Almost deserted sandy beach in North Wales celebrated as a 'hidden gem' for unspoilt beauty
Also called Silver Bay, after the nearby holiday village, Traeth Llydan sits in a horseshoe bay on the southern side of Anglesey's Holy Island. Ideal for rock pooling, thanks to the rock formations that bracket the bay, it's renowned for spectacular sunsets and an air of seclusion.
In the distance is a small castellated tower, a former bathing house on the Bodior Estate. In some respects the beach at Rhoscolyn is the smaller twin of famous Traeth Llanddwyn near Newborough - but without the bustle.
One fan is comedian Jason Manford, who last summer spent time on the 'cracking' beach with his children while staying at friends. Posting sunset photos online on a 'beautiful Welsh evening', his only gripe was the 'bloody cold' water.
Less wimpy visitors love the gently sloping beach as it's ideal for swimming, kayaking and sailing. Facilities are rudimentary but dogs are allowed on the beach at all times.
Traeth Llydan's exclusivity is down to its lack of permitted vehicle access. Although there is a good-sized car park nearby, this is reserved for guests at the holiday park. Moreover, security guards take a dim view of anyone trying to walk through the facility.
Instead, most people park at Borth Wen, the next cove along, and walk along the Anglesey coastal path. It's a bit of a trek – up to an hour – but the 'amazing' views across to Eryri make up for it.
If parking at Borth Wen, you'll need to arrive early – its beach can get busy. An alternative is to walk and cycle the lanes around Silver Bay Holiday Park and pick up a footpath through pine woods to the beach. The wooden steps down to the sand make for a dramatic entrance.
'Beautiful beach,' said one visitor in a review. 'Not unlike one abroad. Hot, soft sand and glistening water.' Another said: 'An absolutely beautiful beach unspoiled by tourism.'
By comment consent, the beach is "never busy" and caravanning guests are 'lucky to have it" on their doorstep. Another visitor said: 'One of the prettiest bays I have come across for ages. Clean, clear water that is lovely to swim in and not too deep.'
It's possible to have the beach to yourself, soaking up the tranquility. However the sound of lapping waves can be interrupted by a noisy neighbour: RAF Valley airport lies across Cymyran Strait and, depending on your perspective, the roar of jet planes will either be an irritation or a point of interest.
In May Traeth Llydan retained its Green Coast Award in this year's Keep Wales Tidy Wales Coast Awards. It was among 13 beaches in Wales to collect the award, and the only one in the north of the country.
Green Coast status is conferred on the 'hidden gems' of the Welsh coastline - those that boast "unspoilt beauty, excellent water quality and high standards of environmental education". Organisers say these beaches are 'exceptional places to enjoy stunning scenery, rich coastal heritage and diversity'.
Keep Wales Tidy noted: 'Silver Bay is a beautiful, remote beach facing south into Cymyran Bay. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday
"The beach is wide and sandy with rocky outcrops to clamber over and plenty of opportunities for rock pooling. It is also popular for sailing, surfing and canoeing.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh tourist who died after falling from hotel balcony in Malta named by police
Welsh tourist who died after falling from hotel balcony in Malta named by police Kieran Thomas Hughes died after the fall in the early hours of Friday morning The 25-year-old man died after falling from a balcony in St Julian's, Malta Police in Malta have named the Welsh man who tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony on the holiday island. Local media reported that a British tourist died in the early hours of Friday, July 11, after the fall in St Julian's, a popular holiday spot on the Mediterranean island. He has been named as 25-year-old Kieran Thomas Hughes who was born in Bangor. Medics were called to the scene on Triq Spinola at around 4.15am but it is understood that Mr Hughes was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with local authorities regarding the death. Messages of support for Mr Hughes' family and friends were issued after it was reported that the man who died was from Gwynedd. Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: "Heartbreaking news. My heart goes out to the young man's family at this extremely difficult time." Article continues below Senedd member Sian Gwenllian added: "News of the death of a 25-year-old from Gwynedd in Malta is truly devastating. The pain his family must be experiencing is unimaginable. "My thoughts, and those of the people of Gwynedd, are with the family in their grief." A Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office spokesman said: 'We are in contact with the local authorities regarding the death of a British man in Malta.' Article continues below Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
