The 10 Best Beaches in North Wales
Along with great food, culture, and fascinating history, North Wales is known for its beautiful beaches. There are hundreds of miles of unspoilt coastline to explore, along with seaside resorts, quaint fishing villages and stunning segments of the Wales Coast Path.
Whatever time of year you plan to visit, the beaches of North Wales are a delight. Seek out treasure in emerald green rockpools, enjoy picnics in sugary-soft dunes or spend your days on and in the water. In no particular order, we’ve listed 10 of the best beaches in North Wales that everyone should visit at least once!
Note: These beaches are grouped together based on their location, giving you the opportunity to see two or three in the same area during your trip. We’ve also added some helpful details on parking and dog-friendliness to make for an easy choice.
Borth-y-Gest, near Snowdonia
A pretty seaside village, Borth-y-Gest lies just a short distance from Eryri, Snowdonia National Park. Did you think Snowdonia was all about mountains? While a good portion of it is, it’s also only a short distance from the coast. Our beloved Eryri is an incredible landscape; think lakes, peaks, valleys and waterfalls, all within easy reach of beautiful beaches. That’s why we’ve included some of the best beaches in Snowdonia in this list. Sheltered and scenic, Borth-y-Gest village marks the spot where the river Glaslyn spills out into the sea. There are rows of Victorian terraced cottages and sweeping views out to the wooded peninsula of Portmeirion. The sands and estuary here are a haven for birdwatching – it can get muddy but we promise the scenery is worth it.
Parking: Borth-y-Gest has a small, payable waterfront car park with public toilet (LL49 9TR.)
Dog-friendly? Borth-y-Gest beaches are dog friendly, but some areas have restrictions from 1 May to 30 September.
Morfa Bychan, near Snowdonia
Just a short distance westwards from Borth-y-Gest, Morfa Bychan is also known as Black Rock Sands. An expansive, flat beach famed for it’s parking right on the sand, Black Rock is the perfect beach BBQ destination. Views stretch out across Cardigan Bay and the outcrop of Criccieth Castle is visible to the right – it’s a great destination for a North Wales beach day.
Parking: You can drive right onto the sand here. A fee of £8 per car or £16 per large vehicle is payable between 1 April and 30 September.
Dog-friendly? There is a dog-friendly section of Black Rock sands, so be sure to stay within this signposted area if you’re bringing your four-legged friend.
Harlech, near Snowdonia
South of Black Rock Sands and dominated by a World Heritage Site castle, Harlech Beach is the epitome of Welsh beauty. Backed by dunes, woodland and mountains, it sits on the western fringes of Snowdonia National Park and boasts a large stretch of golden sand for everyone to enjoy. No visit to this area could be complete without experiencing the magnificent Harlech Castle, a medieval fortress accessed by an impressive ‘floating’ footbridge with spellbinding views.
Parking: There is no designated beach parking car park, however there are several nearby including Fford Glan Mor and Bron y Graig Uchaf.
Dog-friendly? A section of the beach prohibits dogs from 1 May to 30 September, so please follow the guidelines when visiting.
Barmouth, near Snowdonia
Known as southern Snowdonia’s beach resort, Barmouth is a popular holiday destination that borders mid-Wales. The town’s main beach, Abermaw, is a west-facing stretch of sand and fine shingle known for donkey rides, watersports and amusement arcades. The beach is large enough to escape the hustle and bustle of the town if you wish. At low tide, it is possible to walk all the way to Harlech – just take care to plan your route back and check tide times.
Parking: There are plenty of pay-and-display carparks throughout Barmouth town and along the promenade.
Dog-friendly? Dogs are banned from the area between the leisure centre and the river from 1 April to 30 September. A reasonable section is dog-friendly all year round.
Holiday cottages near the beach in Snowdonia
Want to experience the mountains in the morning followed by a dip in the sea after lunch? North Wales’ unique geography makes this possible. We’ve got a selection of stunning Snowdonia holiday cottages which can cater for your North Wales beach trip.

Newborough, Anglesey
Newborough Beach is one of the (many) jewels in Anglesey’s crown. A small island connected to the mainland by two bridges, Anglesey is an incredibly popular holiday destination. Newborough is an expansive beach, forest and nature reserve on Anglesey’s southwestern edge, boasting its very own tidal island and fascinating history.
