Porth Dyniewaid

The Welsh name gives it away - this is a proper local's beach rather than somewhere you'll find the Llandudno crowds. Porth Dyniewaid sits just outside the main resort town, offering a quieter stretch of sand and shingle where you can actually hear yourself think. The beach itself is compact but genuinely appealing, with good rock formations and pools that make it worth exploring at low tide. The surrounding cliffs provide shelter from wind and give the whole place a more enclosed, intimate feel than you'd expect so close to the urban sprawl.

It's the kind of spot where families will spend a proper couple of hours rather than an afternoon. The rock pools are excellent for kids, though the shingle can get uncomfortable underfoot if you're barefoot. Photographers and walkers get a lot from the clifftop paths that run along here - the views back towards Llandudno's Great Orme are solid, and the light works particularly well in late afternoon.

You're well positioned for combining this with the nearby caravan parks. Dinarth Hall and Tan Y Bryn are barely a mile or two away, making it a quick walk or short drive from your base. The beach works best outside peak summer when it's not rammed, and low tide reveals far more to explore. Free access, no facilities to speak of, but that's partly what keeps it special. Don't expect buckets-and-spades entertainment - this is about breathing some air and finding a quieter corner of the North Wales coast.