The little-known UK beach with hidden cove and seals you can spot year-round
Angel Bay, Porth Dyniewaid, is a secret cove just minutes from tourist spot Llandudno, and is quietly becoming one of the UK's top locations for spotting seals in the wild
For a stunning weekend getaway with hidden gems and wildlife spotting, Angel Bay in North Wales is the perfect destination. Porth Dyniewaid, known to locals as Angel Bay, is a hidden gem mere steps from the bustling Llandudno, fast becoming one of the UK's prime seal-watching hotspots.
LateRooms.com chief Matthew Fox commented: "British holidaymakers love a good seaside town and Llandudno has been a classic for generations. But just a short hike around the coast from its pastel promenade and Victorian pier is something truly special, and a real reward for nature lovers."
This secreted bay is a prime spot for grey seals and their young during the autumn months. Even though autumn is the season for seal sightings, visitors can enjoy their presence nearly all year round.
Direct access to the beach may be non-existent, ensuring these marine creatures are undisturbed by people, but the view from the clifftops into the cove below is still breathtaking.
Perched on the craggy cliffs, you get panoramic views across the Irish Sea, and on a clear day, you might see scores of seals playfully swimming or lounging on the rocks basking in the sunshine, reports the Express.
Angel Bay remains unspoiled; here, there are no lines, ticket stalls, or souvenir shops – just nature and the occasional fellow hiker on pleasant days.
The cove has received rave reviews on Tripadvisor, with visitors praising the scenic walk and breathtaking views from the top. One enchanted visitor penned: "Absolutely beautiful place with unreal views! So peaceful as we went later in the evening to watch the sunset. We spotted quite a few seals on the shore and in the sea".
Another shared their delight, saying: "Such a surprise, even though the only reason we visited was to see the seals.
"We never imagined so many of them lounging on the beach, taking little dips in the sea, barking and talking amongst themselves."
They added: "Could've stayed and watched all day. Beautiful to see them in their natural habitat and the walk to the beach follows an easy path so it was a very pleasant stroll."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
UK 'seaside town' nearly always named the best but it's not even by the sea
Rye in East Sussex has been named the UK's best seaside town - but it's actually almost three miles from the coastline There's a town that has consistently been crowned the UK's top seaside spot, despite it not being located on the doorstep to the sea. Rye, situated in East Sussex, is nearly three miles from the water's edge, yet it continues to be celebrated alongside other coastal towns in a consumer magazine ranking. Other locations that made the cut in the Which? magazine list include Bamburgh in Northumberland, Dartmouth in Devon, and Portstewart in Northern Ireland. According to travel website 1066 Country, Rye's allure lies in its charming pubs, boutique hotels, and fashionable eateries. The Express reveals that the town was once a fishing village close to the sea, but shifting tides have pushed the English Channel several miles away. Originally part of the Manor of Rameslie, it was pledged to the Abbey of Fécamp by Ethelred the Unready after he sought refuge there in 1014. When Normandy was returned to the French in 1205, Rye also became French and didn't rejoin the English Crown until 42 years later, according to 1066 Country. To bolster its defences, a wall and four gates were constructed, remnants of which can still be seen today. During medieval times, Rye was on the frontline of defence, a role that exempted the town from tax and custom duties. However, it wasn't immune to attacks from the French, including a devastating fire in 1377 that almost razed the town to the ground. Nowadays, it's more likely to be swarmed by tourists drawn to the Ypres Tower at Rye Castle and the medieval allure of Mermaid Street. Other attractions include Rye Nature Reserve, St Mary's Church and the town's eateries, which have received accolades from TimeOut magazine. Notable among these are The Globe Inn Marsh, known for its seafood, and Mermaid Street Cafe, famed for its cream teas. Bargain hunters will delight in the antique shops dotted along Mermaid Street, including Strand Quay Antiques and Alex MacArthur Interiors on Conduit Hill. The historic town also boasts a selection of pubs, such as The George Inn, Rye Waterworks Micropub, Ypres Castle Inn and The Mermaid Inn, whose cellars date back to 1156. The closest seaside spot is Camber Sands, just a three-mile stroll from Rye. As reported by SussexLive, members of the East Sussex Naturists club are known to frequent the town. The influx of these and other visitors has boosted the town's reputation, with Rye securing the 25th spot in Which? magazine's survey of British seaside towns. St Andrews in Fife has been crowned the best seaside town in Scotland, while Portmeirion in Gwynedd takes the title in Wales. In Northern Ireland, Portstewart in Londonderry/Derry has been honoured as the top spot by a consumer magazine. However, at the lower end of the scale, Clacton-on-Sea and Skegness found themselves at the bottom of the rankings. They received an average three out of five stars for their beaches, with visitors unimpressed by their "run-down seafronts". Despite this, some survey participants highlighted Clacton's "lovely" seafront gardens and its "fantastic" annual airshow as major draws, while Skegness was commended for its "old-fashioned" appeal, donkey rides, aquarium, and arcade.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Charming' UK seaside town with abandoned lido to transform with £6.8m plan
