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North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
North Wales beaches among UK's best in The Times 2025 guide
The 2025 guide was compiled by The Times' chief travel writer, Chris Haslam, who visited 756 beaches and 51 resorts across the UK and Northern Ireland. Introducing the list, Mr Haslam said: "[The fact] that I completed this tour of inspection under mainly blue skies made choosing the top 50 — ten of which are new entries — even harder. "If it feels like I've moved away from easily-accessed urban shores to include more rural beaches, that's because the glitter seems tarnished in too many of our resort towns. "I've seen businesses struggling with rising costs, councils cutting budgets and water quality falling as infrastructure has failed to keep pace with population growth. "That's not true of all town beaches though: Bude, Frinton on Sea, Roker, Saundersfoot and Skegness made the top 50, and others including Cromer, Felixstowe, Torquay and Mumbles came close. "The truth remains, though, that our coast is still the most beautiful and most varied on earth, and there's much to discover beyond the most obvious spots. "So pack a picnic and the factor 50 and make 2025 the summer of the beach that's a little harder to reach." See which Welsh beaches featured among the UK's best in the 2025 edition of The Times and Sunday Times Best Beaches Guide. (Image: Getty Images) The beaches in Wales ranked among the best in the UK, according to The Times, are: Shell Island, located in Llanbedr, was voted Wales' Beach of the Year by The Times. The Gwynedd beach was commended for a range of things, including its views past Harlech to Eryri National Park and across Cardigan Bay to the Llyn Peninusla. Shell Island also boasts "one of Europe's biggest campsites" with 300 acres of fields, where pitches range from "convenient" to "wild" and from beachside to woodland. Day visits are £10 per car and camping pitches are £13 per person (in high season). A post shared by S🌟P⭐️A🌟R⭐K🌟L⭐E (@sparkle_my_soul) Chris Haslam from The Times 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.' There is plenty more to like about Shell Island, The Times added. The news outlest explained: "At the northern end, around the harbour, the shore is rocky — turning to flat, sugar-soft sand as you head south "The beachcombing is astonishing: perfect scallops, fragile tusks and razors, unblemished turitellas and, most prized by conchologists, tiny cowries." It is worth checking the tide times before visiting, as the island is cut off for two hours each day during high tide. Shell Island is also dog-friendly and has a café and toilet facilities. The Llyn Peninsula is an amazing place to visit, according to The Times, and there are plenty of "joys" just waiting for people to come and visit. The news outlet explained: "It's home to Britain's best campsite (Bert's Kitchen Garden in Trefor); arguably our best small brewery (Cwrw Llyn in Nefyn); and Wales's most famous pub (Ty Coch, accessible only on foot, on the beach at Porthdinllaen). "Here you'll also screech along the UK's most musical beach (Porthor — aka Whistling Sands — where the grains are so fine they squeak underfoot), and find an Italianate village that belongs in the Cinque Terre (Portmeirion). "This coast is like Cornwall in the 1930s." In the southernmost corner of the Llyn beaches, you will find Aberdaron. When was the last time you visited Aberdaron? (Image: Getty Images) "A bend of sand a mile wide sheltered by the Mynydd Mawr peninsula, crossed by the River Daron and overlooked by the dining terrace of the delightful Gwesty Ty Newydd hotel," The Times continued. "The left-hand end of the beach, the only part where dogs are welcome, is the prettiest." The water quality at Aberdaron beach is rated excellent, while there are also toilets and a café. It's not just the experts who think highly of Aberdaron beach, but visitors as well, with it boasting a 4.5 rating (out of 5) on Tripadvisor from 93 reviews. One person, commenting about their beach experience, said: "On my own I really enjoy seeing the children, families and so many happy dogs interacting. There is [also] a dog free area. "The sea is safe, shallow entry. Beach was a gritty sand, comfortable to walk on, easy to clean off." When it comes to the best beaches in the UK, Traeth Llanddwyn, located on the south-west corner of Anglesey, is usually always on the list. And it's easy to see why. Ynys Llanddwyn boasts six "candy coves" and views of Eryri National Park and the Llyn Peninsula. (Image: Patrick Glover) It is described as a "fairytale" beach by The Times and "magical" by visitors on Tripadvisor, where it boasts a near-perfect 4.8 rating from 578 reviews. The Times said: "After driving through the dark depths of the Newborough Forest you'll come to a three-mile beach. "To your right, you'll see Llandwyn Island