Porth Ysgo

The walk down to Porth Ysgo takes you through proper coastal Wales - narrow lanes, stone walls, and views that open up suddenly as you descend towards the beach. It's a small cove, the kind that rewards the effort of finding it rather than rewarding the crowds, and on a decent day the sand is golden and the water surprisingly clear for North Wales.

What makes it work is the sense of arrival. You're not parking fifty yards away and wandering onto tarmac - there's a genuine walk involved, which keeps the numbers down and the peace intact. The beach itself is modest in size but well-formed, with decent rock pools if the tide's out and enough space to throw a beach towel without sitting on someone's sandcastle.

It suits families who want an actual destination rather than a car-park beach, and walkers who fancy a coastal circuit will find it fits nicely into longer routes around Pwllheli way. In summer the car park fills up by mid-morning, so an early start pays dividends. Winter is quieter but windier - the cove faces west and gets proper Atlantic weather.

If you're based at Glampio Coed Glamping or Tyn Ddol just inland, this is the beach run you'll make when the kids need sea air and you can't face the busier spots. It's not flashy. It's just proper.