A UK seaside town once famed for its bustling outdoor Lido has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the area after it fell into disrepair. However, the £6.8m project has been hit with several delays An 'idyllic' seaside town surrounded by unspoilt countryside aims to refurbish the abandoned lido that's been tarnishing its image. Tucked away in rural Cumbria, and just a stone's throw from the acclaimed Lake District, lies Grange-over-Sands - a coastal gem that has managed to preserve its Victorian and Edwardian elegance despite much of the UK coast falling into demise. It boasts a 2.4-mile-long promenade, stretching from Blawith Point to the railway station, and a vibrant range of cafes and restaurants. Despite tempting views of golden sands and refreshing waters, Grange-over-Sands ' beach is actually a wide expanse of salt marsh. Walking on here isn't advised due to patches of dangerous quicksand - but it still makes for an Instagram-worthy snap. For years, a soft-sand beach and swimmable sea wasn't really needed - as the town lured in swathes of holidaymakers with its iconic lido. However, in 1993 - the outdoor pool closed and fell into repair. Images of the Grade 2 listed building show how the site has become somewhat of an eye-sore, filled with stagnant water and patches of uncontrollable weeds that seem worlds away from its glory days. "Grange Baths became a focal point for the community with bathers coming from far and wide by train on the Furness Line – a part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway," explained Save Grange Lido, a charity group calling for the pool to be brought back to life. "The pool hosted many events over the years including beauty contests, competitive galas and synchronised swimming. It was the place to be seen on a summer's day." Luckily, in 2023 work began on restoring the Grange Lido and Promenade, as part of a huge £6.8 million fund. Almost £5 million was allocated to opening the lido up to the public again - but with a temporary infill to the pool that would allow the area to be used as a 'multi-use' public space for the local community and visitors. Those wanting to don their Speedos and have a dip will have to be patient, as the future of the lido's pool return still depends on the council being satisfied with several pieces of criteria. This includes the necessary capital costs being raised and a 'robust and viable' business case. "Work on the 1,900m-long promenade will include the removal of unstable sections of the sea defence wall; the application of a durable coating to the upper surface of the promenade; and, a combination of pre-cast and in situ concrete repairs to the upper edge 'bull nose' and sea-facing elevation of the sea wall," Westmorland and Furness Council said. "The work also includes connectivity works to link the promenade to the town; public realm furniture; signage; improvements to railings; and a new child's playground area." In February 2023, the council confirmed the works would take 14 months to complete and would begin towards the end of March or the beginning of April - later than the February start date put forward by Councillor Jonathan Brook in 2022. Last month it was revealed that the refurbishment had been hit with even more delays due to problems with concrete repairs. Westmorland and Furness Council said the additional setbacks meant it was 'unlikely' the project would be completed this summer - and that a new reopening date will be confirmed in the coming weeks. "While it is frustrating that the construction phase must be extended due to further assessment of the repairs required to complete the project, it highlights the complexity of working with historic assets of this nature," Cllr Brook added. "It is important that we get this right, understanding that the lido project seeks to restore this important structure after more than 30 years of closure and several previous attempts to bring it back to life."
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Hotel regulars slam 'pathetic chavs' after gran's moan about 'no English food'
Susan Edwards, who aired her frustration that Lido Corfu Sun Hotel on the Greek island didn't serve English food, said she will never book a holiday with TUI again Regulars at the Corfu hotel blasted by a British gran for not serving enough English food have hit out at reviews left by "pathetic chavs". Lido Corfu Sun Hotel on the Greek island came under scrutiny this week after Susan Edwards, 69, said there weren't enough chips and she became "sick to death of looking at rice". Since then, the hotel boss has defended the menu, describing the offerings as "generous and diverse", and said "fresh salads, fruits, hot and cold dishes" are served daily. And guests have taken to Tripadvisor and Google Reviews since the spat to defend their beloved resort, insisting Ms Edwards' criticism is unfair. One became so enraged they left their first-ever Tripadvisor review to brand other guests as "pathetic chavs". The account, created only this month seemingly in response to the row, rated Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as five stars out of five. The review reads: "Don't listen to pathetic chavvy Brits and Poles who bought the cheapest 'all Inclusive' package in existence and demanded type of service only the most entitled and uncouth would. It's a fine, charming little place. Close to water, nice food and clean facilities. Thankfully, no British food!" Another reviewer also leaves a subtle dig at Ms Edwards' whinge, insisting the Greek food is delicious. They, seemingly tongue in cheek, praised the offerings for Scottish guests in the critique, left hours after Ms Edwards' story emerged. The tourist wrote: "Phenomenal hotel, very comfortable and well located for a relaxing holiday, we are regular visitors. Excellent all inclusive food and drink package, they really go out their way to cater for Scottish visitors. "We enjoyed draught Tennant's lager, Irn Bru was on tap (diet and full fat), square sausage on a roll at breakfast, scotch pies and bridies at lunchtime, and there was always a choice of haggis or mince 'n tatties at dinner. Tunnock's tea cakes and shortbread were available all day, along with Scottish Blend tea. The staff are lovely and cannot do enough for you. The Greek dishes are also immense, which is a bonus, as Corfu is in Greece." And the majority of guests on Google Reviews rated Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as five stars out of five. Plenty of these top reviews have been published in the last few days in the wake of the criticism. One reads: "The food is delicious. The service is great. We arrived at 4am and at 8am we got a room and wristbands and we could use everything. On the day of departure after adding the key to the transfer itself we could use all the facilities and food. We sincerely recommend." It jars hugely with Ms Edwards' experience as the gran, from Westerhope, Newcastle, said her holiday was "horrendous" from the minute she, her two cousins, her second cousin and her daughter arrived. TUI offered the guests £100 in holiday vouchers, with a spokesperson saying they were "sorry to hear" about her experience. They said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Ms Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Ms Edwards to come to a resolution."
