Traeth Penllech

The strand at Penllech is a proper working beach - fishing boats still use it, which tells you everything about how unspoilt it remains. You'll find a curved sweep of shingle and sand tucked below the village, facing out towards Cardigan Bay with the Llŷn Peninsula rising behind. It's not a sunbather's beach; the pebbles are substantial and the water's cold even in summer. But that's precisely why it works so well.

Walkers get the most from Penllech. The coastal path threads through here beautifully, and the beach itself is a natural stopping point on longer rambles around the peninsula. Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of scramble will find tide pools to explore and enough space to avoid the crowds you'd hit at more developed spots near Pwllheli. Bring proper footwear - trainers will do, but water shoes are better if you're planning to wade.

Free access, naturally, and you can spend anywhere from forty minutes to a full afternoon depending on whether you're just passing through or settling in with a book. The light here is lovely in late afternoon, catching the water and the stone. If you're based at either Tyn Ddol or Glampio Coed - both within easy reach - this makes an excellent morning visit before heading further afield. Weather willing, it's worth the short drive from Pwllheli to experience a beach that actual Welsh people still use rather than one designed for tourists.