Beaches & coast
Turquoise coves you reach through a farm, dune-backed miles of empty sand, a tidal island of lighthouses, and some of the cleanest water in Britain — the North Wales coast rewards the effort of getting there. These guides cover the tides, the dog rules (they change seasonally), the parking and which beach suits which wind.
11 places covered.
North-East Wales
Eryri (Snowdonia)
Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
Benllech Beach Family-favourite golden sands Quick ref 
Cemlyn Bay Shingle ridge & Arctic tern colony Quick ref 
Newborough Forest & Warren Pinewoods, dunes & red squirrels Quick ref 
Porth Wen Brickworks Abandoned Victorian brickworks cove Quick ref 
Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch) Vast sands & The Ship Inn Quick ref 
Ynys Llanddwyn Island of the Welsh saint of lovers Llŷn Peninsula
A beach for every wind
The range is the joy of it: Anglesey's clear-water bays and the tidal island of Llanddwyn; the hidden Llŷn coves like Porth Oer (the Whistling Sands) and Porth Iago; and the long, family-friendly sands of the north coast — Prestatyn, and Talacre with its lighthouse standing out on the dunes.
Two things decide a beach day here. Tides: check them before you set out for anywhere tidal, from Llanddwyn to the Gower's Worm's Head, or a cove can cut off behind you. Dogs: many beaches carry seasonal bans, usually May to September, so read the signs at the top of the slipway. The Wales Coast Path threads the lot together — arrive early for the small-cove car parks, and carry your litter home.
Build a day out here
The free Explore Wales planner chains any of these into an itinerary with drive times, weather and campsite suggestions — and works offline once installed.