Where
is it? The walk starts In the town of New Quay, "Cei
Newydd", on Cardigan
Bay, Ceredigion. It finishes in Aberaeron and is part of the newly
opened Ceredigion Coastal Path
How long will it take ? : Approximately 3 hr. Approximately
6.8 miles, 10 km
What's the attraction? : Beautiful unspoilt views of Cardigan
Bay, and with luck you may spot the dolphins in the Bay. (the
best place to see the dolphins is the harbour at New Quay)
Essentials : Wear stout footwear and be prepared for bad weather,
believe it or not it can rain in Wales! The walk is quite straight
forward, just follow the waymarkers. Carry an OS map and compass. Please
note that the return bus to New Quay may have
the Welsh name of Cei Newydd displayed. And the bus
to Cardigan may have the Welsh name of Aberteifi displayed
Rating : Moderate. There are a few short climbs but the path
mostly sticks to the lower slopes of the hillsides
Car Parking : Park the car in the central car park above the
harbour in New Quay. Charges £2.00
per 8hrs as of 2008
Facilities : Refreshments available in Aberaeron. Toilets
close to the harbour in Aberaeron
Directions : [ Map
of New Quay to Aberaeron Walk location ]
New Quay is in Ceredigion West Wales. Take the A487 Aberystwyth
to Cardigan road. At the Synod Inn road junction take the A486
to New Quay. It's a small town with narrow streets and a one way
system with a 20 m.p.h. speed limit. |
 |
Lets Go !
We
start the walk at the harbour in New Quay. From the harbour walk
up Glanmor Terrace, the road that runs uphill and paralell with the beach.
On your right are souvenir shops and pubs / restaurants, while on your
left are grand views of the beach and harbour. Looking further to the
east you will have a good view of the Ceredigion coastline toward Aberaeron,
our destination.
As you walk up Glanmore Terrace you might find it interesting to know
that various pubs and buildings are associated with the great Welsh poet
Dylan Thomas. The
Hungry Trout restaurant, formerly New Quay Post Office, was believed
to be the inspiration for the post office in Under Milk Wood, while the
Blue Bell, Seahorse, and Black Lion pubs were all frequented by the great
Welsh boozer.
At the top of Glanmor Terrace bear left along the B4342 as far as Brongwyn
Lane. Follow the leafy lane and take the steps down to the beach. Bear
right along the beautiful sandy beach as far as Llanina Point. Leave
the beach at Llanina Point taking the footpath for a few hundred yards
as far as a tarmac road. Bear left along the road, over the hump backed
bridge. To the right, in the woodlands, are the ruins of an old water
mill. Continue along the road and bear left at the first junction and
right at the T junction. A short distance along the lane take the
first left and then left and right as the path weaves between some buildings.
I
gnore the track to your left (this leads to Cei Bach campsite) and
follow the coastal path waymarker into the open field.
The coastal path proper begins at this point. To your right is a fine
looking hill, and to your left beyond the trees is Little Quay Bay,
or Cei Bach. The path crosses an open field before starting to ascend,
passing through some pleasant woodland before becoming the more typical
single track through the bracken and open grassland.
There are panoramic views of Cardigan Bay, looking south back to New
Quay Bay or north to Aberaeron and Aberystwyth. Keep your eyes open
for the small fishing boats with fishermen checking their lobster pots,
although spider crabs seem to be the most common crustacean in Cardigan
Bay at the moment.
The rest of the route is easy to follow, it's just a case of following
the waymarkers. Although after saying that there are a few sections that
might prove to be disconcerting to some.
The first is at the waterfall that tumbles over the rock on it's
way to Cardiff Bay, close to the 3 mile, 5km, mark. After crossing the
bridge bear right but keep your eyes open for a waymarker after a hundred
yards or so. Follow the pointer for the coastal path that directs you
sharp left up the bank.
The second tricky section is another 0.6 mile, or 1km further along
the track at Gilfach Holiday Village. Here the track descends into a
small valley but on first sight it appears to go through private property.
Just as a few roof tops
of the village come into view a gate bars the path. But to the right
of the gate is a stone stile, so that's OK. But continue down the lane
to the next gate. This definitely seems to be a problem as it forms part
of a holding pen for a pair of horses. But fear not it is part of the
coastal path and the horses were friendly enough. Follow the lane past
the village complex and on reaching a road junction bear left following
the winding road over a bridge and on up the hill for a few hundred yards.
At the top of the hill are waymarkers, follow the directions of the
waymarkers to the left for the coastal path. Enter the field and bear
right cutting diagonally across the field. Well that's what we
did! But on reflection the correct route might be to follow the hedgerow
toward the seaward end of the field and then to bear right again following
the hedgerow to the far corner. Whichever way you traverse the field
the outcome is the same, as the coastal path leads off from the far corner
of the field diagonally opposite where the path enters the field. Phew!
On reaching Aberaeron there is a pleasant walk around the harbour and
over the wooden bridge with plenty of colourful Georgian properties to
admire. Being a harbour village / town it is no surprise that Aberaeron
has a selection of seafood restaurants and fishmongers including the
Harbour Restaurant and the Hive on the Quay. Aberaeron also has more
than it's fair share of pubs for such a small town, which may explain
why this was another favourite haunt of Dylan Thomas.
To return to New Quay walk up Market Street to the High Street,
the A486. There is a regular bus service from the High Street bus stop
(If my memory serves me well the 550 Service bus runs at 20 minutes past
the hour, weekdays) But contact Travelline
Wales.com to be sure.