The tiny Welsh village paying the price for having 'most famous' waterfall in Europe
The tiny Welsh village paying the price for having 'most famous' waterfall in Europe A German study found the popular cascade had top 10 search volumes A tiny Welsh village is paying the price for having one of 'most famous' waterfalls in Europe Crowds of people flocking to see a waterfall that has been identified as being one of the "most famous" in Europe is causing chaos for people in a small Welsh village. The 120ft cascade at Aber Falls and its surrounding area have been popular tourist destinations since the 18th century but as the waterfall gathers increasing attention on social media, the flow of people wanting to see it has turned into a stampede. It means an access road to the falls has now become so busy that the nearby village of Abergwyngregyn in Eryri can become gridlocked at peak times. Residents complain of being trapped in their homes, unable to leave a village that was home to the last native prince of Wales, reports North Wales Live. In terms of popularity, the waterfall was ranked 10th in Europe, placing it alongside some of Iceland's iconic cascades. Other Welsh waterfalls to feature in the list were Swallow Falls near Betws-y-Coed, Henrhyd Falls in Bannau Brycheiniog, Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyn Mountains and Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee in Llangollen. To arrive at its findings of popularity, German travel provider SpaDreams analysed 219 European waterfalls and their presence on Google, Bing, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok. The Hamburg-based company said waterfalls have long held a certain allure: "Anyone who has ever stood in front of a waterfall knows its magic: the hypnotic roar of the water, the caress of the spray on the face, the feeling of being in touch with the pure energy of nature." Article continues below Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls) near Abergwyngregyn (Image: North Wales Live ) Billed as a "must-visit" attraction with scenic walks, Aber Falls is within easy reach of families from Liverpool and Manchester wanting a day out. The waterfall has attracted celebrity endorsements too: last year model and TV personality Christine McGuiness described it as "the most magical, beautiful thing I have ever seen" after visiting it on BBC's Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. As it lies just a mile from the A55, the waterfall is easily accessible. A narrow road winds through Abergwyngregyn up to Aber National Nature Reserve where ticketed car parks are run by Eryri National Park and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) At busy times, villagers say queuing traffic can snake back all the way to the dual-carriageway. Gwynedd council says it is sympathetic to the issues and has met representatives to discuss solutions. But it said there are "no easy fixes". In the past, Horseshoe Falls has also faced illegal and inconsiderate parking, though enforcement has helped ease the issues. Horseshoe Falls, Llangollen (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live ) Article continues below According to the SpaDreams study, Europe's highest profile waterfall is Rhine Falls in Switzerland. One of the continent's biggest falls, spanning 150 metres, it sees up to 600,000 liters of water per second plunge over a 23-metre drop. The 165-metre Marmore Falls, Italy, the world's largest man-made waterfall having been created by the Romans, was also on the list. Skogafoss waterfall in south iceland Skogafoss, iceland, july 14,2019 Otherwise, seven of the top nine were waterfalls in Iceland, crowned by the majestic Skógafoss. Cascading from more than 60 metres, it creates an imposing curtain of water that creates large, rainbow-forming mist clouds.
