This seaside village has sandy beaches, dolphins and one of Wales' best ice creams
Come here on a balmy day when the skies are blue, and the sea is sparkling, and you'll see why Abersoch attracts thousands of visitors
Located on the dreamy Llŷn Peninsula, the coastal town of Abersoch is one of the most lovely spots along the Llŷn.
(Image: Gascoigne Halman )
One of Wales' top seaside towns has sandy beaches, resident dolphins and a swish ice cream parlour that's just been named one of the best places for ice cream in the UK by the Sunday Times.
Located on the Llŷn Peninsula, or Pen Llŷn, the coastal town of Abersoch is one of the most lovely spots along the Llŷn. This peninsula in northwest Wales is packed with natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and dreamy beaches.
Surrounded by the sparkling clear waters of the Irish Sea on one side and Cardigan Bay on the other, this area of Wales is a perfect alternative for a holiday abroad, where you'll find plenty of activities, accommodation and indie restaurants and cafes.
There are remains of Iron Age forts and islands to discover, sweeping stretches of sandy beaches and plenty of cute coastal villages and historic sites to visit.
Known as the 'Welsh Riviera,' Abersoch, on the southern part of the Llŷn, is widely known for its sandy beaches, internationally recognised sailing waters, and small high street filled with trendy bars, restaurants, big brands, and independent shops.
Come here on a balmy day when the skies are blue and the sea is sparkling, and you'll see why Abersoch attracts thousands to this scenic corner of Gwynedd every summer.
Article continues below
This coastal bolthole is also renowned for its water sports, especially paddleboarding. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of resident dolphins slicing through the clear waters.
This coastal bolthole is also renowned for its water sports,
(Image: Daily Post Wales )
The sheltered bay provides perfect conditions for both beginners and experienced paddleboarders, and the village hosts several events and competitions throughout the year, attracting enthusiasts from all over the UK.
You can book a SUP session at Abersoch Watersports, where expert instructors will guide you around the beautiful coastline, pointing out marine life and coastal features.
New to paddleboarding? You can dive into the #SUP life and learn to paddleboard with their ISA-qualified instructors using the top-of-the-range Red Paddle Co paddleboards.
You'll be coached in the bay and learn correct paddle techniques to build confidence and develop your SUP skills so you can get out of the water and start looking for dolphins.
Dophins are regularly spotted in Abersoch
(Image: Andy Huddlestone )
One of the town's other main draws is the large sandy beach, which the AA previously named one of the 'best seaside destinations'.
The AA described Abersoch Beach as a picturesque Welsh location. "The top place goes to this sandy beach, which is dog-friendly and also manned by lifeguards.
There are two nearby tourist attractions: the Porth y Swnt Interpretation Centre and Nant Gwrtheyrn, which is home to the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre."
Nearby is Harbour Beach, a strip of sand on the River Soch between the harbour and Warren Beach. If you fancy a bit of a challenge, Porth Ceiriad is a secluded beach that can be tricky to find
Despite being near popular Abersoch, this idyllic spot remains less frequented, a fact that regulars undoubtedly appreciate.
As reported by North Wales Live, its deceptive closeness to Abersoch and the enveloping cliffs add to the mystery of finding this secluded beach.
The adventure of discovering Porth Ceiriad is well-known locally. It earned 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.
Beautiful Porth Ceiriad beach lies on a remote stretch of coastline on the Llŷn Peninsula
(Image: Google )
After exploring Abersoch's dreamy beaches and coastline, make sure to go for ice cream at Two Islands, a small-batch ice cream parlour that's just been named one of the best places for ice cream in Wales.
Locals and tourists have been raving about this lush ice cream spot since it opened in 2018, and the Sunday Times has now given it its seal of approval. Their Journalists named it one of the top spots for a cone and urged readers, "Don't miss the raspberry ripple."
This small-batch ice cream parlour makes the ice cream on-site using local and natural ingredients, including Welsh free-range eggs and organic and fair-trade produce from SUMA, a co-op that sets the standard for fair and equal working conditions.
Inspired by their trip to parlours on the west coast of the USA, the small business aims to create rich textures and original flavours using the best produce with a Welsh twist. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here
Jack Pollitt from Two Islands Ice Cream in Abersoch
(Image: Daily Post Wales )
Their small but ever-changing menu focuses on seasonality, but you will always find their unique take on a few of the classics. Salted Coffee is a favourite Two Islands Flavour, with a distinctive blend of Coaltown espresso and HALEN MôN sea salt, while marscapone and blackcurrant is a standout choice when it graces the menu.
Two islands also have an eco-friendly ethos: "Everything they are involved in - from pod picking to package recycling - is as sustainable, ethical and conscientious as possible."
"We use real vanilla from LITTLE POD," their website states, "an amazing independent company that has been awarded the Queen's Enterprise Award in sustainability."