with two white towers, two stone crosses and a ruined church. "The former are old lighthouses; the latter are dedicated to St Dwynwen, a 5th-century princess who pledged her life to God here on Ynys Llanddwyn after suffering a broken heart. RECOMMENDED READING: Secret North Wales beach named among the best in the UK and a must-visit North Wales village with 'scenic' pub and secret beach among UK's most beautiful 'Vibrant' seaside town in North Wales among the UK's best to move to in 2025 "She is now Wales's patron saint of lovers — honoured on her feast day of January 25 — and there's an awful lot to love about her island: six sandy coves and views of Eryri and the Llyn, seen as though across an enchanted lake." The water quality is rated excellent, there are toilet facilities, and it is dog-friendly. There is also often a good truck in the car park called Y Pantri Bach.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
South Wales beaches among UK's best in The Times 2025 guide
The 2025 guide was compiled by The Times' chief travel writer, Chris Haslam, who visited 756 beaches and 51 resorts across the UK and Northern Ireland. Introducing the list, Mr Haslam said: "[The fact] that I completed this tour of inspection under mainly blue skies made choosing the top 50 — ten of which are new entries — even harder. "If it feels like I've moved away from easily-accessed urban shores to include more rural beaches, that's because the glitter seems tarnished in too many of our resort towns. Best-rated UK beaches for 2025 - Tripadvisor rankings "I've seen businesses struggling with rising costs, councils cutting budgets and water quality falling as infrastructure has failed to keep pace with population growth. "That's not true of all town beaches though: Bude, Frinton on Sea, Roker, Saundersfoot and Skegness made the top 50, and others including Cromer, Felixstowe, Torquay and Mumbles came close. "The truth remains, though, that our coast is still the most beautiful and most varied on earth, and there's much to discover beyond the most obvious spots. "So pack a picnic and the factor 50 and make 2025 the summer of the beach that's a little harder to reach." See which Welsh beaches featured among the UK's best in the 2025 edition of The Times and Sunday Times Best Beaches Guide. (Image: Getty Images) The Welsh beaches among the UK's best The beaches in Wales ranked among the best in the UK, according to The Times, are: Wales' Beach of the Year : Shell Island, Gwynedd : Shell Island, Gwynedd Dunraven Bay, Glamorgan Three Cliffs Bay, Glamorgan Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire Whitesands, Pembrokeshire Mwnt, Ceredigion Aberdaron, Gwynedd Traeth Llanddwyn, Gwynedd The 2 South Wales beaches among the UK's best Dunraven Bay Beach-goers in south Wales often travel to Gower or Pembrokeshire in search of the perfect spot. However, The Times recommends looking at Glamorgan's Heritage Coast for the best beach - Dunraven Bay. The news outlet explained: "If you've sped past en route to the Gower or Pembrokeshire you've missed a stretch of the Welsh coast that bears comparison with geological wonders such as the Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim and Lulworth Cove in Dorset — but without the crowds. "At Dunraven Bay (also known as Southerndown beach) you'll find a millefeuille of carboniferous limestone and blue lias — layers of limestone and shale — overhanging a beach paved flatter than your patio. "It's an otherworldly beach, as good for fossil hunting as it is for simply admiring the views across the Bristol Channel, and if it seems vaguely familiar, that's because it's played the part of several planets in Doctor Who." The water quality at Dunraven Bay is rated "excellent", the beach is dog friendly, and there is a café and toilets. It also comes highly recommended by visitors, boasting a 4.5 rating (out of 5) on Tripadvisor from 217 reviews. One person, commenting about their experience at Dunraven Bay, said: "Beautiful bay and not too busy. "Somewhat close to Devon but without the crowds. A real gem. Lots of space to walk and play. I would love to return." When was the last time you visited Dunraven Bay? (Image: Getty Images) Three Cliffs Bay Three Cliffs Bay also featured in the 2025 edition of The Times and Sunday Times Best Beaches Guide. The south Wales beach has been described by visitors as "unforgettable", "breathtaking" and "stunning" on Tripadvisor, where it boasts a near-perfect 4.8 rating from 764 reviews. The Times said for those planning a trip to Three Cliffs Bay, securing SE1 (available from £52) at the Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park on the Gower peninsula was a must. Three Cliff Bay is described as "breathtaking" by visitors. (Image: Tripadvisor) The news outlet explained: "By my reckoning pitch SE1 at the Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park on the Gower peninsula is the best in the nation: 50 yards from the ablutions, flat, protected from the prevailing wind, and blessed with the best beach view in the country. "From here you'll have an uninterrupted drone's-eye view of the magnificence of Three Cliffs Bay, with the wide waters of the Pennard Pill snaking across the sands to the left, the crags of Penmaen Burrows, where the lost village of Stedwarlango is thought to be buried, on the right and the dragon-tooth spikes of the Three Cliffs in front. RECOMMENDED READING: "I've timed the walk from the campsite to the beach and it's 16 minutes." For those coming from the car park on the A4118, it's a 22-minute walk. Three Cliffs Bay Beach is also dog-friendly.