The Warren

The Warren is a proper strip of beach just outside Pwllheli, backed by coastal grassland and dunes. It's the kind of place locals know and visitors often miss - no gimmicks, no facilities to speak of, just sand and sea and a decent walk if you fancy it.

You get a genuine feel for the Lleyn Peninsula here. The beach itself is wide enough at low tide to make a proper go of it, whether you're after shells, a paddle, or just somewhere to sit with a flask and watch the horizon. The dune system behind is interesting to explore - proper fragile ecosystem stuff - though the paths are a bit worn in places.

Walkers will find it worthwhile as part of a longer ramble along the coast. Families with younger kids might get restless after an hour unless the tide's out and there's rockpooling to be done. It's the sort of beach that rewards a bit of effort and low expectations in equal measure.

If you're staying at Tal-y-Fan Holiday Park just down the road, it's barely worth the car journey - walk it instead, takes about 15 minutes. From the other parks further afield like Gimblet Rock or Treheli Farm, it's worth a morning visit if you're working your way round the peninsula. Go early in summer to avoid the families from Pwllheli heading out after breakfast. Winter is genuinely lovely here - windswept and empty.