West Shore Beach (Traeth Pen Morfa)

The beach runs along Conwy's western shore, facing out towards the Irish Sea with Anglesey visible on the horizon. It's a proper working beach - sand and shingle mix that shifts with the tides, backed by a low promenade and the town itself rising behind. The water here is cold but swimmable in summer, though the real draw is the walking. You can stroll the length easily enough, or use it as a launch point for the coastal path that heads west towards Penmaenmawr. Most people come to clear their head rather than spend the day on the sand.

Families with young kids will find it adequate for paddling and collecting shells, but older children might get restless within an hour unless they're the rock-pool type. Walkers and photographers will get more from it, especially if you time it for low tide when you can walk further out across the flats. The light here in late afternoon is particularly good if you're chasing pictures of Conwy Castle across the water.

It's free, obviously - it's a beach. There are no facilities directly on the shore, but Llandudno centre is close enough that you're never far from a café or ice cream van. Several caravan parks sit within walking distance, including Hafan y Gogarth just 0.3 miles away, making this a convenient spot to combine with a broader Conwy holiday. Worth a visit if you're based nearby, but don't go out of your way from further afield.