All about Wales' wonderful beaches

Wales has beautiful beaches in abundance as well as a meandering coastline offering spectacular views along the edge of the country. In addition to this, there are many stunning coastal towns and villages perfect for your next holiday in Wales.

North Wales:

The north of Wales has a wide selection of stunning beaches to be enjoyed, particularly close to the destinations of Gwynedd and Anglesey. The former is home to a few popular beaches, including those of Tywyn, Barmouth, Abersoch (above), Criccieth, and Dinas Dinlle. Tywyn beach, falling close to Mid Wales, is a sandy beach stretching to around five miles that is ideal for your family holiday in the region. The beach itself has a Blue Flag, is relatively easy to access, and there are a good range of facilities close by too. Similarly, the Blue Flagged beach in Barmouth is situated close to the Mawddach estuary and offers a classic seaside day out with breath-taking views of Snowdonia. North Wales has many other great beaches to explore, but some of our top picks are Benllech, Trearddur Bay, Llanddona, and Porth Dafarch in Anglesey, and Lllandudno North Shore near Conwy.

Mid Wales:

In Mid Wales is where you will find the largest bay in Wales, Cardigan Bay, and this area is inevitably the location of some great beaches in Wales. The town of Aberystwyth (above) is home to two beaches, the north beach and the south beach. Both are shingle beaches which are backed by the promenade, bandstand and castle and offer great family holiday destinations. Much of the area in Mid Wales is designated as a heritage coast, and as you follow the coastline, you will be treated to some beautiful views as well as some off the beaten track locations. This is great for finding your own little secluded slice of paradise during your holiday in Wales. Also, Penbryn beach is located close to Aberystwyth and was used as a location in the James Bond film Die Another Day.

Pembrokeshire:

The Pembrokeshire coast is a great holiday location for a Welsh beach holiday and perhaps the best renowned of the beaches in West Wales is that of Barafundle Bay (above). Barafundle Bay is regularly quoted as being the best beach in Wales as it is backed by dunes and pine trees and offers a large expanse of sand alongside crystal-clear waters. Another great beach in West Wales is Mwnt, a small yet popular beach backed by the rising Foel y Mwnt. Mwnt beach has a Green Coast Award as well as an abundance of wildlife, it is the ideal location for dolphin spotting while swimming and body boarding are also popular activities here as the sheltered cove and water is relatively safe. It is also often referred to as one of Europe’s best hidden beaches. Other beaches of note in West Wales include; Newgale Sands, Tenby Castle Beach, Saundersfoot and Poppit Sands.

South Wales:

South Wales also has some fantastic beaches that you should definitely consider visiting during your holiday in the south of the country. Particularly along the Gower Peninsula which is where you will discover Rhossili Bay (above), arguably Britain’s best beach and a beach that has graced many world league tables. The glorious golden sand at Rhossili Bay stretches to around three miles in length and the inviting water is ideal for water sports, surfers in particular will feel the benefit of the Atlantic swell here. Around the bay you will also find lovely coastal walks and stunning views. The area also has a number of Blue Flag beaches, Bracelet Bay, Caswell Bay, Langland Bay, Port Eynon Bay, and Porthcawl.

Use our guide to the beaches in Wales to help find your perfect holiday in Wales.