Laura Mackenzie
18 April 2023
Top 10 beaches on the Llŷn Peninsula
With nearly 100 miles of coastline, there is an abundance of beautiful beaches around the three sides of the Lleyn (Llŷn) Peninsula. The south coast of Llŷn is often referred to as the Welsh Riviera, with its long sandy beaches and calm seas. The north and western coasts are more rugged, with towering cliffs, offshore islands, long bays and hidden coves. You are never far from the sea on the Llŷn Peninsula and with all its diversity, you are bound to find a beach that suits your needs during your holiday in North Wales.
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Discover these wonderful beaches from the comfort of one of our comfortable Llŷn Peninsula cottages.
Llanbedrog Beach
Llanbedrog Beach offers a mile-long stretch of sand and is one of the calmest beaches in Wales, sheltered by the huge headland of Mynydd Tir-y-Cwmwd. This pet-friendly beach is now owned by the National Trust, with parking facilities, a cafe/bistro selling ice cream through the summer months and public toilets a little further up the road.
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 7TT
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: yes
- Dog-friendly: yes, between April 1 and September 30 dogs should be kept on a lead until beyond the beach huts
- Activities: walking trail, paddling, wildlife spotting, beach games
Abersoch Beach
Abersoch's main beach is sandy and very sheltered which makes it popular with water sports enthusiasts e.g. wakeboarders and water skiers. There are often sailing events which take place off the beach here and during the summer the beach is packed with plenty going on.
There’s a shop and cafe at the top of the beach and a specific section for dogs, south of the slipway. There’s a car park nearby with good access but you will have to pay during the main holiday periods.
Porth Neigwl Beach
Porth Neigwl Beach, also known as Hell's Mouth, is famous for its good waves that attract thousands of surfers every year. Also popular with families, the top of the beach is made up of large pebbles, whilst lower down there is plenty of sand that is exposed at low tide. Porth Neigwl is a 4-mile, dog-friendly beach, accessed through 500m of sand dunes from a car park near the village of Llanengan.
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 7LG
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: no
- Dog-friendly: yes
- Activities: surfing, dog walks, kayaking
Aberdaron Beach
Aberdaron Beach is made up mostly of sand with the odd large rock around. The picturesque village is situated right on the back of the beach with parking and local services. Dogs are allowed on the part of the beach to the left of the slipway and the beach is also good for surfers if the conditions are right. The boat sets off for Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) from Porth Meudwy which is around the bay to the right.
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 8BE
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: yes
- Dog-friendly: between the river and the church has a dog ban from April 1 to September 30. At low tide, there is plenty of space to either side for dogs to have a run
- Activities: surfing, boat trips
Porthor Beach (Whistling Sands)
Porthor Beach (Whistling Sands) is definitely one of the most noteworthy beaches on the Llŷn Peninsula as the sand here does actually "squeak" under your feet! Only one other beach in Europe has this same quality and it is caused by the specific shape of the sand particles. You notice the "squeak" best on the dry sand just above the high tide mark.
There is a small cafe/shop on the top of the beach and the National Trust car park is located up a steep little hill. Dogs are not allowed on the beach in the summer months. This beach is popular with surfers if conditions are right and there are plenty of good walks along the coastal path and into the surrounding countryside from here.
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 8LG
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: yes
- Dog-friendly: seasonal summer ban
- Activities: surfing, squeaky sand, coastal walks
Penllech beach (Traeth Penllech)
Traeth Penllech is a long beach on the north side of the peninsula and makes you really feel you are away from it all. This pet-friendly beach has masses of sand at low tide but take care not to be cut off on a high tide. There are some very interesting rock formations and rock pools along the beach to the right as you walk down. Another good beach for surfing when the conditions are right.
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 8PA
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: no
- Dog-friendly: yes
- Activities: surfing, rock pooling
Porth Ceiriad Beach
Porth Ceiriad Beach is a remote stretch of golden sand and is one of the loveliest beaches on the Llŷn Peninsula. There's a 15-20 minute walk to this pretty cove so it is one of the area's quieter beaches. The surfing here is some of the best in the area and produced large powerful waves best suited to experienced surfers. Porth Ceiriad Beach is also popular with other water sports and in the summer months, you'll spot plenty of kayaks and yachts.
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 7BY
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: no
- Dog-friendly: yes
- Activities: surfing, kayaking, sailing
Morfa Nefyn / Porthdinllaen Beach
Morfa Nefyn / Porthdinllaen Beach is probably best known for its pub, the Ty Coch. The pub is just one of a handful of houses that line the top of the beach, nestled behind a steep little headland. This sandy, pet-friendly beach sweeps all the way around to Morfa Nefyn from Porthdinllaen. There’s a shop and cafe by the car park entrance (which enjoys fantastic views of Yr Eifl and Anglesey).
Facilities:
- Location: LL53 6DY
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: yes
- Dog-friendly: yes
- Activities: swimming, surfing, beachfront dining
Criccieth Beach
Enjoy mighty castle views from this pretty resort. A lovely promenade backs this sheltered beach and there are plenty of access points. Beyond this is the small town of Criccieth where you can explore a wide range of shops, cafes and pubs. At low tide you'll find walkers who come to take in the magnificent views of Cardigan Bay, the mountains of Eryri / Snowdonia and magnificent Mid Wales.
Facilities:
- Location: LL52 0HU
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: yes
- Dog-friendly: seasonal dog ban on most of the beach between April 1 and September 30. There is a dog-friendly area at the eastern end of the beach, beyond the car park
- Activities: promenade strolls, castle exploring, shopping, dining, sightseeing
Dinas Dinlle Beach
Dinas Dinlle Beach is sandy at low tide with large pebbles along the top area, though even here there is some sand to be found. The long promenade offers large amounts of parking and there are a couple of shops in the village of Dinas Dinlle that backs onto the beach. This dog-friendly beach is nearer Caernarfon and offers good views back towards the hills of north-eastern Llyn, Eryri / Snowdonia and across to western Anglesey and Holyhead Mountain.
Facilities:
- Location: LL54 5TW
- Parking: yes
- Toilets: yes
- Dog-friendly: dogs are banned on the main section of the beach between the stone breakwaters from April 1 until September 30
- Activities: shopping, promenade strolls, swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing
Llŷn Peninsula beach map
Enjoy a day at the seaside and plan your route to these top Llŷn Peninsula beaches.
Llŷn Peninsula holidays
Gilfach Goed, Abersoch
Pack your buckets and spades and head off to the coast for a fabulous holiday on West Wales’ beaches. From the sandy coves of Pembrokeshire to the delightful stretches along Cardigan Bay, there’s so much to explore. Base yourselves in one of our West Wales holiday cottages, and you’ll be perfectly positioned for stretching your legs on the coast path, and dipping your toes in the surf!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.