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North Wales Live
3 days ago
- North Wales Live
'Out of this world' Eryri campsite with 'fairytale' waterfall named amongst UK's best
An idyllic Gwynedd campsite in an 'out of this world' location has been named among Britain's best. Perched by a river, close to a waterfall, the wooded site in Eryri National Park is said by guests to have a 'fairytale 'quality. Nantcol Waterfalls was included in a list of 150 outstanding sites operated by which has more than 3,200 locations on its books. Nineteen other campsites in North Wales were featured, highlighting the quality of the region's staycation offer. Nantcol Waterfalls campsite is nestled among the stunning Rhinog mountains yet is just two miles from Shell Island and its sandy beaches near Llanbedr - this week named the best in Wales in the annual Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches guide. Running through the site is Afon Nantcol – handy for a paddle, swim or even a spot of fishing. The waterfall after which it gets its name is 100 metres away. As well as tent pitches, the site has glamping pods with TV, underfloor heating and WiFi and firepits for hire. Last year the campsite was named the UK's number one and guests clearly agree, giving it a 4.89 star rating. One said: 'Only noise you can hear are the birds, river and odd sheep. It really is a peace of paradise, we didn't want to come home." Another added: 'We've officially found our happy place. The site is so well maintained, sustainable, and focused on preserving the beauty of nature.' Nantcol Waterfalls has optional electric grass pitches for tents and tourers, plus waterside bell tents and luxury glamping pods. New this year is a wood-fired sauna and motorhome hire.
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Wales Online
The 'glittered with seashells' beach in Gwynedd named the nation's best
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A beach in North Wales that is 'glittered with seashells' has been named the best in the country. The annual Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches guide has been published for 2025. The 17th edition of the guide is the definitive and most comprehensive list of the UK's 50 best beaches. For Wales, the country's finest beach has been named as Shell Island(Mochras), south of Harlech, Gwynedd. Shell Island boasts long sweeping sandy beaches with stunning views of the mountains of Eryri - and is home to one of Europe's biggest campsites. In his description of Shell Island, Chris Haslam, the award-winning chief travel writer at The Times and The Sunday Times, said: "The beachcombing is astonishing: perfect scallops, fragile tusks and razors, unblemished turitellas and, most prized by conchologists, tiny cowries.' (Image: Shell Island) Chris Haslam has selected the UK's top 50 beaches from a total of 756 that he personally visited and inspected on a month-long campervan tour of the British and Northern Irish coasts. The guide showcases the unrivalled beauty of the UK seaside, evaluated through a rigorous 11-point inspection checklist. Criteria include water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, car-parking facilities, lifeguard presence, hygiene levels at restrooms and showers, and dog-friendliness. There were two other North Wales sites on the list. These were the immensely popular Traeth Llanddwyn on Anglesey and Aberdaron on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula. Best beaches in Wales WALES'S BEACH OF THE YEAR: Shell Island, Gwynedd Dunraven Bay, Glamorgan Three Cliffs Bay, Glamorgan Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire Whitesands, Pembrokeshire Mwnt, Ceredigion Aberdaron, Gwynedd Traeth Llanddwyn, Gwynedd Chris Haslam said; 'I knew Shell Island was a winner when I parked up beside the dunes. I could see Eryri (Snowdon) to the north, the Llyn Peninsular to the west and, right in front, a beach of flat sand that glittered with seashells. I could have spent a very happy week camping here.' Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
North Wales Live
6 days ago
- North Wales Live
The 'glittered with seashells' beach in Gwynedd named the nation's best
A beach in North Wales that is 'glittered with seashells' has been named the best in the country. The annual Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches guide has been published for 2025. The 17th edition of the guide is the definitive and most comprehensive list of the UK's 50 best beaches. For Wales, the country's finest beach has been named as Shell Island(Mochras), south of Harlech, Gwynedd. Shell Island boasts long sweeping sandy beaches with stunning views of the mountains of Eryri - and is home to one of Europe's biggest campsites. In his description of Shell Island, Chris Haslam, the award-winning chief travel writer at The Times and The Sunday Times, said: "The beachcombing is astonishing: perfect scallops, fragile tusks and razors, unblemished turitellas and, most prized by conchologists, tiny cowries.' Chris Haslam has selected the UK's top 50 beaches from a total of 756 that he personally visited and inspected on a month-long campervan tour of the British and Northern Irish coasts. The guide showcases the unrivalled beauty of the UK seaside, evaluated through a rigorous 11-point inspection checklist. Criteria include water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, car-parking facilities, lifeguard presence, hygiene levels at restrooms and showers, and dog-friendliness. There were two other North Wales sites on the list. These were the immensely popular Traeth Llanddwyn on Anglesey and Aberdaron on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula. Best beaches in Wales Chris Haslam said; 'I knew Shell Island was a winner when I parked up beside the dunes. I could see Eryri (Snowdon) to the north, the Llyn Peninsular to the west and, right in front, a beach of flat sand that glittered with seashells. I could have spent a very happy week camping here.'
