Quarry Beach, Traeth y Quarry, is a small patch of sand under the cliffs at the tip of New Quay Head, below an old quarry that gave nearby Rock Street its Welsh name, Stryd y Cware, Quarry Street. The coast path looks down on it as it leaves the town, but we found no signed public way down.
Why it’s worth the trip
As a beach, it is not. The land at the end of Rock Street is a private seafood business yard, and the cliffs are no place to scramble. What the spot does give you is a fine view from the coast path over the head to the open bay, home to Cardigan Bay’s bottlenose dolphins. New Quay’s boat trips head out to look for them from the harbour round the corner.
Make a wild day of it
For sand, walk round to Dolau beach below the harbour wall, open to dogs all year, or Harbour Beach, with its sheltered swimming area and summer lifeguards. For a walk, follow the coast path west from Lewis Terrace past Bird Rock, a seabird cliff with an old coastguard lookout, or take the loop out through the lanes to Byrlip and back along the cliffs.
The quarry here is old: one is marked on an Admiralty chart of 1843.
Tides and safety
Do not climb down the cliffs or cross the private land at the end of Rock Street. The sea covers the rocks round the head at high tide. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
When to go
Any clear day for the view, and calm days for spotting dolphins. Early morning on the coast path is quietest.
Good to know
Access: no signed public way down to the sand.
Parking: council car park on Rock Street (Paragon), right by the start of the coast path: £4 for 2 hours, £5 for 4 hours, £7 for 24 hours on the 2025/26 tariff.
Facilities: toilets at the car park and by the harbour; cafes, pubs and a beach kiosk in the town.
Bus: the T5 serves New Quay.
Getting there and parking
1
New Quay Rock Street (Paragon) car park
Ceredigion County CouncilCouncil 2025/26 tariff: £4 for 2 hours, £5 for 4 hours, £7 for 24 hours. Check the board on site.
About 80 spaces just above Dolau beach and the harbour, with toilets; the coast path starts up Lewis Terrace close by.
The walk in. No public way down. The coast path at the top of Lewis Terrace, a few minutes from the Rock Street car park, looks over the head.
By bus. The TrawsCymru T5 (Haverfordwest - Cardigan - Aberporth - New Quay - Aberaeron - Aberystwyth) serves New Quay, roughly hourly Monday to Saturday and less often on Sundays. Check times before you travel.
Traced on the paths with Ghrups trail data. Dashed: along the beach or over open ground.
New Quay, Byrlip and the coast path circular
Moderate
6.0 mi (9.6 km)3h275 m upcircular
Start: New Quay, Rock Street car park
A loop that goes out on quiet lanes and comes back along the cliffs, passing above Quarry Beach at the very end. From the Rock Street car park walk up through the town past St Llwchaiarn's Church to the junction by the pub on Church Road, then follow the lane out between caravan parks past Penrhyn Farm and Ty-Rhos. Beyond Coybal the lane becomes a track to the converted farm buildings at Byrlip, then a hedged path drops into a wooded valley. At the junction in the valley bottom turn sharp right and follow the path down to the Ceredigion Coast Path above Cwm Soden. Turn right and follow the coast path back over Craig Coubal, past Bird Rock and the old coastguard lookout, and round New Quay Head into the town. About 9.3 km, with the usual climbs and descents of a coast path; allow three and a half hours.
22 mtop 123 m
Path 88%
Open ground 6%
Paved 4%
Gravel 1%
3h06 at a steady pace (2h22 brisk, 4h14 relaxed)
Steep in places
1 flight of steps
Permissive, pedestrian access may be revoked
Trail data by Ghrups
Routes are traced from open map data. Check the tide times before you set off, and carry a proper map.
