were still arriving as we were heading to the station. To get full value for money on the day, it would have been better if any classic vehicles booked had arrived at least by mid morning. Again the website mentioned a model railway at one of the stops and a picnic site by the river but we only had a 20 minute stop at that station so there was no time to actually wander round fully. We had a drink at Bronwydd Arms station, went to the shop and my son bought some train books from the separate bookseller. Again it could have been because it was a specific event but the other things at that station included a tent with a few model trains on show and some other classic vehicles/vans. We didn't get to see the signal box as we were led out after the train ride ended.
The train ride itself was as stated, made difficult with the heat, although it was still lovely to sit back in a vintage compartment. Thankfully they were selling cold drinks on board which were very reasonably priced and some food if required. The staff were very polite. Unfortunately we didn't really get to see any of the 'open fields, wooded hills' mentioned on the website and only caught a glimpse of the river that runs alongside the line because there was so much overgrown hedgerow etc. blocking the view, and I presume the river was much reduced due to the weather.
Written July 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. It was an incredibly hot day and we didn’t expect many people to turn up in that heat. Not all the vehicles that registered with us turned up for that exact same reason. Vintage and classic cars have the tendency to overheat in normal temperatures, so on days were the temperature reached 30 degrees, I’m not surprised a lot didn’t take the chance. As for the time vehicles arrived they were actually asked to be in the field by 0930, as they are not contracted in any way they can turn up any time they chose. This will however be addressed by next year. There is no time limit on how long you stay with us on a special event such as the classic car day. You could have stayed at the picnic site and travelled back on another train. The same goes for visiting the signal box, you could have called in before you left. But why not call and see us again when the weather is a little kinder? We look forward to seeing you.
Written August 9, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

World Explorer
Dorset, UK10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
We booked this very easily online, the price is very good value for what can be described as a lovey trip down the line and back.

Stopping at the various stations watching the steam engine in full motion is brilliant. The staff and drivers were so friendly and we even got to have a go at shovelling coal and tooting the whistle!

Would recommend checking if steam is running on your travel day and we found booking the first departure gave us a nice empty car park in the morning! It can get quite busy with departures and arrivals throughout the day.

Thanks to Gwili Railway and all the staff for such a wonderful day.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liane. W
Thank you very much for your kind words. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Written September 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

sarkiengland
Worthing, UK219 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
Think this trust needs to visit some other Steam Train organisations to see how it should be done. Staff friendly and dedicated but it doesn't make up for the tatty assorted rolling stock and general scruffy appearance of all of its infrastructure. I realise that these places are not maybe the tidiest but everywhere there is mounds of junk, dilapidated old rolling stock that will never see the lines again, broken old machinery, ols rusty containers, and things that have no place on a steam railway, ie why the old inter city diesels? and old diesel/electric commuter units? Timetabling seems to run to BR standards, so don't expect to arrive or return as advertised. A bit of nostalgia that needs to improve to retain support. Just to add insult, they make a big fuss about pre booking online, so we did. Turns out as pensioners, we could have got tickets cheaper at the station, and our reward for advance booking was an admin charge of £2.50 added at checkout!!!
Written July 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Martin
22 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
Small train, 3 carriages , 1 open type, 1 compartments, and half a coach with guards area taking up the other half. So limited capacity made even worse by them booking 1-2 coach parties which virtually fills the train, so hopeless if you turn up on spec which many people will when on holiday in the area. You still need to Pre book ( in England you can turn up and travel on most railways such as the GWSR without booking ahead and get on the train) another problem of Pre booking is that to do so you need to have a decent internet connection and quite a few areas in wales the signal can be very poor, and the weather can be changeable so it’s not easy to book ahead. Two motor coaches were in the small car park, when another turned up and started to reverse in blocking exit to everyone else for some time. Overall we couldn’t get on the 3:30 train due to Pre booked cream teas so went elsewhere , and probably won’t bother another time.
I feel these organizations need to think long and hard about Pre booking coach parties on very small trains, if they must do so, then put an extra railway carriage on, otherwise you’ll drive away full fare paying passengers who turn up on the day, and wonder why your business has gone bust.
A nice second hand bookstall, with fairly grotty toilets behind.
I mentioned my feelings to several staff but no one showed the slightest interest.
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liane. W
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. I’m very disappointed that you felt your day was wasted, however, had you booked your ticket on line like we recommended, you would have been able to travel. I understand that the internet connection is poor in some parts of Wales, as in England like I recently experienced. I’m glad you liked our new book shed, it has indeed been a great attraction since we opened it. As for the toilets, I will inform the cleaning company that customers are not satisfied with their work and improvements are needed. Bus tour companies have struggled during the pandemic too, so we are very pleased they are also recovering and welcome them when they arrive. They always book well in advance so we are able to accommodate them. Again, thank you for taking the time to review our Railway.
Written September 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

123
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Friends
We visited here as a group of four adults, and had pre-booked a compartment to ourselves costing £65, which we thought was reasonable but our opinions of this changed once we had actually travelled. We spent 1hour travelling (Inc return journey) and you spend 30 mins at a station with a little shed where you can purchase a drink from. The journey was disappointing, and didn't really have any nice scenic views on route. The train didn't seen to pick much speed up at all. Toilet facilities at the station were poor and the car park simply wasn't big enough, people arriving for the next departing train were causing blockages in the car park as they couldn't park before returning passengers moved on. We have done many different steam train journeys across wales and the UK and unfortunately this is not one we will be returning to or recommending to friends.
Written June 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write such an underwhelming review. Our journey follows the river Gwili for 60% of the trip and the views from the train are of the beautiful welsh countryside. As a heritage railway ( as you will already know having visited so many railways) we are limited by law as to what speed we can travel and that is 20mph max. The train has 3 stops on the way, two are either end of the track for the engine to run around and re couple to the coaches. This is also an ideal time for people to observe the driver and fireman in action. Our car park is always busy at crossover time as some people like to arrive early and have a cup of tea before boarding the train, this we cannot stop people doing and would not anyway. The 30 mins you spend at our riverside station also has many other things of interest to see such as rolling stock, a miniature railway, carriage and wagon repair sheds and a Great Western HST power car on static display. So thank you again for taking the time to write us a review.
Written July 20, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Gwili Railway (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)

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