Most Wonderful Beaches
Some of the nicest beaches in the UK may be found on the Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn), which hangs off the coast of Wales to the northwest. This island of unpredictable weather can shower you with beautiful sunshine, furious storms, and rainbows all within the space of a single day.
Anglesey beaches, which are continually being reshaped by the tides, stare out over Snowdonia’s menacing mountains and take the full brunt of the Irish Sea. But accept it, please!
The beaches on the island are breathtaking, whether viewed in the bone-shattering storms and crashing surf of winter or the hazy golden light of summer. St. Patrick washed up on Welsh shorelines in cliff-encircled coves where vast swoops of dune-rimmed sand and surf-smashed bays erupt into green-blue waters.
Come swim, surf, kayak, or climb on a portion of the 130-mile Anglesey Coastal Path, which connects the island’s coast and is wholly deserving of its AONB designation.
1. Traeth Mawr, Aberffraw
The beauty of Traeth Mawr is all in the approach: hearing the squeak of sand between your toes as you race down dunes fringed with marram grass, watching spindrift whip off the water.
Moreover, gasping at the dark pencil outline of Snowdonia’s mountains and the Lln Peninsula flickering out like a dragon’s tail etching the horizon. This beach on Anglesey’s southwest coast is large enough to draw few visitors even during the busiest summer days. It has a broad stretch of powder-soft sand.
The beach is only a short stroll from charming Aberffraw and its scattering of pastel-painted cottages along a tidal river. To get to Porth Cwyfan cove, if you’re up for a longer walk, make your way along the rocky coast, up the headland.
Also, through the ruins of a Bronze Age burial monument. You’ll be enthralled by the medieval St. Cwyfan’s Church, which is positioned on a small offshore island and submerged during high tide.
Where To Eat
The Crown, located in the center of the village, is a great place to enjoy a pint of real ale or some fish and chips.
2. Traeth Llanddwyn
A real gem can be found at the southernmost point of the island. It is a beach that stretches for three and a half glorious miles, rippled with dunes covered in marram grass.
It is surrounded by the Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, where trails wind through Corsican pine forest and coastal marshes teem with birdlife. In Wales, there aren’t many beaches with more breathtaking scenery.
Ynys Llanddwyn, a tidal island at the bay’s northern curve, captivates people with its ever-changing light, isolated coves, and panoramic views of the wind-tossed Irish Sea.
When the water is low, you can stroll to the 16th-century ruined church that once stood where an earlier Celtic nunnery with connections to St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers, is now located (a Welsh St Valentine of sorts).
Where To Eat
In the neighboring town of Malltraeth, the quirky and nostalgic Riverside Arts & Crafts Café rustles up delectable baked cakes and picnic baskets on the go.
3. Traeth Lligwy
Traeth Lligwy is truly magical at low tide when the light dances across the tidal pools and the receding sea sculpts beautiful patterns on the expansive arc of golden sand. The only sound on this dune-backed beach during peaceful seasons of the year is the warble of wading birds.
Sand castle construction, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are all made possible by solid sands and strong breezes. Would you like to add some culture to your beach walk? Visit the neighboring Lligwy Burial Chamber, a late-Neolithic wonder set in a field and finished with one of Britain’s largest capstones (18ft long, 15ft wide, and 25 tonnes heavy).
Where To Eat
With afternoon teas and lunches (ranging from expensive plowman’s to Buddha bowls) served on mismatched vintage china, Ann’s Pantry in adjacent Moelfre offers a charming garden and a pleasant coastal ambiance.
4. Traeth yr Ora
Go one bay over on a three-mile walk leading through woods and kissing gates, over stiles and cliffs to delightful small Traeth yr Ora if Traeth Lligwy is not quite far enough for your solace-seeking tastes.
On winter days, you won’t often see another person at this isolated scoop of blonde sand. The inspiring views extend to Dulas Island and its tapered tower, which was constructed in 1821 as a beacon to warn of perilous cliffs and a haven for seamen who had been shipwrecked.
You can see the impressive Great Orme headland, which is close to Llandudno, further east. Watch for seals, bottlenose dolphins, and porpoises as you stroll along beautiful Anglesey beaches, as well as guillemots and cormorants among other birds.
Where To Eat
At the Kinmel Arms, you may quench your thirst while enjoying a view of Moelfre Bay and a pint of good ale, or you can purchase fish and chips from the Coastal Café and eat them in front.
5. Red Wharf Bay
Castle Rock, also known as Castell Mawr, rises over Red Wharf Bay like the ruins of a fantastical fortress. It was previously heavily quarried for its limestone. It is now a shelter for seabirds that nest, and it is thought to have been an Iron Age fort.
