Harlech Beach

The beach at Harlech stretches out flat and golden, backed by the imposing castle that looms over everything from its rocky perch. You get a proper sense of scale here - the sand seems to go on forever at low tide, which is when it's actually worth visiting. Come in at high tide and you've got a narrow strip of shingle that frankly isn't much to write home about.

Walkers will appreciate the long flat expanse for a proper stride, and families with young kids won't struggle with the gentle gradient. The castle itself dominates the view, a 13th-century fortress that still commands respect even in ruins. You don't need more than an hour on the beach itself unless you're the type to sit about with a book, but the location makes it worth combining with other bits of the area.

Most of the nearby caravan parks - Min-y-don, Castle View, and Woodlands are all within a mile - sit just above the beach, which means you can roll out of your pitch and be on the sand in minutes. That's the real advantage here. Shell Island, a few miles south, offers something different entirely if you need variety during a longer stay. The beach is free and accessible year-round, though winter storms can make it moody rather than pleasant.

The trick is timing it right. Go when the tide's out, combine it with a wander around Harlech village itself, and treat the beach as part of a broader walk rather than a destination in itself. It's less about the beach being remarkable and more about the whole package working well for a caravan holiday base.