Llanddwyn Beach (Newborough Beach)

It’s not the nearest beach if you’re travelling from Manchester or Liverpool but I can’t be the only person who’d say it’s the best. At about two hours drive from the big North West cities, Newborough Beach just about qualifies as day-trip distance. And that extra travel time is more than worth it.

For one, it’s beautiful. Backed by a Corsican pine forest and grassy sand dunes, it looks out across Caernarfon Bay to the mountains of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula.

The beach itself is long and sandy so there’s lots of space even on the busiest days. You can swim, sunbathe, or walk a little further along for rock pools and craggy coves.

It’s also a great place for a longer hike or a run. Trails wind through the forest, which is home to red squirrels, and along the beach to the tidal island of Ynys Llanddwyn with its picturesque lighthouse and the ruins of the ancient St Dwynwen’s Church.

There’s often a coffee truck and ice cream van at the car park. Unlike the beach itself, the car park fills up fast during peak season. Arrive early or late in the day to be sure of a space.