New Quay, Ceredigion
Profile of the West Wales Seaside Town
A small fishing town on the West Wales coast, New Quay has an old-fashioned charm that never fails to lift the spirits. The picturesque town with its brightly painted buildings is welcoming and visitors are guaranteed beautiful sea views from almost anywhere in the town and even during the busiest times of year there is a tranquil atmosphere.
Boats and Sailing
The sea has long been the source of New Quay’s industry. Situated on a natural harbour, the eighteenth century saw the town become a centre for boat building and smuggling and also a busy fishing port. The stone pier was built in the nineteenth century to protect the harbour from westerly winds. Some commercial fishing still takes place, but New Quay is now popular with leisure sailors and tourists taking advantage of the many boat trips on offer to view marine wildlife.
Dolphins and Conservation
New Quay sits snugly on the cliffs of Cardigan Bay, famed for its thriving population of dolphins, seals and array of sea birds. Dolphins often venture into the harbour and the pier provides an excellent vantage point. The cliffs at New Quay form the start of the Special Area of Conservation or Heritage Coastline which reaches almost to Cardigan town and New Quay serves as a base to several organisations whose purpose it is to monitor and protect marine life.
This area of West Wales is also popular with walkers. There are several coastal and inland paths for ramblers that offer spectacular views and an opportunity to get closer to nature. On a clear day, Snowdonia can be seen in the distance to the north. Whatever a tourist’s reason for visiting, there is always a variety of accommodation available, from bed and breakfasts, caravan parks, hotels to holiday cottages and apartments.
Dylan Thomas
The Welsh writer Dylan Thomas spent a great deal of time living and working in New Quay. Visitors can take part in a Dylan Thomas Trail walk and the town took a starring role in the 2007 film Edge of Love. The film starred Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller and tells of Thomas’ tangled and volatile love life in the 1940s.
New Quay makes an ideal base from which to explore the West Wales coast and countryside. The Georgian harbour town of Aberaeron is just a few miles away and both Cardigan town and Aberystwyth are within reasonable travelling distance. Local tourist attractions include several National Trust properties, a honey farm and several craft centres promoting local artisans.
View of the town from the harbour
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