Set around a large harbour area New Quay is an attractive Victorian coastal resort, once a busy ship-building centre and thriving commercial port. It remains one of Wales' most popular sailing centres.

It has been said that New Quay is the original Llareggub in Dylan Thomas' 'Under Milk Wood', but it is not the only place in Wales to claim that title. However, New Quay has many of the features of such a town with its terraces of neat houses and its little streets tumbling down to the bay and the harbour, which is enclosed by a stone quay.

The town has all the attractions of a beach resort in terms of cafes, shops and pubs around the sea front. The Heritage Centre in Glyn Square has exhibitions on local and natural history.

The town is a good base for coastal walks and for boat trips, both of which will take the visitor to magnificent wildlife sites such as Bird Rock, which is home to hundreds of razorbills and guillemots.

Boats also take visitors to see the seals and bottlenosed dolphins which live in Cardigan Bay, one of only two pods around the coast of Britain. The dolphins and seals can often be seen from the harbour walls, especially on calm evenings when the tide is full.

There are always fishing trips on offer and the town has a thriving yacht club which welcomes visitors. Canoes, surfskis and windsurfers can be rented by the main beach.