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Hidden gem beach with smallest harbour in the UK crowned best in Scotland
Read on to find out the winner SANDS GOOD Hidden gem beach with smallest harbour in the UK crowned best in Scotland Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HIDDEN gem beach with the smallest harbour in the UK has been crowned the best in Scotland. The Times and Sunday Times Best Beaches Guide was published this morning and names the top 50 spots across the country in 2025. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 This year's Scottish winner is the hidden gem of Seacliff Beach in East Lothian Credit: Alamy 5 Visitors can wander down to the sands and take in the stunning views of Bass Rock Credit: Alamy 5 The ruins of Tantallon Castle can be seen from the shore Credit: Alamy Chief Travel Writer Chris Haslam visited over 750 beaches and 51 resorts to help compile the list. The guide is split into seven different areas of the country - Scotland, Northern Ireland, North England, East England, South England, Southwest England and Wales. And this year's Scottish winner is the hidden gem of Seacliff Beach in East Lothian. It lies just outside the beautiful seaside town of North Berwick and only 40 minutes from Edinburgh and under two hours from Glasgow. It's a great spot if you want to avoid the crowds which flock to more popular beaches like Portobello and Gullane, as it attracts more surfers, horse riders and picnickers. There is a £5 entrance fee for cars. The beach is a sweeping arc of golden sand backed by dunes and grassy banks and scattered with rock pools for little ones to play in. The waters are shallow and great for swimming. It is home to what is thought to be the UK's smallest harbour, only accessible from the beach and thought to be used by a local crab fisherman. Wander down to the sands and take in the stunning views of Bass Rock, famous for its colonies of gannets and lighthouse, and the ruins of Tantallon Castle. Scotland's number one secret beach revealed The water quality has been rated excellent by the guide. It also has toilets and is dog-friendly. The Times guide states: "Seacliff, west of Dunbar, is a private beach with a £5 entrance fee for cars, but it's worth the price of the ticket for the sheer cinematic drama. "Hidden at the western end is the smallest harbour in the British Isles. About the size of a hotel pool, it was carved out of the sandstone in 1890 by Andrew Laidlay, the laird of the manor, using a steam engine and compressor. "Then there's the burnt-out shell of Seacliff House, hidden in the woods, and, across Oxroad Bay, the gothic skeleton of Tantallon Castle, destroyed in 1651 after a 12-day bombardment by Oliver Cromwell's artillery. "Meanwhile, Bass Rock, home to the world's largest gannet colony, floats offshore like a Bond villain's lair. "Who knows what fresh intrigue awaits the curious visitor?" Seacliff was previously voted the highest-rated dog-friendly beach by Bath retailer Showers to You after they analysed Google ratings and reviews for dozens across the country with no dog restrictions. Visitors described it as 'perfect', 'atmospheric' 'stunning' and 'absolutely brilliant'. Other Scottish beaches named on the list were Rhu Point in the Highlands, Spey Bay in Moray, and St Cyrus in Aberdeenshire. 5 It is home to one of the UK's smallest harbours Credit: Alamy
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Leader Live
North Wales beaches among UK's best in The Times 2025 guide
