Traeth y Quarry

Getting down to this beach involves a proper scramble through rough terrain, but that's precisely what keeps the crowds away. Traeth y Quarry sits just outside New Quay, tucked beneath clifftops that make access tricky enough to deter casual visitors. The name gives it away - this was once a working quarry site, and chunks of old stone workings still jut from the sand.

Families with small children should probably give this one a miss. The path down is steep and uneven, better suited to confident walkers who don't mind picking their way over rocks. Once you're there though, you'll likely have the place to yourself, even in summer.

What makes the effort worthwhile is the complete sense of escape. Unlike New Quay's main beaches, there's no ice cream van or deck chair hire here - just raw coastline and the sound of waves hitting stone. Rock pooling is excellent at low tide, particularly along the quarry remnants where marine life has colonised the old workings.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Haven Quay West or Ocean Heights, it's worth the twenty-minute walk for a complete change of pace. Just bring proper shoes and don't attempt it in rough weather - the sea can be fierce when it's up.