Aberdyfi Beach

Two miles south of Borth, Aberdyfi Beach stretches out in a long, sandy crescent that gets properly crowded in summer but feels genuinely peaceful once you walk beyond the main car park. The beach itself is wide, backed by low dunes and a scattering of Victorian-era seafront buildings that give it more character than your typical Welsh seaside strip.

It's the kind of place where families actually want to stay for the day rather than just passing through. The sand is firm enough for toddlers to manage, the rock pools near the southern end keep older kids occupied for hours, and there's enough space that you're not tripping over other people's windbreaks even in August. The tide comes in quite far, so timing matters if you want to avoid being penned into a small damp corner.

Walkers should head south towards the estuary - the coastal path becomes genuinely lovely once you leave the busy bit. The views back towards Cardigan Bay are worth the extra half hour.

If you're staying at Cambrian Coast or Gwynedd Holiday Home Park, this is an easy run - under three miles. Searivers Caravan Park sits even closer at just over a mile away, so beach access is straightforward from there. There are cafes and a chippy at the seafront, nothing fancy but perfectly adequate for lunch. Go off-season and you'll find it genuinely appealing rather than just functional.