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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
This stunning beach is a 'bit of a journey' to get to, but it's absolutely worth it
This stunning beach is a 'bit of a journey' to get to, but it's absolutely worth it Porth Ceiriad is one of the most popular beaches in north Wales - but it's not easy to find and is often described as a 'hidden gem' in reviews, and for once, this label is well-deserved The Llŷn Coastal Path runs above Porth Ceiriad beach (Image: Chris Andrew/Wiki ) Porth Ceiriad, nestled on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, is a gem of Wales' coastline that you'd expect to be teeming with crowds due to its golden sands and vast views. Despite being voted one of the most scenic beaches on the peninsula, visitors are few, with Tripadvisor reviews praising its beauty despite the lack of facilities, a long walk across fields and steep steps to get there. The seclusion found at Porth Ceiriad is actually a significant part of its charm, offering tranquillity during the week that is perfect for those seeking a peaceful retreat. A recent visitor wrote about the the beach's serene appeal: "One of my favourite places! True mind escape. No mobile connection, no wifi, love it." Even with its popularity among those who know of it, this idyllic spot manages to remain less frequented, a fact that regulars no doubt appreciate. Its deceptive closeness to Abersoch and the enveloping cliffs adds to the mystery of finding this secluded beach, as reported by North Wales Live. The adventure of discovering Porth Ceiriad is well-known locally, earning the moniker of the "Porth Ceiriad Mystery Tour" because of the curious case of disappearing tourists led astray by unreliable satnav directions and confounding maps. One puzzled reviewer from Newcastle upon Tyne confessed, "Don't ask me how we found the beach," while a couple from England shared their own strenuous escapade: "Bit of a journey to find it (even using Ordnance Survey map and satnav! ! ! )," but they later referred to Porth Ceiriad as their "stunning almost secret beach". Porth Ceiriad is repeatedly dubbed a "hidden gem" within reviews, and this time, it's truly earned the accolade. In a recent Millets outdoor retailer survey, Porth Ceiriad was rightly named fifth on the list of "Wales hidden gems". Wondering how to reach this secluded spot? Set off from Abersoch via Lon Sarn Bach and keep going straight over the Sarn Bach crossroads. Then, roughly 0.7 miles beyond, take a left onto Lon Groes, which is marked by a green electricity substation. (Image: Google ) A contactless payment barrier (costing £3) at the once operating Nant Y Big campsite reveals a path that leads towards the beach. Atop the craggy cliffs, there is a car park that dares drivers to feel like they're inches from driving over the brink. For those who choose an earlier turn off towards Bwlchtocyn, another more compact car park awaits on the far side of the village, accessible through cattle grids and equally slender lanes. This alternative parking site only takes coins (£2-£4 for a stay up to four hours, or £5 for the entire day). One holidaymaker remarked, "It's an adventure to get there on single track country roads. Good luck with the tractors coming through in the opposite direction. But, wow, it's worth the trek!". Porth Ceiriad is renowned for offering what many consider being the best surf across the Llŷn Peninsula. It's a delightfully sheltered bay with calm seas in summer, but when winter rolls around, the dynamic changes drastically. The south-facing beach awakens to dramatic life if conditions align, its distinct shape and sudden depth change conjuring up some imposing waves. Unlike the more tempestuous Porth Neigwl nearby (also known as Hell's Mouth), Porth Ceiriad's waves draw in seasoned surfers looking for a hefty challenge. Holidaymakers might dip their toes into these enticing waters, yet they too must respect the potential dangers of rip currents, similar to those found at the much larger beach just next door. A couple enjoying a quiet weekday visit recently noted how they seemed to have the whole place to themselves – by the time they left, only a couple of other souls had appeared. Contrast that with a busy Saturday in summer, and you'd find the bay bustling with watercraft of all sorts, from kayaks to jetskis, and sailboats - a magnet for watersports aficionados. Article continues below While boats often provide the easiest means of arrival, trekkers are equally compensated with stunning views accessible off the well-trodden Llŷn Coastal Path. Visitors enamoured with the charm of Porth Ceiriad have been effusive in their praise, as one remarked: "This beach is incredibly beautiful," and hailed it as "Probably one of the best I've been to in the UK. If you like your beaches secluded, surrounded by a bit more wilderness, then this is for you." In agreement, a family from Manchester described Porth Ceirad as the "best UK beach by miles" adding: "Been coming here for 45 years, and it's our fav beach in the whole world. Dramatic. Off the beaten track and simply stunning."
