15 Best Llŷn Peninsula beaches

The Llŷn Peninsula is wild, remote North Wales, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rugged inland hills and spectacular coastline. The Llŷn Peninsula beaches are among the best in Wales, from quiet coves to wide dune-backed sands, and my guide shows you around our favourite fifteen.

There are tidal estuary beaches, vast at low tide and under water at high.  Two beaches straddle a fine 13th century Welsh castle. Another has a beautiful old pilgrimage church right above it. And one beach has a pub right next to the sand.

The beaches of the Llŷn Peninsula attract everyone from hardcore surfers to those who like to spend the day on the beach relaxing with a pint or two.

The Llŷn is also one of the most steadfast strongholds of the Welsh language, and a great place to gain an introduction to it if you haven’t encountered it before. It looks a lot more difficult than it actually is, and any attempt to speak a few words is always warmly welcomed.

I hope this guide tempts to to seek out some of these amazing beaches for yourself.

Aberdesach is almost the continuation of Dinas Dinlle, three miles to its south and closer to the peaks of Yr Eifl.

It’s a mostly pebbly beach, and as the tide recedes a stretch of sand is revealed. Aberdesach has always been a quiet beach, something which has always amazed me as it’s a glorious location. With so few visitors, there aren’t any facilities other than the small car park a few steps from the beach.

The beach is only a mile or so north of the village of Clynnog Fawr, home of the stunning church of St Beuno. It’s one of the major stops on the route to Bardsey Island, one of the most important pilgrimages in Wales. The church and beach make for a wonderful hour or two if you’re exploring the area.

Getting there: The beach is just off the A499 road that runs down the coast from Caernarfon. If you’re relying on public trans[ort, the number 12 Caernarfon-Trefor-Pwllheli bus stops at Pont Aberdesach, a five-minute walk from the beach. The same service stops at Clynnog Fawr, and runs every hour Mondays to Saturdays. It only runs every three hours on Sundays.

Where To Stay: Nant Gwrtheyrn – a former quarrying village, now a school for people learning Welsh as a second language, in a remote valley just south of the Yr Eifl range. Accommodation is in luxury restored workers’ cottages. An amazing place and experience.

Porthdinllaen is a tiny beachside hamlet that was once considered as a location for a ferry port. Fortunately for it – and us – Holyhead (on Anglesey) was chosen instead. Porth Dinllaen has remained a quiet backwater ever since.

There are barely ten houses in the whole hamlet, which looks out over a sheltered cove, protected by the headland behind. It’s now only accessible via a half-mile walk across Nefyn & District golf course, and you can reward yourself with a drink at the Ty Coch Inn, the pub that sits right next to the sand. They also serve pub meals.

The harbour is popular with sailors, and the view back up the coast to Yr Eifl is magnificent. When the tide goes out the sand isn’t the best, but this is a minor quibble – just savour that view.

Where To Stay: Yr Hen Felin B&B – adults-only B&B in the nearby village of Edern

See Also: Visiting Porthdinllaen – one of the most beautiful villages in Wales

There are enough Llŷn Peninsula beaches to cope with the summer crowds, and some of them just don’t make it onto the radar of many people. Penllech beach is one of these, a fairly remote mile-long strip of some of the whitest sand we’ve seen in Wales.

We once stayed in the cottage at Porth Colmon, just beyond its southern end, for a week, and had the beach to ourselves most of the time. There is some awesome hiking along the coast path in either direction, and St Gwynhoedl’s Church in the nearest village, Llangwnnadl, is one of the finest pilgrims’ churches on the Llŷn.

Getting there: The B4417 runs within a few minutes’ walk of the beach – there is a small car park towards the northern end of the beach.

This small village has been called the ‘Land’s End of North Wales’, and it does have a remote, isolated feel. If you’re looking to escape somewhere quiet for a while, it makes a wonderful base – we’ve stayed there and in the surrounding area several times. It’s ideal whether you’re looking to hike, explore some of the historic sites nearby, or visit more Llyn Peninsula beaches.

It was also the departure point for pilgrims to Bardsey Island, three miles away and one of the two most important destinations for pilgrimages in Wales.

Aberdaron beach is magnificent, with a glorious setting right next to the village, overlooked by the medieval St Hywyn’s Church. The terrace of the Tŷ Newydd Hotel a few doors down is a great place to enjoy a drink and breathe in that sea air.