Article continues below
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Inside Wales' most popular houses for sale
So many people enjoy rummaging around looking at unusual and dream homes on the numerous online property portals - even if they're not interested in finding a new place to live. From looking for interior design ideas to dreaming about how they would renovate and improve a rundown home, from pretending to flounce around a huge country mansion to finding unique features to share on social media and shock your followers, Rightmove has become the central properties for sale to find them all The UK's largest property platform has revealed exclusively to WalesOnline the top eight of the most viewed homes in Wales so far this year and a historic gem in Wales has hit the number one spot as the most popular home to have an online tour around. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here . READ MORE: Inside one of Wales' finest Georgian homes which offers far more than first appears Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, said: "From a stiletto-shaped bathtub abode in Conwy to an £8m mansion, to an auction property with views, this year's most viewed homes so far on Rightmove highlight the unique charm and diversity of the Welsh housing market. "With the UK's largest choice of homes, there's a home to meet any unique requirement on Rightmove, from historic estates to modern mega-mansions. It's no wonder that home seekers spent over 16.4 billion minutes on our platform last year, exploring these incredible properties." For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Wales team bus involved in crash as players left shaken and training cancelled
Wales' team bus was involved in a road collision as they travelled to St Gallen, Switzerland ahead of their next match at the Women's European Championship. Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says that 'everyone is okay' but adds that her players are 'shaken'. The Welsh side had been due to train at the Kybunpark stadium in preparation for Wednesday's clash with France but the session has been cancelled. BBC Sport say that an ambulance was at the scene attending to the driver of the other vehicle. A statement from the Welsh FA read: "The Football Association of Wales can confirm that the Cymru National Team bus has been involved in a road traffic accident whilst travelling to Arena St Gallen for their matchday -1 training session ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Women's EURO 2025 match against France. "All passengers on the Cymru National Team bus and in the other vehicle are unharmed. The FAW's priority has been to remove the players from the scene and return to the Cymru training base to complete their preparations for tomorrow's match." "Our priority is to get them all together and away from the scene," Wilkinson said when she and captain Angharad James arrived at Wales' pre-match press conference. "We'll be checking in to make sure they all continue to be okay. "This is really developing right now so we are trying to be as clear and transparent as possible. I think everyone, from all reports, is okay and we just need to get them all together and get everyone away from the scene to reassess. "We've got great staff, great support and we will make sure that everyone continues to be okay. More importantly I think the driver of the other vehicle is okay as well. We will let everyone know once we know for sure." On the decision to cancel training, Wilkinson explained: "Yeah, football is secondary and I think, yes we are shaken because we are away from the team right now knowing that they've had to experience that. "But equally we have a great group and I have been assured that everyone is fine. We have practiced for the unexpected, that's what we can call this. We will check in with everyone and make sure they are all in a good spot and we can focus on the football again after that." Wales are chasing a result from their game against France to keep alive their hopes of avoiding an early exit from the tournament. They lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in their opening fixture, and conclude their group stage with a match against England in St Gallen on Sunday. France, meanwhile, will guarantee their progress to the knockout stages if they win on Wednesday and England fail to beat the Netherlands in Zurich. Laurent Bonadei's team beat England 2-1 in their group opener, and face the Netherlands themselves in Basel at the same time as that England vs Wales match. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The July 2025 edition of Women's Football News is available now. It has everything you need including interviews, profiles and features around Euro 2025 plus a wallchart. Buy now
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
The tiny Welsh cove steeped in folklore that feels like your own private mini beach
The tiny Welsh cove steeped in folklore that feels like your own private mini beach Get the timing right and it can feel like your own little patch of beach to stretch out and soak up the sun Brandy Cove on the South side of the Gower peninsula (Image: Getty ) Gower is full of beautiful beaches which you might have your eye on, or know well having been to it yourself. But there's a stunning spot which you might not have heard about that's only reachable on foot. Known as Brandy Cove, this rocky and sandy little enclave should definitely be on your summer bucket list if you're an avid walker or just want to explore more hidden gem spots in Wales. You can get there walking from Caswell Bay which is best done at low tide or by taking the longer but prettier valley path from the village of Bishopston according to Visit Swansea Bay , but it's advisable to be super careful when walking around the area as the terrain can be a bit tricky. From the top, you might think it's just mostly pebbles and rock when the tide's in, but as the sea pulls back, a surprisingly decent stretch of golden sand reveals itself. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here If you time it right, you could find yourself with what feels like your own private little beach to soak up some sun on. Aerial view of Brandy Cove on the South side of the Gower peninsula in Swansea (Image: Getty ) Article continues below Note that there are no cafés, toilets or an ice cream van - or any facilities at all according to information about the site online, but who doesn't love a bit of going back to basics with places like this? The cove's name is reportedly linked back to the days when brandy and other goods were quietly offloaded into nearby caves, while some even say the caves were once home to a witch! Brandy Cove on the south side of the Gower peninsular in Swansea (Image: leighcol - Getty ) There's also some fascinating geology here, if that's your thing, as the cliffs hold deposits from a time when sea levels were about 30 feet higher during a completely different era according to the nearby Parc-Le-Breos B&B. And if you fancy stretching your legs more, the coastal path will take you east to Caswell in about 10 minutes, or west to Pwll Du in around 15 minutes which is another remote bay that's well worth the walk. To get there, you'll want to park at Pyle Corner in Bishopston and from there, follow Brandy Cove Road down through the trees which is about a 15 to 20-minute walk Low tide at Brandy Cove on the South side of the Gower peninsula in Swansea, UK, which was used as a smugglers cove in years gone by. (Image: Getty ) But again, just bear in mind the path can be steep or uneven in parts, so it's best tackled with proper shoes and lots of care and attention as you're walking. And maybe avoid the caves after dark - unless you fancy a bit of witch-spotting, that is............. Article continues below
