Beaches and Coastline

As well as the mountains we have sand, sea, beaches and bays as well as rocky peaks, hills and forests. We’re home to 200 miles of coast and more than 45 beaches, as well as one of the most spectacular stretches of the pioneering Wales Coast Path, a world’s first.

Given the prominence of our mountains, it’s not surprising that our coastline can sometimes fly under the radar. But take the time to investigate and you’ll discover beguiling places like the Llŷn Peninsula’s squeaky clean Porth Oer, also known as Whistling Sands. It’s a geological oddity where the beach audibly squeaks beneath your feet, a phenomenon that occurs in only a handful of places worldwide.

Shell Island near Harlech is famous for … guess what? For a sense of the Sahara go to endless Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog, Barmouth or Dinas Dinlle near Caernarfon. And if small and seductive resorts are your coastal cup of tea, you’ll love places like Aberdyfi and Abersoch.

Here’s a quick run-down, from north to south, of some of our coastal highlights:

Penmaenmawr
Long, sandy beach with sailing club and attractive promenade.

Llanfairfechan
Fun, family-friendly seaside village with large sandy beach. The nearby Traeth Lafan Nature Reserve is a great place for birdwatching.

Dinas Dinlle, near Caernarfon
Enormous beach with widescreen views to match. Great for walkers, windsurfers and power kiters.

Nefyn
Two miles of sweeping sands, scooped out of the coastline in perfect crescents. The impossibly pretty National Trust village of Porthdinllaen is perfect too.

Porth Oer, near Aberdaron
A true one-of-a-kind, with ‘Whistling Sands’ that really do squeak underfoot.

Aberdaron
Broad sandy beach on Llŷn’s ‘land’s end’, sheltered between two spectacular headlands

Abersoch
One of our most popular resorts. A big hit with families, watersports enthusiasts, shoppers and people watchers.

Pwllheli South Beach (Marian-y-De)
A three-mile curve of sand and shingle, backed by rolling dunes.

Morfa Bychan (Black Rock Sands)
This big beach’s golden sands, rock pools and dunes make it a popular spot for families.

Harlech
Untouched sandy beach, backed by dunes and theatrically overlooked by Harlech Castle.

Shell Island, Llanbedr
Sand, dunes and, of course, shells.

Barmouth/Abermaw
Bustling resort town that boasts a huge sandy beach, plus views over the mountains and Mawddach Estuary.

Tywyn
Popular surfing beach with almost five miles of sand, and also a good place to spot dolphins and porpoises.

Aberdyfi
Dramatically located at the mouth of the Dyfi Estuary, this big sandy beach is great for windsurfing and wildlife spotting.

Conwy Marina and Quay is a great place to sit and watch the world go by, whether it’s with fish and chips from the wrapper, or a drink outside the Liverpool Arms. Take a look around the muscle museum, smallest house, RNLI boathouse, or simply take in the stunning views.