The Best Beaches in Anglesey
With 125 miles of spectacular coastline, it should come as no surprise that the Isle of Anglesey is home to some epic beaches. From rugged, romantic coves to sweeping, wide bays with child-friendly shallows, there is something for everyone’s beach day. It’s a mecca for watersports such as windsurfing and SUP-boarding, and there are even several wellness hotspots with wood-fired saunas dotted along the shoreline. The waters are cold but crystalline, and the sunsets here are something else – you should come and see for yourself.
Below, we’ve listed some of the best beaches on Anglesey that you must experience during your visit.
Newborough Beach
Address: Llanfairpwllgwyngyll LL61 6SG
Newborough is a stunning National Nature Reserve of dunes and pine forest. Arguably the best beach on Anglesey, it’s well known for being a filming location for the Game of Thrones spin-off series, House of the Dragon. The beach is also home to tidal island Ynys Llanddwyn, where you’ll find the ruins of a church dedicated to Wales’ Patron Saint of Lovers, Santes Dwynwen. Situated on the south-western tip of Anglesey, the beach is a sprawling expanse of golden sand, with impressive views across the Snowdonia mountain range and the Llŷn Peninsula beyond. While Llanddwyn Island remains connected to the mainland, it does get cut off by high tides. Be sure to check tide times before making your own lovers’ pilgrimage!
Best Anglesey beach for: Walkers who want unbridled romance and spellbinding views.
Newborough Beach FAQs
Yes – The beach is accessed via a long track with barrier entry to a spacious car park – please note that you need to pay for parking via the onsite machines or with the RingGo app.
There are toilets in the car park along with a seasonal snack van and some picnic benches. There are also regular park runs and other events that take place on the beach and in the forest, so be sure to check before your visit.
Restrictions apply to a small western section and on Llanddwyn Island from May to September, but most of the beach is dog-friendly year-round.
We’ve got plenty of holiday properties to choose from near Newborough village itself. If you want slightly more hustle and bustle on your doorstep, Menai Bridge is just 20 minutes away by car.
Lligwy Beach
Address: Lligwy Dulas, Moelfre LL70 9PQ
Backed by dunes and streaked by the Afon Lligwy, Lligwy Beach lies north of Moelfre on Anglesey’s east coast. It’s a mecca for all types of beachgoers in the summer, from families looking to swim in the shallows to keen watersports enthusiasts and dog-walkers. It can get busy, however, out of peak season, it is often a deserted delight. Firm sandbanks create a tidal pool which you can paddle in with little ones, and the local area is brimming with fascinating history. Just a short distance north is Ynys Dulas, an island home to a centuries-old tower, where supplies used to be stocked for shipwrecked seamen who lost their way. In the nearby fishing village of Moelfre, a bronze statue of Richard ‘Dic’ Evans – a previous coxswain of the Moelfre lifeboat and winner of 2 gold RNLI medals for gallantry- keeps watch over the ocean.
Best Anglesey beach for: Families & dog owners who want a vast sandy bay with child-friendly shallows.
Lligwy Beach FAQs
Lligwy Beach has two large carparks to the north and south. The north carpark is smaller (80 spaces) with a 12-minute walk to the beach. The south carpark (140 spaces) is right on the beach with toilets and has a seasonally open cafe. Both carparks are pay & display.
Lligwy Beach is home to the very popular Lligwy Beach cafe, which was featured as one of the Ten Best Beach Cafes in the UK by The Guardian.
Yes, Lligwy Beach is dog-friendly all year round.
We’ve got lots of lovely holiday accommodation near Lligwy beach to choose from, along with options in the charming neighbouring village of Moelfre.
Benllech Beach
Address: Benllech, Tyn-y-Gongl LL74 8TT
Gently shelving and backed by grassy cliffs, Benllech is a beloved Anglesey beauty spot promising everything from fascinating rockpools to scenic sailing. There are panoramic views in all directions, and the east-facing position makes it perfect for winter sunrise walks. It is just one of North Wales’ Blue Flag beaches, with good disabled facilities and easy access. This is one of the best beaches on Anglesey for parking and amenities. The nearby town centre of Benllech (which is just a 10-minute walk away) also has a choice of shops, bars and restaurants.
Best Anglesey beach for: Beach picnics, SUP sessions and summertime fun on a long, flat beach.
Benllech Beach FAQs
Benllech beach is easily reached from Lower Wendon Pay & Display Carpark. This is immediately opposite the beach and has toilets. Alternatively, Upper Wendon Pay & Display Carpark is a short walk away.
Yes – Benllech beach has toilets, a cafe and a shop practically on the sand, and the town centre itself is only a short walk away.
Dogs are not allowed on the main section of Benllech Beach in Anglesey from 1 May to 30 September. However, dogs are welcome in a designated area at low tide all year round.
Explore our collection of holiday cottages near Benllech Beach, including a few within short walking distance.
