New Quay

New Quay tumbles down a steep hillside to a small stone harbour on the Ceredigion coast, its rows of pastel-coloured cottages stacked one above the other and facing out across Cardigan Bay. It is a proper working fishing town rather than a manufactured resort, with lobster pots stacked on the quayside and a lifeboat station tucked beside the pier, yet it has long attracted holidaymakers drawn by its sandy beaches, its literary connections and, above all, its dolphins.

The bay in front of the town holds one of Europe's largest resident populations of bottlenose dolphins, and it is entirely possible to spot them from the harbour wall without ever setting foot on a boat. Behind the working waterfront, New Quay's narrow streets climb steeply between chapels, guesthouses and pubs, several of which claim a role in the town's most famous literary episode: Dylan Thomas lived here with his wife Caitlin in the mid-1940s, and New Quay is widely regarded as the model for Llareggub, the fictional Welsh village of his radio play Under Milk Wood.

Top things to do in New Quay

New Quay is small enough to explore on foot in an afternoon, but its coastal setting means there is plenty to fill a longer stay.

• Dolphin watching boat trips — Operators including New Quay Boat Trips and SeaMor run regular trips out into Cardigan Bay to see the resident bottlenose dolphins, along with grey seals and a variety of seabirds; several local trips have picked up Visit Wales awards.
• Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre — A small, free-to-enter centre on Glanmor Terrace, open from spring to autumn, with exhibits on the dolphins, seals and other marine life recorded in the bay that week.
• Dylan Thomas Trail — A self-guided walk around the town taking in the house where Thomas lived, the Black Lion pub said to be his favourite, and other spots that inspired Under Milk Wood.
• New Quay Harbour — The working quay itself, with its lifeboat station, fishing boats and lobster pots, is a good vantage point for spotting dolphins without leaving dry land.
• New Quay Beach and Harbour Beach — Sandy, sheltered beaches either side of the pier, popular with families and within easy walking distance of the town centre.
• Cei Bach Beach — A quieter cove-style beach a short drive or coastal walk from town, backed by low cliffs.
• Wales Coast Path — New Quay sits on the long-distance coastal path, with dramatic clifftop walking in both directions towards Llangrannog to the south and Aberaeron to the north.
• Local pubs with literary history — The Black Lion and the plaque-marked corner of the Sea Horse Inn are among the pubs where Dylan Thomas is said to have drunk and gathered material for his writing.

Getting to New Quay

New Quay sits on the Ceredigion coast of west Wales, roughly halfway between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. By car it is reached via the A487 coast road, with the town itself served by a network of smaller lanes that drop steeply down to the harbour; parking in the town can be tight in summer, and there are pay-and-display car parks above the centre. The nearest mainline railway station is Aberystwyth, around 20 miles north, from where onward travel is by bus or car; New Quay itself has no railway station. Regular bus services connect New Quay with Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Aberaeron. The closest airport is Cardiff Airport, roughly two and a half hours' drive to the south-east.

Best time to visit New Quay

Summer, from June to September, is the most popular time to visit, when the dolphin boat trips run at full frequency, the beaches are at their best and the town's pubs and cafés are busiest. Dolphins are seen year-round in the bay but sightings are generally more frequent in the warmer months. Spring and early autumn bring quieter streets, easier parking and often still-reliable weather for coastal walking, while winter sees many of the seasonal boat trip operators and some cafés close, leaving a much quieter fishing town.

Where to stay in New Quay

Accommodation in New Quay ranges from harbourfront hotels and traditional guesthouses to self-catering cottages stacked up the hillside above the quay, many with sea views. Camping and glamping sites are dotted along the surrounding coastline, making the most of the clifftop scenery either side of the town. Given its popularity in the school summer holidays, it is worth booking well ahead for a stay between July and August.

Food and drink in New Quay

New Quay punches above its weight for a small town, with several fish and chip shops close to the pier, including Café Mariners and the newer Lime Crab, both well placed for eating with a view over the harbour. The Watch House on South John Street reopened in 2025 as a pizza and tapas bar with big windows looking out over the bay, while Rossini serves long-standing Italian favourites at Uplands Square. For a drink with history, the Black Lion is said to have been Dylan Thomas's favourite New Quay pub, and the Sea Horse Inn and Hotel Penwig's harbourfront bar are both popular spots to watch the boats come in.