The charming town of New Quay in Ceredigion has become a magnet for tourists, drawn to its stunning beaches, opportunities to spot bottlenose dolphins, and its connection to the renowned poet Dylan Thomas.

Last year, it was crowned Britain’s “prettiest town” due to its pristine coastline. However, for those who call New Quay home, its remote location can be a mixed blessing.

New Quay has also earned the title of the most isolated town in England and Wales, owing to its distance from nearby amenities. The 1,045 residents of this quaint town face a lengthy journey to access a major supermarket.

While there is a Costcutters and a nearby Morrisons Daily, the nearest major supermarkets, Tesco and Aldi, are a 20-mile drive away in Cardigan. Furthermore, the closest train station is a 40-minute drive away in Aberystwyth.

Although New Quay boasts its own primary school and GP surgery, younger residents must venture outside the town to attend secondary school. David Burnip, a YouTuber known as the Wandering Turnip, recently visited New Quay to experience life in the “most isolated” town, reports Wales Online.

In one of his videos, he exclaimed: “It is absolutely gorgeous isn’t it? ” He also added: “One thing you notice is the colour of the houses are so absolutely beautiful, each one is like individually painted and they clash so beautifully with the one next to it.”

David was struck by the limited major road network within Wales. He highlighted that New Quay, mainly encircled by local lanes and B-roads, is connected to the larger cities of Aberystwyth and Cardigan solely by the A487, as reported by the Express.

During his remarks, he pointed out: “What you notice looking at Wales [on a map of UK motorways] and especially driving through it is there are barely any motorways there. And I noticed it driving from Manchester to Wales.”

He said: “I’ve never done this drive before and it was pretty much entirely done on country roads. No main motorways connect the very mid section of this country and that must add to the isolation that these towns on the west coast must feel, for good or bad.”

David also learned of one resident’s gruelling journey for medical care. A local confided in him about an upcoming operation, which would involve first traveling 20 miles to Aberystwyth, followed by a daunting 116-mile round trip to Swansea just to undergo the procedure.

The local explained the situation in detail: “They’ve got to pick me up in Aberystwyth and then they will take me and somebody else as well probably, drive us all the way to Swansea, I’ll have an operation there and then they’ll bring me back to Aberystwyth and I have to make my own way home.”

Additionally, David noticed a substantial lack of vital facilities in the town, such as banking services, mainstream supermarkets, and railway stations. He especially noted the shortage of ATMs, commenting: “There is literally nothing nearby at all, a lot of mid-Wales has no train stations, so unless you drive, you are getting everywhere by bus.”

New Quay, once a humble fishing village renowned for its abundant herring catch, has undergone a transformation in its local economy. According to a local resident who spoke to David, the town’s fishermen now rely on lobsters and prawns to make a living.

This picturesque town holds a special place in literary history, as it was here that the celebrated poet Dylan Thomas wrote his iconic play, Under Milk Wood. As David explored the area, he began to understand why Thomas might have chosen New Quay as his muse.

He mused: “You can see why this place would inspire you, there is just something so charming about it, so beautiful, so peaceful, so isolating. Maybe that isolation is what a lot of people actually want and being far away from stuff doesn’t scare people.”