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Wales Online
'Almost secret' beach where dolphins are regularly spotted with 'best waves'
'Almost secret' beach where dolphins are regularly spotted with 'best waves' Porth Ceiriad is a stretch of gold in a sandy cove with big waves, even bigger views and a good chance of spotting dolphins under the setting sun. But few people can find it. Beautiful Porth Ceiriad beach lies on a remote stretch of coastline on the Llŷn Peninsula (Image: Google ) Porth Ceiriad, by all accounts, should be bustling as one of north Wales' most popular beaches. This golden stretch in a sandy cove boasts large waves, expansive views, and the chance to see dolphins as the sun dips below the horizon. It's often hailed as the most beautiful beach on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, with Tripadvisor reviews glowing despite the absence of amenities, the lengthy walk through fields, and the daunting steps required for access. The solitude of Porth Ceiriad is one of its main draws. On a weekday visit, you may find yourself in blissful isolation. A visitor last week shared her affection for the spot: "One of my favourite places! True mind escape. No mobile connection, no wifi, love it." Despite its appeal, the beach remains uncrowded, much to the relief of its admirers. Its proximity to Abersoch, nestled between imposing cliffs, belies the challenge in locating this hidden gem, reports North Wales Live. Reaching Porth Ceiriad can be quite the escapade. The local community is familiar with the frustration of tourists battling unreliable satnavs and perplexing maps, leading to the term "Porth Ceiriad Mystery Tour" for the quest to find the beach. Article continues below A baffled reviewer from Newcastle upon Tyne admitted, "Don't ask me how we found the beach," Similarly, a couple from England recounted their own odyssey: "Bit of a journey to find it (even using Ordnance Survey map and satnav! ! ! )," but they ultimately described Porth Ceiriad as their "stunning almost secret beach". The beach is often described as a "hidden gem" in reviews, and for once, this label is well-deserved. A recent survey by outdoor retailer Millets ranked Porth Ceiriad fifth on its list of "Wales hidden gems", a judgement that was spot on. The Llŷn Coastal Path runs above Porth Ceiriad beach (Image: Chris Andrew/Wiki ) So, how do you get there? From Abersoch, take the Lon Sarn Bach road and continue straight at the Sarn Bach crossroads. From here, turn left down a narrow lane called Lon Groes about 0.7 miles further along, just past the green electricity substation. Down this lane, a contactless payment barrier (£3) at the now-closed Nant Y Big campsite opens up a track leading to the beach. Above the folded rocks of the surrounding cliffs is a car park that leaves many visitors feeling like they're about to drive off the edge. There's an earlier left turn towards Bwlchtocyn, beyond which lies another, smaller car park for the beach on the other side of the village, accessed via cattle grids and equally narrow lanes. This car park only accepts coins (£2-£4 for up to four hours, £5 for the day). One visitor commented, "It's an adventure to get there on single track country roads. Good luck with the tractors coming through in the opposite direction. But, wow, it's worth the trek!". Porth Ceiriad is famed for having arguably the finest surf in the Llŷn Peninsula. While it presents a rather sheltered and gentle seascape in the summer months, come winter, this south-facing strand really comes alive: given the right conditions, its unique topography and sharp drop-off can generate formidable waves. Unlike its neighbour Porth Neigwl (Hell's Mouth), the breakers here entice the more adept surfers seeking significant challenge. Though holidaymakers do venture into the water, they must be mindful of rip currents, much like those at the larger adjacent beach. On a recent weekday sojourn, a couple on holiday observed they had the beach to themselves; upon their departure, only two others had made an appearance. However, summertime Saturdays paint a different picture — the bay bustles with various watercraft, including kayaks, jetskis, and sailboats, as watersports enthusiasts flock to the peninsula. Boats oftentimes offer easier access than cars, though hikers are rewarded by the picturesque spot just off the Llŷn Coastal Path. Article continues below Nonetheless, those who discover Porth Ceiriad are almost invariably charmed by its allure. One visitor gushed, "This beach is incredibly beautiful," and praised it as "Probably one of the best I've been to in the UK. If you like your beaches secluded, surrounded by a bit more wilderness, then this is for you." Echoing this sentiment, a family from Manchester lauded Porth Ceirad as the "best UK beach by miles" sharing: "Been coming here for 45 years, and it's our fav beach in the whole world. Dramatic. Off the beaten track and simply stunning."
