The Cliff Railway was developed as an element of Constitution Hill, a Victorian business venture by the Aberystwyth Improvement Company in the 1890s.

It is open to passengers during the summer months, typically operating between April and October, with a reduced timetable during the rest of the year.

Around 12,000 tonnes of rock was excavated for the middle section of the footpath to accommodate a footbridge over the cliff railway.

[1] The cliff railway was originally a cable-drawn balanced system moving a pair of cars, with a maximum capacity of 30 passengers, permanently connected via a continuous cable.

In 1934, after changes to the town’s electricity supply, a mercury arc rectifier and transformer were installed in the lower station to provide a 440V DC power output.

[5] The cliff railway opened to the public in 1896; and was credited with stimulating the development of Constitution Hill as a popular leisure area.

[6] Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the cliff railway was popular with visitors but during and after the Second World War, passenger numbers declined significantly.

[1] In 1998, it was purchased by Constitution Hill Ltd,[6] a registered charity, the trustees are volunteers; all profits generated support the railway's maintenance and restoration activities.

[citation needed] Of the four original timber bridges constructed to carry hillside paths over the railway, three remain at the northern half of the route for foot traffic.