Aberaeron Beach

Aberaeron Beach is made up of rock and shingle, with a series of groynes which run the length of the beach stopping any tidal shift. It is a popular beach for walking, fishing, birdwatching and sailing enthusiasts. If you are lucky, on a warm day you may even spot the some of the porpoise population.

How To Get To Aberaeron Beach

Arriving By Car

Aberaeron sits on the stretch of coast between New Quay and Aberystwyth, and the A487 (coast road) runs through the outskirts of the small town. As you approach, you will see the brightly painted houses along the main road (leading to it being know in our family as the rainbow town).

There are three car parks in Aberaeron. One to the south of the harbour which only has about 8 spaces. The other two are north of the harbour nearer to the beach itself.

Regent Street car park is the first you will come to and is only a short stroll from the beach. It has plenty of room and handily has four electric vehicle charging points.

The final car park is along the sea front and is only a 5 minute walk to the harbour. This car park has toilets located nearby and also has great views from your car if the weather isn’t too good.

All car parks are pay and display and offer you the option to pay by card.

Arriving By Foot

Aberaeron sits on the coastal path, and is only 6.5 miles from New Quay. This section of the coastal path is quite an easy walk with no major challenges. When the tide is out, it’s possible to walk along the beach between New Quay and Llanina point, a favourite walk of Dylan Thomas when he lived in the area.

Aberaeron Beach

Aberaeron beach isn’t quite as pretty as some of the other beaches on this coastline but offers lots of options for sports and nature lovers. It is a favourite spot for sailing, fishing, experienced surfers and birdwatchers alike. For our family, its appeal was that it was really quiet and offered the perfect spot for perfecting their stone skimming skills and the time old favourite activity of clambering over rocks. As the beach is west facing it is a great place to watch the sunset over the sea while enjoying an evening stroll.

Aberaeron Town

Aberaeron was built around a Georgian square in 1805. These beautiful period properties are painted in bright colours which give the town a vibrant feel even on a dull winter’s day. The different colours were not merely decorative but in the past they had a very practical purpose. They were to help the sailors quickly identify their home when returning from fishing trips.

These characterful buildings surround the harbour, interspersed with cafes, craft shops and restaurants. Its a charming place to wander round after you’ve visited the beach and there are lots of places to grab a drink or a bite to eat.

There is also a large park with a playground to keep the little ones entertained for half an hour.

Eating Out In Aberaeron

Aberaeron is well known locally as the place to go for quality food in a stunning setting. There is a host of different food options, from cosy cafes to high end restaurants.

On our first trip to Aberaeron we visited the Harbourmaster which sits (as is suggested by the name) right alongside the harbour, facing west to catch the last rays of sun on a summer’s day. It has a lovely terrace to the front of the building overlooking the harbour, which is the perfect spot to sip on sundowners.

We were seated inside, with views of the boats bobbing up and down in the harbour and the sun shinning through the large picture window. We all found something that we enjoyed on the menu, which is locally sourced, with a selection of dishes featuring Cardigan Bay shellfish and fish, Welsh lamb and beef, Ceridigion cheese and organic vegetables. The food was delicious and the atmosphere and staff were lovely.

As we loved Aberearon so much, we returned later in our holiday to sample the food at The Hive, a bright orange restaurant that sits right next to the harbour. The Hive offers a range of small plates which can be ordered tapas style or larger meals. The food again was delicious and the setting was cosy and intimate with fairy lights twinkling as the sun set.

The Hive also serves its famous honey ice cream from a kiosk outside which is irresistible on a hot day.

Y Seler is a high end restaurant that also has a large terrace with comfy seating and great views, situated right in the middle of the harbour. We didn’t eat here, but had drinks sitting in the sunshine on the squishy sofas. The menu looked amazing but not as child friendly as some of the other places nearby which is the only reason we gave it a miss.

Why We Love Aberaeron

Aberaeron has it all – a beach, easy parking, pretty rainbow houses, a harbour to enjoy a drink by, lots of independent stores to mooch around not to mention lots of places to eat food glorious food! It is a little gem of a town which we returned to three times in during our week stay nearby, which just says it all!