5 Rock Street New Quay, Ceredigion

A few steps from the seafront at New Quay, 5 Rock Street is a five-bedroom house that pairs traditional Welsh character with modern comfort. The harbour, the sandy beaches, and the town's waterfront pubs and seafood restaurants are all moments from the front door, and the bottlenose dolphins that made this stretch of Cardigan Bay famous are often seen playing in the bay.

The house sleeps nine across five upstairs bedrooms: three zip-link super kings that can become twins on request, a double, and a single. Three of the rooms open onto balconies, two of them overlooking the garden. Downstairs there are two sitting rooms, one with a log burner, plus a kitchen and dining room seating eight with patio doors to the garden. A bathroom upstairs and a walk-in shower room downstairs serve the house, and a utility room adds a washing machine, tumble dryer, and freezer.

Up to three well-behaved dogs can come too. The enclosed garden rises in four tiers, with lawns, seating, a firepit, and sea views; the steps between levels are steep and narrow, so children need supervising and the garden does not suit anyone with limited mobility.

New Quay rewards slow days as much as busy ones. The Wales Coast Path runs through the town, boat trips, kayaking, and paddleboarding leave from the clear coastal waters, and the cafés and pubs along the front are made for watching the bay go by.