The National
6 days ago
- The National
Scotland's best beach crowned in Times and Sunday Times guide
Other Scottish beaches featured on the list include Rhu Point, Vestey's Beach, Achininver and Melvich in the Highlands, Spey Bay and Cullen Bay in Moray, and St Cyrus in Aberdeenshire. READ MORE: Tony Blair's staff took part in 'Gaza Riviera' project, reports say Chris Haslam, chief travel writer for the Times and Sunday Times, picked the UK's top 50 beaches from a total of 756 during a month-long campervan tour of the British and Northern Irish coasts. In his description of Seacliff, Haslam wrote: 'Hidden at the west end is the smallest harbour in the British Isles. 'About the size of a hotel pool, it's a steampunk fantasy cut out of the sandstone using a steam engine and a compressor in 1890 by laird of the manor Andrew Laidlay. 'Seacliff is the beach you wish you'd found when you were ten: a Scottish stageset where you can be a medieval knight, a Victorian explorer, a ghostbuster or even James Bond.' The guide ranked UK mainland beaches based on an 11-point checklist which included water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, parking, lifeguard presence, restroom hygiene, and dog-friendliness. The overall UK winner was Portstewart Strand in County Derry, Northern Ireland. The Times and Sunday Times' Best Beaches in Scotland Seacliff, East Lothian Rhu Point, Highland Vesteys Beach, Highland Achininver, Highland Melvich, Highland Spey Bay, Moray Cullen Bay, Moray
STV News
6 days ago
- STV News
East Lothian beach crowned best in Scotland
An East Lothian beach has been named the best in Scotland in the annual Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches guide. Seacliff was crowned the best in Scotland in the 17th edition of the list, which ranks the UK's 50 best mainland beaches. Other Scottish beaches featured on the list include Rhu Point, Vestey's Beach, Achininver and Melvich in the Highlands, Spey Bay and Cullen Bay in Moray, and St Cyrus in Aberdeenshire. Chief travel writer Chris Haslam selected the UK's top 50 beaches from a total of 756 on a month-long campervan tour of the British and Northern Irish coasts. In his description of Seacliff, he said: 'Hidden at the west end is the smallest harbour in the British Isles. 'About the size of a hotel pool, it's a steampunk fantasy cut out of the sandstone using a steam engine and a compressor in 1890 by laird of the manor Andrew Laidlay. 'Seacliff is the beach you wish you'd found when you were ten: a Scottish stageset where you can be a medieval knight, a Victorian explorer, a ghostbuster or even James Bond.' The overall UK winner was Portstewart Strand in County Derry, Northern Ireland. The guide ranked UK seaside spots based on an 11-point checklist that includes water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, parking, lifeguard presence, restroom hygiene, and dog-friendliness. • Seacliff, East Lothian• Rhu Point, Highland• Vesteys Beach, Highland• Achininver, Highland• Melvich, Highland• Spey Bay, Moray• Cullen Bay, Moray • St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
