UK beach with ‘crystal clear waters' named country's best coastal hidden gem
With spring in full swing, temperatures across the UK are soaring – and, quite frankly, so are our vitamin D levels.
If you're looking to get your tan on at the beach while the sunshine's out, the UK's best coastal hidden gems have been named – and one Welsh location has come out on top.
Just south of Holyhead lies Trearddur Bay, which a new study has praised as one of the 'most prestigious' beaches in Anglesey.
Not only does it have 'crystal clear waters,' but it's relatively quiet – so you won't find yourself competing with hundreds of other beachgoers for a spot.
The research, which analysed Met Office data, local attractions and social media comments across more than 250 coastal towns, described the bay as the 'perfect playground for water sports enthusiasts with kayak and paddleboard rental available.'
Trearddur Bay was given an attraction score of two and an Instagram score of 10, while its sunshine and rainfall were placed at seven and eight respectively.
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In joint second place, Insure4Boats named Goodrington and Salcombe Regis down in Devon – and with 49 local attractions, it was the top scorer of all the picks on the activities front.
And just 38 minutes away from London by train, Lydd-on-Sea in Kent ranked in joint third place alongside Mwnt in Ceredigion, Wales, which had a sunshine score of seven. Shall we pack the sun cream?
Thinking of visiting? Trearddur Bay isn't the only beachy offering in the area: it's neighboured by Porth Diana Beach, an ideal location for rock pooling.
For a spot of food, there's Ocean's Edge Restaurant, The Driftwood Bar & Restaurant or the Sea Shanty Café.
The latter is right next to the beach, and serves up plenty of fish and seafood, including scallops, moules frites, Thai fish cakes and cod.
Keen walkers can amble along the Anglesey Coastal Path, which spans an impressive 135 miles.
The Trearddur Bay section has even been labelled the 'most attractive' part of the walk, as it passes an Iron Age hillfort, the South Stack lighthouse and RSPB site Twr Elin.
Slightly further afield, Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest offers up some extra greenery, while there's history to be found at Holyhead Maritime Museum.
Visitors have long been preaching the beauty of Trearddur Bay. Over on the r/Wales Subreddit, @Gozaradio said that they've spent 'summer evenings sitting on the beach with a few drinks' on their 'various visits' over the years.
'The arts centre at the top of the town is worth a look, especially if there's something on in the evening. In a converted church and the main hall has a really nice atmosphere for acoustic music,' they added.
When Eleanor F visited from Cheshire, she was met with a 'very clean beach with gorgeous sand.'
Trearddur Bay, Wales (total score: 28) Goodrington and Salcombe Regis, Devon (total score: 26) Lydd-on-Sea in Kent and Mwnt in Ceredigion, Wales (total score: 25) Crimdon, County Durham (total score: 24) Ynyslas, Wales (total score: 23) Port Erin, Isle of Man (total score: 21) Whitepark Bay, Northern Ireland (total score: 19) Ferryside, Wales (total score: 18) Collieston, Scotland (total score: 17) Llanddona, Wales (total score: 16).
'The sea was so clear,' she wrote on Tripadvisor, applauding the café and ice cream shop nearby. More Trending
Alongside his five-star review, Peter V recommended 'an outdoor beer at Sea Shanty, or good value meal on the patio at Ocean's Edge.'
'The sea is lovely and half the beach dog friendly,' he added.
Meanwhile, Kellie M praised the variety of coves in the area, noting that there were 'lots of different and secluded places with great views and crystal clear waters.'
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This article was first published on May 13, 2025.
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