Beaches

North Wales Coast & Dee Estuary

Talacre Beach on the tip of the Dee Estuary is lapped by the clean waters of the Irish Sea, with extensive views. It is popular, with easy parking. On the beach is Point of Ayr lighthouse, built in 1776, but disused since 1884. The area of dunes around the beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The coastal resorts of Rhyl and Prestatyn boast six miles of safe sandy, Blue Flag beaches, with plenty of family entertainment to go with them.

Long stretches of sandy beach highlight the North Wales coast at Kinmel Bay, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, Morfa Conwy, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan. The small town of Rhos-on-Sea, between Llandudno and Colwyn Bay, has a quaint beach front, while at Pensarn the long shingle beach has cafes and an amusement arcade nearby.

Isle of Anglesey

Island living means you are never far from a beach and you are certainly spoilt for choice on Anglesey. Why not explore Llanddwyn beach with its romantic associations.

Llŷn Peninsula

Rugged mountains sweep down to the sea, giving way to wide beaches and sheltered coves along the 189 miles of Wales Coast Path in Gwynedd, North Wales. Tywyn is one of Wales’ finest beaches, with 4.5 miles of golden sand. At the other end of the scale is the fishing village of Porthdinllaen with its sheltered crescent of sand. Aberdaron, Aberdyfi and Barmouth also have popular beaches.

Snowdonia and Ceredigion Coast

A wildly beautiful coastline with a diverse landscape which includes sweeping, award winning sandy beaches, dunes and rock pools, with abundant wildlife. Why not try Llangrannog Beach, home to Carreg Bica – legend has it that this rock used to be a giant’s tooth.

Pembrokeshire

Renowned for its beaches – more than 50 and many of them award-winning. Whether in busy resorts or remote and peaceful bays within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, there is something for everyone from families to wave hungry surfers. Barafundle on the National Trust’s Stackpole Estate regularly hits the headlines as it is often thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Carmarthenshire Bay and Gower

Home to one of the longest unbroken stretches of golden sand on the Wales Coast Path. The beautiful beaches of Marros, Pendine and Cefn Sidan stretch for nearly seven miles and have good access, the latter from Pembrey Country Park.

South Wales Coast & Severn Estuary

Swansea has no less than five Blue Flag and four Green Coast award beaches. Beaches range from pretty sandy bays through to seemingly endless sandy shorelines. Port Eynon Bay was voted best British beach in 2011.

The Glamorgan Heritage Coast has good sandy beaches. Among the most popular along this coast are Southerndown, Ogmore, Newton, Trecco Bay, Rest Bay with its rock pools, Pink Bay and Sker, popular for paddling and fishing. Whitmore Bay at Barry Island is also popular and is great for a traditional seaside experience.