The Most Unique Place to Stay in Aberystwyth: The Cliff Railway Apartment

I do love finding a historic place to stay, and I might have found one of my favourites yet when I visited Wales: The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway Apartment.

Aberystwyth is famous for its cliff railway, the longest electric funicular cliff railway in Britain. The apartment is located above the lower station at the foot of Constitution Hill, just a few minutes walk from the beach, Victorian promenade and pretty town centre.

I’ve published a blog post with full details for the Aberystwyth cliff railway itself, and it’s something you shouldn’t miss if you’re in the area, but actually staying in the beautifully preserved Victorian station building feels less like stepping into a holiday rental and more like being invited into a piece of Aberystwyth’s seaside history.

The Cliff Railway Apartment, Aberystwyth

I fell in love with the Cliff Railway Apartment as soon as we pulled up outside. The lower station of the cliff railway is a Grade II listed red-brick beauty, full of character.

The station building is divided into two, with visitors arriving to ride the railway using the lower floor while guests arriving to stay have access to the apartment through a separate entrance.

Being honest, I felt quite smug proud coming and going from our own front door at the railway office. Visiting for the day is wonderful, but calling it home for a little really felt like something special.

Self check in is straight forward. The keys are left for you in a lock box by the door, the code to which is emailed to you ahead of your stay. The apartment comes with a designated parking space for guests, making arrival a breeze.

Access to the first floor apartment is via a slightly steep staircase of twelve steps. At the top, a historic and comfortable holiday home with sea views one way and railway views the other. A truly unique place to stay in Aberystwyth.

This is a two bedroomed, dog friendly option that sleeps up to four people. One of the most unique features is that both bedrooms have direct views up the funicular track, meaning you can watch the trains coming and going to your heart’s content.

A note on the location: The Cliff Railway Apartment Aberystwyth is part of the lower station building. There is some noise from staff, visitors and recorded announcements between 10.00-18.00. We didn’t find it intrusive and it didn’t impact how much we enjoyed our stay, at all.

Actually, you can also ride the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway- or Rheilffordd Y Graig Cliff Railway as it’s known locally- to your heart’s content. A stay at the apartment includes use of a cliff railway pass for unlimited use.

The direct view up the funicular track also meant that when I took the railway without Little Wolf, he had a great spot to hang out as my welcome committee as I travelled back down.

The apartment has a light and airy kitchen, fully equipped and with sea views. If you want to self cater, you’ll find everything you need here including a full size fridge freezer and a dish washer for a quick and easy clean up.

If you’re washing up by hand, you’ll do it at a sink with sea views through an old sash window. Makes washing up as good as it gets!

Next door, a lovely lounge-diner. There’s a comfy sofa and a TV if you want it. For a slower beginning or end to the day, lift the old windows, curl up with a cup of tea and just listen to the sea rolling onto the shore.

A final thing I loved: the Aberystwyth themed artworks displayed in the apartment. A lovely locally themed touch.

Things to Check Out Once You’ve Checked In

The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway: Watch the cliff railway carriages arrive and depart from your bedroom window and then nip downstairs and hop onboard. Don’t forget your complimentary pass- you’ll find it in the guest info folder in the lounge.

Kick the Bar at Aberystwyth Promenade: Stroll the length of the pretty Victorian promenade and, at the very end, give the bar a kick- yes, literally. This isn’t a a tourist gimmick but a long-standing local tradition and you’ll see plenty of locals and visitors alike taking part. There’s various theories as to where this practice started, but visiting Aberystwyth and not doing it would be a shame.

Aberpoeth Beach Sauna: Located just steps from away from the apartment, Aberpoeth : a Nordic sauna experience on the Aberystwyth promenade. Sauna, take a sea dip, relax in a deck chair and enjoy a coffee from neighbouring coffee shop, ‘ Y Neath’.

Who is the Cliff Railway Apartment Aberystwyth For?

Couples or small families: The apartment sleeps up to four people in two bedrooms

Short Stays: Free allocated parking and a central, walkable location make this great for a short stay

Longer Stays: The apartment is fully equipped for a longer stay, a perfect stay if visiting students at Aberystwyth University perhaps, or as a comfortable base to explore more of the beautiful Welsh coastline.

Dog Friendly: This is a dog friendly stay, Little Wolf enjoyed his holiday immensely. Worth noting that there is no garden or outdoor area, but there are multiple options for walkies straight from the door.

If you want to book your own stay in what must be the most historic holiday home in Aberystwyth, you can check availability and book here.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy reading:

The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway

Aberpoeth Sauna: A Wellness Day in Aberystwyth, Wales

Helen x