Church Bay
Address: Rhydwyn, Holyhead, LL65 4EU
A secluded beach on the rugged reaches of Anglesey’s west coast, Church Bay is a beautiful, rocky cove with a maritime past. Known as Porth Swtan in Welsh, the beach was given its English name by sailors who used the nearby St Rhuddlad’s Church as a navigational landmark. Accessed by a sloping track and with limited parking, the beach is famed for the popular Lobster Pot Restaurant. Enjoy stunning views out over the Irish Sea and find the Anglesey Coastal Path running across the top of the cliffs.
Best Anglesey beach for: Sunset swims, dog walks & fresh seafood
Church Bay FAQs
Yes – there is a small, paid car park on the headland, at the top of the beach path.
There’s a public toilet in the car park, which is open from March to September. The Lobster Pot Restaurant and Wavecrest cafe are also worth a visit during your trip here, particularly for the giant scones at Wavecrest!
Dogs are allowed year-round on Anglesey’s Church Bay beach. Restrictions apply from May to the end of September, when they can only visit the far side of the beach on a leash.
Stay right at the heart of Church Bay with our stunning selection of stays – explore them here.
Porth Tyn Tywyn
Address: A4080, Ty Croes LL63 5TD
South of Rhosneigr, Porth Tyn Tywyn (Broad Beach) is a swathe of rugged coastal bliss. It is a popular watersports spot with a rocky reef structure and changeable conditions, so be sure to take care. It is also a stunning sunset spot and great for a cold dip. Warm back up or alternate between hot and cold therapy at Sawna Bach – a woodfired sauna in the carpark. For something special, book a sauna session with sea swimming & breathwork, Welsh language chats and full moon intention setting. It’s one of the best beaches on Anglesey for dog walks because it is dog-friendly all year round.
Making a day of it? Cable Bay (Porth Trecastell) nearby is a delightful small cove which also makes for a scenic visit.
Best Anglesey beach for: Surf, sauna & blustery headland walks
Porth Tyn Tywyn FAQs
Yes, Porth Tyn Tywyn has a pay & display carpark (LL63 5TD) with around 80 spaces.
Aside from the sauna, beach and the carpark itself, there are no facilities at Porth Tyn Tywyn; however, the bustling surf town of Rhosneigr with its shops, cafes, restaurants and bars is just 4 minutes away by car.
Yes – dogs are allowed on North Wales’ Porth Tyn Tywyn beach all year round.
We’d recommend staying in Rhosneigr, which is just 2.8km away. Take a look at places to stay here.
Traeth Mawr (Aberffraw Beach)
Address: Aberffraw LL63 5EX
A real local’s favourite (so don’t tell too many people…) Aberffraw’s Traeth Mawr (Big Beach) is accessed on foot from the village. A cluster of stone and whitewashed houses on Anglesey’s southwestern side, the village is passed by the coastal path, which you’ll follow alongside the River Ffraw to reach this glorious sandy bay. The walk is enough to ensure the beach never gets overcrowded, and when conditions are right, it makes a great surf spot. For an equally spectacular bonus beach, follow the coastal path northwest to Porth Cwyfan, where the whitewashed St Cwyfan’s church sits atop the tiny tidal Cribinau island – it’s nothing short of breathtaking and a true Anglesey landmark.
Best Anglesey beach for: Pure magic – like pastel-coloured sunrises and horses thundering along the beach
Traeth Mawr & Aberffraw Beach FAQs
Yes, there is free but limited and unmarked parking beside the Pont Aberffraw bridge. (LL63 5DX.) Get there early during peak season to secure your spot! Keep in mind that it is also a good ten-minute walk to the beach. Please park considerately.
There are no facilities at Traeth Mawr, Aberffraw, which we think only adds to its rugged beauty!
Yes! Dogs are allowed on the beach throughout the year.
The nearest places to stay when visiting Aberffraw beach are Rhosneigr and Newborough.
Trearddur Bay
Address: Trearddur Bay, Holyhead LL65 2UL
Trearddur Bay is a beloved Anglesey resort with a beautiful beach to boot. It sits on the western coast of Holy Island, which is separated from Anglesey by the Cymyran Strait but very easily accessible; in fact, you likely won’t even notice you’ve travelled onto an island-off-an-island. Flanked by fascinating rockpools and a smaller neighbouring cove named Porth Diana, Trearddur Bay is another bustling, family-friendly beach with very easy access, lots of parking and a choice of shops, cafes and restaurants within the immediate vicinity.
Best Anglesey beach for: Family days out, gentle sea swims and being close to a range of amenities.
Trearddur Bay FAQs
Yes – there is plenty of paid parking at Trearddur Bay – find it at 1972 Lon St Ffraid, Trearddur Bay, Holyhead LL65 2YR.
Yes – the beach at Trearddur Bay is directly in front of the town, with plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes within walking distance, along with public toilets.
Trearddur Bay Beach on Anglesey is dog-friendly, though there are seasonal restrictions on a designated section from 1 May to September 30.
We’ve got a collection of stunning stays in the heart of Trearddur Bay itself – take a look at them here.
Holiday cottages on Anglesey
Anglesey is the home of Oyster Holiday Cottages, so we’ve got the local knowledge and insights to make your stay memorable. We’re passionate about this little island (and the whole of North Wales, too) and so we’ve put together a fantastic collection of holiday cottages near the beach on Anglesey.