See Also: 12 Best Things To Do In Aberdaron

It’s only a short drive up and down winding lanes from the eastern end of Porth Neigwl, but sheltered Abersoch seems a world away. The main beach to the south of the village is easily accessible, with outstanding views to Snowdonia and a row of higgledy-piggledy brightly painted beach huts completes a lovely scene. Take a walk there at the start of a summer day when nobody else is around and watch the sun rise over the peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia).

By summer day it’s a very popular family beach with many people taking their boats out for a ride in the bay.

Abersoch is very different to the rest of the Llŷn Peninsula, almost like an exclave. It’s the one place which tourism has completely taken over, with many of the houses given over to short term rentals. It’s also the one place in the area where I’ve seldom heard Welsh – the first language across the Peninsula – spoken. The beach is spectacular, the harbour lovely, and Porth Ceiriad (a beach two miles south) a delight, but Abersoch has lost some of its magic down the years, sad to say.

Getting there: The Cambrian Coast line takes you all the way to Pwllheli, a few miles up the coast. From there, bus 18 from stand A at Pwllheli bus station takes you to the centre of Abersoch village.

Where To Stay: The Wylfa – 4-star guesthouse a short walk from the superb beach

One of our favourite beaches anywhere, I fell in love with this place as a child but every time I go back it seems to get better. It’s owned and operated by the National Trust, at the foot of a narrow lane. Its waters normally calm in the lee of a large headland, a stream trickling down to the beach. A lovely café and bar right next to the entrance to the beach.

A row of brightly painted beach huts adds to the idyll, as do the views to the mountains. We’ve also nominated it as one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.

Those in need of a break from all this lying around on the sand can enjoy the short invigorating climb to the top of the headland, Mynydd Tir-y-cwmwd, to share the view with the Tin Man sculpture. There’s also a great bistro at the end of the lane down to the beach, a place where we’ve eaten well many times.

Getting there: The A499 runs through the village en route to Abersoch. Otherwise bus number 18 runs from the bus station – next to the railway terminus – in Pwllheli, taking less than ten minutes.

Where To Stay: Craig Y Glyn – outstanding 4-star guest house with beautiful garden, a few minutes’ walk from the beach. I’ve stayed there a few times, and rate it one of the best places to stay in the Llŷn Peninsula.

There are actually two beaches at Criccieth (spelt Cricieth in Welsh), one either side of its spectacularly sited castle. The better of the two, Criccieth East Beach, is sometimes called Criccieth Beach. The other – which is also well worth a visit – is called either Criccieth West Beach or Marine Beach.

If you want to relax on a beach in Wales taking in the view of a castle, this pretty resort is the place to do it. Both East and West beaches are a mixture of sand and pebbles – the lower the tide, the more sand you’ll find. The ice cream from Cadwalader’s, just below the castle, tops it off perfectly.

I also recommend a visit to the castle for the tremendous views back to the mountains of Snowdonia.

Getting there: The A497 runs through the town, and the beaches are a short drive down the hill from the main road. Otherwise, several trains a day call at Criccieth, which is also on the wonderful Cambrian Coast Line.

Where To Stay: Both Bron Eifion Hotel – a country house just outside the town – and Caerwylan Hotel, on the seafront – are exceptional.

See Also: 14 Best Things To Do In Criccieth

13. Black Rock Sands

The largest, if not the longest, of Llŷn Peninsula beaches, Black Rock Sands also draws the biggest crowds in summer. Named after the partly black headland at its western end, the beach (Morfa Bychan in Welsh) is immense, and in summer many cars drive onto it and park there for the day (for a fee – £8 per day) – a rare sight on Welsh beaches.

You can also walk along the edge of the vast expanse of dunes behind the beach, and there are some sea caves to explore around the headland. The distant views of Criccieth Castle are pretty special too.

Getting there: If you’re not driving the S4 bus runs regularly from Porthmadog stand C to Borth-y-Gest and Morfa Bychan, from where it’s a 10-minute walk to the beach.

Traeth Bach means ‘little beach’, and at low tide, this is not what it says on the tin: it is huge.

The Italianate fantasy village of Portmeirion enjoys a fantastic setting on the Dwyryd estuary. At high tide the water laps against the shore beneath the renowned hotel, but when the tide goes out, you can enjoy a long walk along the open sands.

About the Author: David Angel, a Welsh photographer, writer, and historian, has over 30 years of experience exploring and photographing Wales. As former Art Director and Commissioning Editor for Visit Wales, he has explored every corner of this extraordinary country, climbed its mountains, and walked hundreds of miles along the breathtaking Welsh coastline and landscapes. He now uses a lifetime of experience to write comprehensive guides to help people like you discover and explore the best of Wales.  He is a native English speaker and fluent in Welsh.

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