North Wales Live
8 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Best UK holiday park named - with Welsh parks topping the list
A survey carried out by Which? to identify the best and worst UK holiday parks has seen three Welsh parks leading the pack. The survey was completed by 1,700 Which? members who were asked to assess their experiences at UK holiday parks and resorts. Participants were asked to rate aspects from park cleanliness to accommodation quality, the range of free activities on offer, and the overall value for money of their holiday. Forest Holidays, which runs 13 locations in total including two in Wales, bagged second place with an 80% score, beating major brands like Haven and Butlins. Known for its countryside lodges and unique accommodations such as treehouses, Forest Holidays has parks in Beddgelert, tucked away in Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, and Garwnant in Bannau Brycheiniog. Customers praised the quality of the accommodation and cleanliness, although it only received a three-star rating for value for money. Another Welsh winner was Bluestone Wales, situated in picturesque Pembrokeshire. Bluestone, known for its luxury lodges and cottages, also scored highly for the quality of accommodation provided. While Bluestone earned high marks for the variety of children's activities and entertainment available, it also managed to secure a three-star rating for value for money, resulting in an overall score of 77%. Potters Resorts, providing all-inclusive holidays at sites in Essex and Norfolk, claimed the top spot in the UK rankings overall. While it's an adults-only resort for most of the year, children are welcomed during the summer holidays in Norfolk. Potters achieved an impressive 87% score, gaining five-stars for the quality of facilities and accommodation, and a perfect score for the range of complimentary activities on offer. Despite being the most expensive among the parks surveyed by Which?, the cost at Potters includes all food and drink, a variety of activities from pickleball to archery, and evening entertainment billed as 'West End' quality. This earned the resorts a four-star rating for value for money. Pontins, however, finds itself languishing at the bottom of the chart once again, having also ranked last in 2024. The brand currently operates only one holiday park open to guests, the adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare. Their other two parks in Burnham on Sea, Somerset and Pakefield, Suffolk are temporarily closed to house construction workers. With a mere 56% customer satisfaction score, Pontins managed just two-stars in most categories. Despite being the least expensive option, customers still felt they received poor value for money. A disgruntled Tripadvisor user didn't hold back when describing their stay at Pakefield park, saying: "Worst place I have ever visited, chalet was old unkempt and dirty, holes in sheets beds pushed together with terrible matress and pillows, to shower you had to keep pushing a button in, it leaked all over the floor". Another holidaymaker expressed their displeasure, noting: "Rooms are shabby and quite dirty. Dirt on the baseboards, cobwebs in the corners and behind doors, our shower curtain had pink mold growing along the bottom seam, clearly not laundered between guests." However, amidst the criticism, some visitors had favourable reviews of Pontins, with one pleased guest sharing: "We went beginning of October had a brilliant week! Food was great swimming pool was really good and for the price you really can't get any better!". The entertainment on offer received praise too, as one reviewer highlighted: "The Bluecoats show Vegas was amazing! They are all so talented and are always doing some activity or joining in on the dance floor and having a laugh or chatting with people." Away Resorts, which received a 64% rating, manages 25 parks throughout the UK, featuring locations in the South West and the Isle of Wight. They operate two parks in North Wales; Golden Sands and Barmouth Bay. Away Resorts, despite offering a wide range of accommodation from caravans and glamping to luxury lodges, only received two stars for value for money. Their customer service also left much to be desired, although they did manage three stars for cleanliness and quality of accommodation. Center Parcs was the most popular holiday park provider in the survey, achieving a score of 69%, which puts it on par with Haven. While it scored highly for its facilities and quality of accommodation, it fell short in terms of the variety of free activities and overall value for money. It was ranked as the third most expensive option, behind Potters and Warner Leisure Villages, which caters solely to adults. One Which? member said it was:"Very expensive for what it is. Accomodation excellent, apart from the oasis pool, everything was extra. Staff were very helpful and the children enjoyed their stay. I will not be going back." Haven, which operates 38 parks across the UK, matched Center Parcs' percentage score, but managed to secure three stars for value for money. However, Which? readers gave them a mere two-star rating for their food and drink offerings and the range of free activities available. Haven currently has three parks in North Wales; Greenacres, Hafan Y Mor, and Presthaven. Best and worst holiday parks in the UK - ranked Provider Customer Score Potters Resorts 87% Forest Holidays 80% Bluestone Wales 77% John Fowler Holiday Parks 77% Hoburne Holidays 75% Hoseasons 74% Waterside Holiday Group 74% Warner Leisure Villages 71% Centerparcs 69% Haven Holiday Parks 69% Parkdean Resorts 68% Butlins 67% Park Holidays UK 66% Away Resorts 64% Largo Leisure Parks 64% Pontins 56%