The beach is also known as Llanddwyn in Welsh. The tidal island that you’ll discover as you walk out onto the sand is named Ynys Llanddwyn and is said to be the final resting place of Wales’ Patron Saint of Lovers, Santes Dwynwen. For that reason, the beach and island are a popular destination for lovers all over the world looking to be blessed by Santes Dwynwen.
Parking: Newborough has a huge pay-on-exit carpark complete with a toilet block.
Dog-friendly? Dog restrictions apply on some areas of the beach
Aberffraw, Anglesey
A real local’s favourite (so don’t tell too many people…) Aberffraw 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.
Parking: Free but limited and unmarked parking beside the Pont Aberffraw bridge. (LL63 5DX.)
Dog-friendly? Dogs are allowed on the beach throughout the year.
Holiday cottages near the beach 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.
Llanbedrog, Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula is the arm which juts out from the west coast of North Wales. There are many beautiful beaches on the Llŷn Peninsula, Llanbedrog Beach is known for its iconic colourful beach huts and beautiful scenery. Flanked on one side by a rocky hill clad with lush forest, this mile-long sandy beach has shallows perfect for playing in and a beach cafe. It’s a great choice for the ultimate family day out. Parking is accessed via a fairly steep road followed by steps (but it’s only a short distance.) There’s also a public toilet block and convenience shop nearby.
Parking: A spacious National Trust carpark (LL53 7TT) above the beach has pay-and-display machines.
Dog-friendly? Between 1 April and 30 September, dogs need to be kept on a lead until you’ve reached beyond the beach huts.
Aberdaron, Llŷn Peninsula
Situated almost as far west as you can go on the Llŷn Peninsula, gazing out towards Ireland, Aberdaron is a charming fishing village with a storied past. Beloved by everyone from poets to pilgrims, this quaint community is home to a cafe, pub and seafront sandwich shop. The thatch-roofed Becws Islyn bakery is also a must-visit for anyone in the area!
Parking: There’s a payable National Trust carpark and visitor centre directly behind the beach, but this does get full quite quickly during the summer months. Further parking is often available in the fields along the B4413 in peak season.
Dog-friendly? From 1 April to 30 September, dogs must be kept on the area of the beach that sits to the left of the slipway.
Porthor, Llŷn Peninsula
Also known as ‘Whistling Sands’ because of the unique sound of the sand underfoot, Porthor sits on the northern side of the Llŷn Peninsula. A scenic bay hugged by the headland from behind, this is a great beach for families and boasts seriously epic sunset views. Bring a sundowner to sip on and enjoy the view.
Parking: A National Trust car park sits at the top of the hill along with a cafe, just 180m from the sand.
Dog-friendly? Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 1 April to 30 September.
Porthdinllaen, Llŷn Peninsula
You might be surprised to read that this little corner of Wales is home to the third-best beach bar in the world. The ancient Tŷ Coch Inn (pronounced tee cork) boasts maritime decor and a laidback vibe. Nestled into the cliffside in the tiny, National Trust-owned village of Porthdinllaen, the pub sits on a sandy swathe that is unbelievably beautiful. Views look out across Yr Eifl and Snowdonia beyond, and the crystalline waters are often filled with swimmers and paddleboarders.
You’ll need to walk to get here, either along the beach at low tide or over the golf course on the headland. Trust us when we say the walk is worth it! Reward your efforts with a cold pint on one of North Wales’ most beautiful beaches.
Parking: There is a large National Trust car park on the headland (LL53 6DA) and further paid parking is available at the golf club during peak season.
Dog-friendly? Porthdinllaean is dog-friendly all year-round, however please note that if you’re accessing the pub via the beach, the section to the right of the slipway at the bottom of The Cliffs Pub does not allow dogs. If in doubt, keep them on a leash until you’re sure!
Holiday cottages near the beach Llŷn Peninsula
We’ve compiled a range of different holiday cottages throughout the Llŷn Peninsula. Whether you’re planning a visit to Abersoch, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli or Morfa Nefyn, our collection includes some beautiful boltholes from which to discover the Llŷn Peninsula’s best beaches.