The beach is also a birder’s paradise because it is surrounded by dunes and marshes, creating a natural reserve that draws a variety of waders and ducks, including curlew, sandpipers, shelduck, and dunlin. If you visit during low tide, you’ll be mesmerized by the rippling sands, rock pools, and sea and sky reflections.
Where To Eat
The Ship Inn, perched on the sand, features a rustic decor with vaulted ceilings and a fire that gives it a seadog flavor. It serves traditional pub fare, such as beer-battered haddock and Welsh lamb pie.
6. Porth Padrig
The island’s northern coast is wilder and features deep indentations left by smugglers’ coves that can only be accessed by foot or boat. Here, the coastal walk runs riot over cliffs dotted with wildflowers and nose-dives to the Irish Sea. Cliff-clasped The “White Lady,” a white quartzite sea stack that rises in the center of the beach marks Porth Padrig. It is only a short distance north of the community of Cemaes.
Moreover, it bears the name of a white spectral apparition from Welsh mythology. The beach is named for St. Patrick, who, according to legend, sought refuge in a nearby cave when his boat capsized.
For a lengthier journey, head further east along the coast road to the King Edward VII Coronation Tower, which offers views of Middle Mouse (Ynys Badrig), Wales’ northernmost point.
Where To Eat
Warm croesos (welcomes) are extended by The Bell – Y Gloch in Cemaes, which also crafts delicious ice cream and light lunches (from gourmet toasties to seasonal salads). When the sun is out, try to get a table in the courtyard.
7. Borth Wen
In the dunes that encircle Borth Wen, a crescent of white sand on Holy Island’s southern shore, the wind whistles through the marram grass. This is a great beach for families since it is well-sheltered, and has gently sloping dunes perfect for building castles. Clear seas that are shallow enough for paddling, and a scattering of rock pools where you can dip your net during low tide.
The five-mile circular hike of Holyhead Mountain to the north, which climbs up and over rugged cliffs to the accompaniment of the raging Irish Sea and squawking seagulls and passes South Stack lighthouse, is a great option if you want to raise the adventure factor.
Where To Eat
The White Eagle in Rhoscolyn features breezy sea views and a menu that emphasizes locally grown and caught food, including plump, sweet Menai oysters.
8. Rhosneigr
If large waves, dunes, and wide sands are your thing, head to the west coast. The idea is Rhosneigr. Whether you want to relax on a magnificent stretch of golden sand, take the dog for a stroll, or amp up the excitement by surfing, boating, snorkeling, or kayaking.
Also, its twin beaches (Traeth Llydan and Traeth Crigyll) are fantastic. Fun Sport provides instruction in addition to renting equipment like stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, surfboards, and wetsuits.
The stunning windmill conversion Melin Y Bont is only a five-minute drive away if you’re seeking a unique place to stay. The top floor accommodation, which has a vaulted ceiling ideal for stargazing at night, is reached via a winding spiral staircase.
Where To Eat
Visit the Surf Café for island-roasted coffee, brunch, a wrap, a salad, a burger, or real dairy ice cream. It’s a hip café with a conscience that offers a tonne of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options while abstaining from using plastic.
9. Traeth Gwyn
Traeth Gwyn (White Beach), a stunning grin of white limestone pebbles, forms a little cleft on the island’s northeast coast. To get to this quiet cove and descend into the sparkling turquoise waters, it’s worth the hard descent of the rocks. Come for a pleasant paddle or a wild swim.
The beach widens, gets sandier, and displays rock pools at low tide. Regular sightings of wild ponies in the nearby heathland, black guillemots on the cliffs, and porpoises in the ocean (look out for their hoof marks). Arrive early or late, or walk from the nearby settlement of Llangoed, as the trip there is on small roads and parking can be a challenge.
Visit the lighthouse-topped Penmon Point while you’re nearby for heart-stopping vistas of the Great Orme across the Menai Strait. You may kayak there from here, where puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, and Atlantic grey seals reside.
Where To Eat
The Pilot House Café at Penmon Point offers the most beautiful views while you enjoy appetizers, coffee, cake, or ice cream.
10. Porth Swtan (Church Bay)
This half-moon bay of the softest sand in northwest Anglesey is surrounded by grassy cliffs and gets its name from St. Rhuddlad’s Church, whose tall spire can be seen from the beach.
The church was constructed in the middle of the 19th century, although its history dates back to the sixth century, when St. Rhuddlad, the daughter of the Irish King of Leinster, is said to have found it. The beach itself is a pristine location for a swim or stroll, and at low tide, it is laced with rock pools. Take the downhill trail that leads from the village to get there.
Where To Eat
People travel great distances to The Lobster Pot, which has a rustic interior and a garden deck on nice days, to enjoy boat-fresh seafood (lobster, crab, mussels, oysters, and scallops). However, the weather is misbehaving.
