GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

New Quay to Aberaeron Coastal Path

5 miles (8 km)

This walk follows a lovely section of the Ceredigion Coast Path from New Quay to Aberaeron. It runs for just over 5 miles on an undulating path with wonderful scenery throughout. It's also a great area for wildlife with Dolphins, Seals, Chough, and Red Kites to look out for on the way.
The walk starts in New Quay next to the pier and the harbour. The popular seaside town includes a number of picturesque homes, a harbour, lovely beaches, quality restaurants and fine views over Cardigan Bay. You then follow the trail east along New Quay Bay and beach towards Pont Llanina and Little Quay Bay.
The trail then climbs to the cliff top path at Craig Ddu before passing the Afon Drywi and a waterfall and descending into Aberaeron. You can extend the walk by continuing along the coast on the Aberaeron to Llanerchaeron Walk. You could also head south on the New Quay To Cwmtydu Walk and visit the delightful village of Cwmtydu with its pretty cove, beach and deep wooded valley.

New Quay to Aberaeron Coastal Path OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

New Quay to Aberaeron Coastal Path Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The poet Dylan Thomas lived in New Quay from 1944-45. In the town you can pick up the Dylan Thomas trail which visits local places associated with the poet. It is thought that many locations and colourful local residents in the town became the basis of the characters in his most widely acclaimed work 'Under Milk Wood'. You can start the walk from the New Quay Tourist Office on the sea front.
Head south from New Quay along the coast path and you will soon come to the worthy village of Llangrannog. Here you'll find an excellent blue flag beach and a wonderful headland area with fine views over the bay. There's also an elevated hill fort and views of the River Hawen's waterfall in the centre of the village. In the village you can pick up the Llangrannog to Cwmtydu Walk and visit the beautiful secluded cove at Cwmtydu. The beach is a great place to look out for seals during September and October.
To continue your walking from Aberaeron you could head north east on the Llanrhystud to Aberaeron Coastal Path. This will take you to the nearby settlements of Llansantffraid and Aberarth before coming to Llanrhystud.

Photos

New Quay Pier - geograph.org.uk - 40142

New Quay Pier. The Pier was built in 1835 and a small stone lighthouse erected on the end in 1839. The Pier was damaged and the Lighthouse was washed away in a storm in 1859. Damage was fixed and Lighthouse replaced only to be wrecked again in 1937.

Old quay at New Quay - geograph.org.uk - 743410

Old quay at New Quay. This was the first quay to be constructed at New Quay, to the south of the present larger harbour. The RNLI lifeboat is launched from a slipway adjacent to this quay.

Rocky foreshore at Llanina - geograph.org.uk - 742869

Rocky foreshore at Llanina. The stony headland between New Quay Bay and Little Quay Bay extends into this grid square at low water springs.

New Quay Head - geograph.org.uk - 209669

New Quay Head. As viewed from Llanina beach

Llanina Beach - geograph.org.uk - 209673

Llanina Beach. Looking towards Little Quay Bay

St Ina's Church, Llanina - geograph.org.uk - 872846

St Ina's Church, Llanina. St Ina was a King of Wessex in the 7th/8th centuries. He abdicated and made a pilgrimage to Rome and was later canonised. The story goes that he was shipwrecked while sailing in the Irish sea and rescued and looked after by the local community. Out of gratitude he built the first church near here. That church was lost to coastal erosion and this is at least the third, possibly the seventh on or near the site.

Bridge over Afon Drywi - geograph.org.uk - 183296

Bridge over Afon Drywi. Bridge over the Afon Drywi, on the Coastal footpath between Cei Bach and Gilfach yr Halen, on the Ceredigion coast.

Aberaeron - geograph.org.uk - 742205

Aberaeron. Looking across the harbour, with the tide out, from Quay Parade to the tower of Holy Trinity Church.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

New Quay to Aberaeron Coastal Path.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

New Quay to Aberaeron Coastal Path.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)