Beautiful beaches in Anglesey

Walk, swim or soak up the sun from one of the enchanting Anglesey beaches. This dramatic North Wales island boasts a spectacular 125-mile coastline and is lined with long, sandy beaches and rocky coves to explore, making it the perfect location for a relaxing beach holiday in North Wales.

Whether you’re searching for a secret pebble cove, full of rock pools, or a wide sandy shoreline, ideal for sunbathing and beach games, there’s plenty to explore along this captivating coast.

Discover some of our favourites in this guide to the best beaches in Anglesey and begin planning the itinerary for your next break by the sea. Or check out our collection of holiday cottages in Anglesey by clicking the button below.

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Beaumaris Beach

The beach at Beaumaris is sand and shingle and fronts the small, picturesque town and iconic castle. The views from here across the Menai Strait to Snowdonia are truly stunning, and if you want to explore further, boat trips are available to Puffin Island.

This entire area is a great place for a holiday getaway and there are lots of beaches near Beaumaris too, so there’s plenty more to discover along this stunning coast.

Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch)

Head to this large, sandy beach on the north coast of Anglesey, south-east of Benllech, for more beautiful views and peaceful paddles. At low tide, a fine sweep of sand covering nearly 10 square miles is revealed – superb for swimming, sunbathing and water sports.

The area is steeped in history and you can take in impressive Castell Mawr which sits prominently on its outcrop of limestone to the north. The whole bay is a designated nature reserve and attracts an abundance of birdlife – it is well known amongst twitchers!

Llanddona Beach

Set at the eastern end of Red Wharf Bay, this is another long, sandy beach that’s a popular destination for bathing, paddling, beach combing and walking. If you head out on a coastal walk, you’ll be able to soak in enchanting views of the Menai Strait and Snowdonia.

St Davids Beach

Hike your way to this lovely sandy beach on the west side of the bay, just south of Benllech. It’s a quiet, lesser-known place for a beach trip as the only way to access it is via the coast path and there is no parking nearby.

Benllech Beach

The beach at Benllech is one of the most popular of the island's beaches, with fine golden sand and clear blue waters which are ideal for bathing, paddling and water sports. At low tide, the sand stretches for miles giving young children plenty of space in which to play games and run about.

Moelfre Beach

Moelfre has a pretty little pebble beach overlooked by the village. The bay is very sheltered, and the slipway makes it a popular spot for launching boats. The coastline around here is perfect for rock pooling or just relaxing and enjoying watching the world go by.

For bigger, sandy stretches of shoreline near Moelfre, strike out along the coast path to reach lovely Traeth Lligwy, Traeth Penrhyn, Traeth Y Ora and Traeth Bychan.

Lligwy Beach (Traeth Lligwy)

Just 1-mile north-west of Moelfre, this stunning, sandy beach offers a huge expanse of sand that’s ideal for beach games with the kids or for dogs to go racing about on. Enjoy a sea swim or take part in water sports at this spectacular beach, or trek out along the charming stretch of coast path that crosses behind.

Cemaes Bay beaches

Cemaes Bay is actually made up of two beaches, Traeth Mawr and Traeth Bach, which have a lot to offer. Enjoy plenty of sand, rock pools, a promenade and a lovely little harbour on your visit – there’s even a charming bell, St Patrick's Bell. Installed in 2014, this bell on legs is set to chime on the high tide.

Both beaches are overlooked by the little town of Cemaes which has all the facilities you'll need for a day at the beach.

Cemlyn Bay

Cemlyn Bay boasts a large stretch of pebble beach situated on the north coast of the island, to the west of Cemaes, which has a ridge at the rear protecting an impressive saltwater lagoon. As a nature reserve, it’s a serene, secluded and rugged place that’s ideal for long walks and wildlife spotting. This is an important habitat for wintering birds including four species of tern that breed on islands in the lagoon.

Porth Swtan (Church Bay)

A steep footpath leads down to a beautiful bay made up of rocks, pebbles and sand. It is edged by rock pools and backed by steep cliffs along which the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path runs. Escape into nature on a walk to Carmel Head just to the north, which is a wilderness of gorse and pine trees.

Porth Trwyn, Llanfaethlu

Just to the south of Church Bay and a couple of miles from the village of Llanfaethlu, Porth Trwyn is a quiet sandy bay backed by dunes, with scenic National Trust areas both to the north and south. This beach is somewhat of a hidden gem along this coast and a perfect secret spot for a wander while soaking in the enchanting scenery of the Anglesey coast.