Fast Company
23-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How AI could supercharge ‘go direct' PR, and what the media can do about it
In the past several years, the trend of 'going direct' in public relations has gotten trendy. Broadly, the idea is that certain companies—mainly tech startups—stand a better chance of advancing their own narratives by sidestepping traditional PR and media altogether. Instead, the company founder, fellow executives, and partners would post content to the internet and social media to directly communicate with their customers. There's naturally been a lot of consternation in the media and PR industries about how effective this kind of approach is, the real value of traditional PR, and whether a company can really chart their own path without some kind of third-party validation. It's not my intent to wade into that debate (though if you'd like a deep-dive exploration, I hosted a panel on the topic at the Consensus conference). It is, however, an undeniable trend that's caught fire the last few years. Now AI is poised to throw gas on that flame. The next evolution of going direct I was struck by this after reflecting on my conversation with Scrunch AI CEO Chris Andrew on The Media Copilot podcast. Scrunch specializes in placement in AI search. Its customers are mostly brands who want to ensure their content is crawled, analyzed, and summarized when someone asks a chatbot about the brand or its area of focus. The idea is conceptually similar to SEO (search engine optimization), though the industry hasn't yet settled on a name for it (AIEO, LLMO, and GAIO are all contenders). As Google has just aptly demonstrated in its push this week to elevate AI Mode as a standard feature in search, the purpose of an AI search is to give answers, not links. That's a huge problem if your product is information, which is exactly why much of the media industry is locked in a legal battle with the AI industry over copyright. But if you're a company just trying to sell something, an AI summary that informs a user about your brand is a win whether they click through to your site or not. If they do, there's information to suggest they'll be much more inclined to engage further and even transact. And if they don't, you've effectively hit them with an ad by having the brand mentioned in the summary. On the media side of things, the click-killing aspect to AI search has many outlets throwing up defenses on their content against crawlers. They're configuring their file to say 'no' to bots, putting up other digital defenses, and denying access to their content unless AI companies pay up—either through licensing agreements or pay-as-you-go frameworks. A recent story in A Media Operator, which covers the business side of the media industry, showed that many media companies have begun to wake up to the rapidly growing presence of AI crawlers. An executive from Cloudflare, an internet infrastructure company, said over 800,000 websites have activated Cloudflare's most aggressive protection setting. There's an obvious disconnect between the incentives of the media versus brands in AI search, and that creates an opportunity for an AI upgrade of the go-direct strategy. AI search engines still need to provide answers to queries, and if credible journalism about those topics is blocked, something has to fill the void. Brands that give unfettered access to their content to crawlers (because why wouldn't you?) will have an advantage. This goes double if the company can execute on a multichannel content strategy that gets their brand cited across multiple sites or domains. One important difference between AI search and SEO, pointed out by Andrew in the podcast, is that citations count more to AI crawlers than links. That means if a brand can seed the web with consistent facts and brand citations across multiple sites, it will help ensure AI search engines 'learn' from their preferred narrative. You can imagine a scenario where a major company, with enough resources, could theoretically pull off a version of what Russia has done with respect to advancing their preferred narrative on the war in Ukraine, thoroughly examined by a NewsGuard investigation. Except in Russia's case, it was done mainly via sketchy-looking sites clearly created to 'spam' AI crawlers with propaganda. A company could do this out in the open, with a content strategy that amplifies their storytelling across blogs, podcasts, social media, and more, published across multiple domains. Humans would easily be able to tell it's all marketing, but AI engines just see it as more data—data that can have a large amount of influence in what appears in summaries. How the media can chart a smarter course There's still hope to steer away from a future where corporate propaganda is dominant. It starts with media sites adopting a sophisticated approach to blocking, something I outlined in my newsletter last week. Blanket bans are understandable—publishers still feel burned by Big Tech's platform dynamics of the past—but shutting off access entirely is a short-term defense with long-term costs. A more strategic approach would involve selectively exposing certain types of content: meta descriptions, older articles, multimedia, and more. This allows media companies to remain visible in AI search while still protecting core value. But beyond technical solutions, the real hope is in what consumers of information actually want. Review sites like PCMag and The Wirecutter didn't become popular because they were algorithmically boosted. They emerged because people didn't like getting fed the company line. Similarly, if AI-generated answers start to feel like corporate brochureware, consumers will notice. Credible, independent journalism isn't just good ethics; it's a market advantage—if it's accessible. In the end, AI engines that optimize for this balance will win out, too. It's right there in ChatGPT's model spec: the chatbot is designed to 'seek the truth together' with the user. It can't do that without including independent perspectives and weighing them appropriately against a barrage of go-direct content.