The 2025 guide was compiled by The Times' chief travel writer, Chris Haslam, who visited 756 beaches and 51 resorts across the UK and Northern Ireland. Introducing the list, Mr Haslam said: "[The fact] that I completed this tour of inspection under mainly blue skies made choosing the top 50 — ten of which are new entries — even harder. "If it feels like I've moved away from easily-accessed urban shores to include more rural beaches, that's because the glitter seems tarnished in too many of our resort towns. "I've seen businesses struggling with rising costs, councils cutting budgets and water quality falling as infrastructure has failed to keep pace with population growth. "That's not true of all town beaches though: Bude, Frinton on Sea, Roker, Saundersfoot and Skegness made the top 50, and others including Cromer, Felixstowe, Torquay and Mumbles came close. "The truth remains, though, that our coast is still the most beautiful and most varied on earth, and there's much to discover beyond the most obvious spots. "So pack a picnic and the factor 50 and make 2025 the summer of the beach that's a little harder to reach." See which Welsh beaches featured among the UK's best in the 2025 edition of The Times and Sunday Times Best Beaches Guide. (Image: Getty Images) The beaches in Wales ranked among the best in the UK, according to The Times, are: Shell Island, located in Llanbedr, was voted Wales' Beach of the Year by The Times. The Gwynedd beach was commended for a range of things, including its views past Harlech to Eryri National Park and across Cardigan Bay to the Llyn Peninusla. Shell Island also boasts "one of Europe's biggest campsites" with 300 acres of fields, where pitches range from "convenient" to "wild" and from beachside to woodland. Day visits are £10 per car and camping pitches are £13 per person (in high season). A post shared by S🌟P⭐️A🌟R⭐K🌟L⭐E (@sparkle_my_soul) Chris Haslam from The Times 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.' There is plenty more to like about Shell Island, The Times added. The news outlest explained: "At the northern end, around the harbour, the shore is rocky — turning to flat, sugar-soft sand as you head south "The beachcombing is astonishing: perfect scallops, fragile tusks and razors, unblemished turitellas and, most prized by conchologists, tiny cowries." It is worth checking the tide times before visiting, as the island is cut off for two hours each day during high tide. Shell Island is also dog-friendly and has a café and toilet facilities. The Llyn Peninsula is an amazing place to visit, according to The Times, and there are plenty of "joys" just waiting for people to come and visit. The news outlet explained: "It's home to Britain's best campsite (Bert's Kitchen Garden in Trefor); arguably our best small brewery (Cwrw Llyn in Nefyn); and Wales's most famous pub (Ty Coch, accessible only on foot, on the beach at Porthdinllaen). "Here you'll also screech along the UK's most musical beach (Porthor — aka Whistling Sands — where the grains are so fine they squeak underfoot), and find an Italianate village that belongs in the Cinque Terre (Portmeirion). "This coast is like Cornwall in the 1930s." In the southernmost corner of the Llyn beaches, you will find Aberdaron. When was the last time you visited Aberdaron? (Image: Getty Images) "A bend of sand a mile wide sheltered by the Mynydd Mawr peninsula, crossed by the River Daron and overlooked by the dining terrace of the delightful Gwesty Ty Newydd hotel," The Times continued. "The left-hand end of the beach, the only part where dogs are welcome, is the prettiest." The water quality at Aberdaron beach is rated excellent, while there are also toilets and a café. It's not just the experts who think highly of Aberdaron beach, but visitors as well, with it boasting a 4.5 rating (out of 5) on Tripadvisor from 93 reviews. One person, commenting about their beach experience, said: "On my own I really enjoy seeing the children, families and so many happy dogs interacting. There is [also] a dog free area. "The sea is safe, shallow entry. Beach was a gritty sand, comfortable to walk on, easy to clean off." When it comes to the best beaches in the UK, Traeth Llanddwyn, located on the south-west corner of Anglesey, is usually always on the list. And it's easy to see why. Ynys Llanddwyn boasts six "candy coves" and views of Eryri National Park and the Llyn Peninsula. (Image: Patrick Glover) It is described as a "fairytale" beach by The Times and "magical" by visitors on Tripadvisor, where it boasts a near-perfect 4.8 rating from 578 reviews. The Times said: "After driving through the dark depths of the Newborough Forest you'll come to a three-mile beach. "To your right, you'll see Llandwyn Island with two white towers, two stone crosses and a ruined church. "The former are old lighthouses; the latter are dedicated to St Dwynwen, a 5th-century princess who pledged her life to God here on Ynys Llanddwyn after suffering a broken heart. RECOMMENDED READING: Secret North Wales beach named among the best in the UK and a must-visit North Wales village with 'scenic' pub and secret beach among UK's most beautiful 'Vibrant' seaside town in North Wales among the UK's best to move to in 2025 "She is now Wales's patron saint of lovers — honoured on her feast day of January 25 — and there's an awful lot to love about her island: six sandy coves and views of Eryri and the Llyn, seen as though across an enchanted lake." The water quality is rated excellent, there are toilet facilities, and it is dog-friendly. There is also often a good truck in the car park called Y Pantri Bach.
