New Quay Beaches and Dolphin Spotting

New Quay beach Cardigan Bay
Photo New Quay Beach Cardigan Bay – Francis Crompton

During the summer months, the seaside resort of New Quay – with its pretty harbour and beautiful beaches – attracts thousands of visitors. The poet Dylan Thomas found inspiration here back in the 1940s, and it’s also popular with Cardigan Bay’s population of bottlenose dolphins who can often be seen leaping in the waters beyond the harbour wall. In the winter, the population of New Quay, (Cei Newydd the town’s Welsh name) dwindles to around 1,115 but even so, there’s still plenty going on. New Quay town is built on steep terraced slopes which fall to expansive safe sandy beaches, dissected by the harbour pier.

There are lots of cafés shops and pubs in New Quay and it is one of the busiest holiday resorts on Cardigan Bay. A great place for a traditional seaside holiday.

new-quay-harbour
Photo New Quay Harbour Cardigan Bay – Francis Crompton

There are three town beaches in New Quay, Harbour Beach has a Seaside Award, Traeth Gwyn and Traeth y Dolau. New Quay Harbour Beach is patrolled by Ceredigion Council lifeguards during the main summer holiday, from mid-July to the end of August. New Quay harbour is sheltered and provides a safe haven for pleasure craft and a few fishing boats. Dolphins can often be seen in this area and there are several boats offering trips out to the bay. There’s limited parking close to the beach for a small fee. More spacious parking is available further into the town and up the hill. Disabled parking is available above the main beach but only for two vehicles. You can walk south along the Ceredigion Coastal path to the secluded natural harbour of Cwmtydu, passing the renovated coastguards look-out point. If you’re looking for a more taxing stretch, walk north to Aberaeron from where regular buses will return you to your starting point. Read more about New Quay here

Facilities at New Quay

Awards Seaside Award Bathing Yes
Type of Beach Sandy Café Yes
Car Park Yes Sea Angling Yes
Toilet Yes Dogs Yes*
Disabled Access Yes Pub serving food Yes


 dogs allowed Seaside Award RNLI Lifeboat Station New Quay

Comments

Beautiful harbour.

* Dogs are prohibited from sections of certain beaches between 1st May and 30th September under the local bylaw. The restrictions do not apply to a guide dog accompanying a registered blind person.