Porth Tywyn Mawr (Sandy Beach)

Porth Tywyn Mawr is a long beach with sand dunes that sits to the north of Holyhead, just 1.5 miles from the small village of Llanfwrog. It is good for most water sports and boasts coastal walks taking in lovely views and the chance to spot the local wildlife – look out for puffins and other rare birds, together with grey seals, porpoises and the occasional sighting of a bottlenose dolphin.

Porth Dafarch

Another delightful sandy Anglesey beach, Porth Dafarch can be found south-west of Holyhead and west of Trearddur. This beauty spot is backed by towering cliffs, and it has a sheltered and marked bathing area. If you fancy enjoying a dip, this wonderful beach is a popular place for water sports, especially windsurfing, surfing and canoeing.

Trearddur Bay

Get away to this large, sandy beach which slopes gently down to the sea. With rock pools on either side and a slipway for launching boats, this is the perfect family beach.

Further up the coast is the National Trust-owned Porth Dafarch. This is a sheltered sandy beach nestled below rugged headland, the beach offers safe anchorage for yachts, rock pools for children to play in and clean bathing water. It is popular for water sports, snorkelling and coasteering.

Rhosneigr beaches

The wonderful beaches around Rhosneigr have an all-season appeal for water sports and a fun modern vibe – choose from two broad, sandy beaches: Traeth Crigyll and Traeth Llydan. Traeth Crigyll can be quite exposed making it ideal for kite surfers, and if not partaking, it can be great fun to watch! Traeth Llydan is a lovely stretch of golden sand backed by dunes and a fabulous cafe with beach huts on the veranda.

Rhosneigr is a superb region for beach walks, with rocky outcrops and dramatic sand dunes. Visit the picturesque Llyn Maelog, just 1 mile out of town and home to a wonderful walk around a lake, perfect for those wanting to wildlife watch.

Porth Tyn Tywyn (Llanfaelog)

A quiet, sweeping, sandy beach backed by dunes and sitting south-east of Rhosneigr, Porth Tyn Tywyn Beach attracts windsurfers, surfers and canoeists in particular. While it is referred to as Porth Tyn Tywyn, it’s actually made up of two smaller beaches: Porth y Tywod and Porth Sur. Together, they create an enchanting stretch of shoreline perfect for sunny beach days or blustery cold-weather walks.

Porth Nobla

While it is relatively small in comparison to many of the other sandy beaches around Anglesey, Porth Nobla offers plenty of charm. It’s a rural, sandy beach located on a headland with cliffs to one side and rock pools to the other, between the towns Rhosneigr and Aberffraw. The coastal footpath leads south from here to the ancient burial chamber of Barclodiad y Gawr.

Porth Trecastell (Cable Bay)

South-east of Rhosneigr and south of Llanfaelog, Porth Trecastell is a sandy coved beach edged by cliffs and rock pools. Head to this sandy spot for a range of water sports opportunities – it’s a popular choice for swimming, scuba diving, surfing, sea canoeing, windsurfing and fishing.

Aberffraw Bay (Traeth Mawr)

In the south-eastern corner of the island, Aberffraw Bay is a rural, unspoilt and uncrowded beach of sand with some fantastic coastal paths so you can enjoy the magnificent scenery; at low tide, it is possible to walk to the far side of the bay.

Llanddwyn Bay

You’ll adore the wonderful Llanddwyn Beach and the iconic white lighthouse that overlooks the bay. It’s got a long ribbon of sand, which is ideal for sunbathing and swimming, and is backed by beautiful forest, 3 miles of high dunes and spectacular views across the mountains of the Llŷn Peninsula – it’s an enchanting place to explore.

Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve sits just behind the beach, and there are extensive marked footpaths and cycleways in the nearby Newborough Forest.

Map of beaches in Anglesey:

Enjoy a day at the seaside and plan your route to these top beaches in Anglesey.

Holidays in Anglesey

Plan a beach-hopping holiday to beautiful Anglesey and head out on long coastal walks, enjoy sea swims and jump through the waves, or eat out in coastal cafes and take in beach views over a warming coffee.

We have a host of enchanting holiday cottages in Anglesey by the sea for you to browse through. Discover idyllic beachside properties and holiday lets in coastal towns, all perfect places for your next getaway. Across North Wales, we also have family breaks, romantic getaways, luxury stays and dog-friendly retreats. 

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