Now that we’re in spring and the weather is finally starting to get warmer a trip to the beach will be a perfect day out.
According to The Beach Guide there are 112 beaches listed in North Wales! This can make it hard to choose which beach you want to visit along the coastline. To help you out we have done some research and found the best beaches in North Wales that you will want to visit. From Anglesey all the way across to the Clwyd area and right the way down the Llŷn Peninsula. Have a read through the list below and make sure you take note of the ones that take your fancy.
Talacre Beach, Clwyd
- where? Talacre, Holywell, CH8 9RP
- dog friendly? Yes
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, restaurant, bakery & café
Due to this being the only beach in Flintshire, Talacre Beach is extremely popular with locals and tourists. The main reason this beach is so popular is because of the Point of Ayr lighthouse, this grade II listed building dates back to 1776 but hasn’t been in use since 1884. Still to this day it is a major monument in Flintshire. When the tide is out you can walk out to the lighthouse which stands 18 metres above the sand. Overall, Talacre is quite a large beach with miles and miles of golden sands for you to enjoy and huge sand dunes that you can explore.
Porth Dinllaen Beach (Morfa Nefyn), Gwynedd
- where? Lon Golff, Porthdinllaen, Pwllheli, LL53 6DB
- dog friendly? Yes
- parking? Yes, National Trust car park 19 min walk away
- facilities nearby? Yes, restaurant and pub
If you are on the Llŷn Peninsula you will want to go to the beautiful village of Porthdinllaen. Here you will find Porth Dinllaen Beach/Morfa Nefyn beach. If you are in this area you will want to explore both beaches on the coast, Morfa Nefyn and Porth Dillan. The best way to do this is to park at the National Trust car park and either walk along the beach or go across the golf course and then down to the beach. When the tide is out this is a beautiful stretch of golden sand with a pub right on the front serving a range of delicious food and drink options.
Llanddwyn Beach (Newborough), Anglesey
- where? Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, LL61 6SG
- dog friendly? Yes
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? No, sometimes ice cream van and food van in car park
Located on the south-western tip of Anglesey is where you will find Llanddwyn Beach, also known as Newborough Beach. It is backed by Newborough Forest & National Nature Reserve so not only can you enjoy a beach day here you can also enjoy a forest walk. At the far end of the beach you will find Llanddwyn Island which has various historical landmarks like the Twr Mawr Lighthouse, St Dwynwen’s Church and the Pilots’ cottages. So not only is it a great place for a beach day it’s also a great place to explore and learn about the history of the island.
Morfa Bychan – Black Rock Sands Beach, Gwynedd
- where? Porthmadog, LL49 9YH
- dog friendly? Yes (not on the northern end)
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, restaurant
The main thing that makes Black Rock Sands so popular is because most of the year you are able to drive onto the beach. Which means you can bring as many things as you want to the beach knowing you don’t have to walk for ages to your spot on the beach! It also means it’s a popular beach for water sports as people bring their own motor boats and water bikes to this beach. During low tides you can explore all the caves and rock pools and see if you can find any crabs or other marine life living around that part of the beach.
Llandudno – West Shore Beach, Clwyd
- where? Llandudno, LL30 2AG
- dog friendly? Yes (not between May – September)
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, restaurant & café
Just below the Great Orme which is a huge limestone headland in Llandudno is where you will find West Shore Beach. During a low tide it becomes an extremely popular place to go if you like kite surfing, kite flying or you just want to enjoy a beach day on a sunny day. This beach also makes the perfect base if you then want to explore a bit further and head up to the Great Orme to take in the amazing views. Llandudno West Shore beach is also well known for its incredible sunsets so if you stay into the evening you will be able to experience that too.
Trearddur Bay Beach, Anglesey
- where? Trearddur Bay, Holyhead, LL65 2UL
- dog friendly? Yes
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, café, restaurant & pub
Located on Holy Island in Anglesey is the beautiful Trearddur Bay Beach. Perfect for beach days, crabbing and splashing around in the sea. It’s also the perfect place for water sports with the most popular activities being windsurfing, kayaking and bodyboarding. There is also a long promenade behind the beach that is perfect for a stroll in the sun with amazing views along the coast. There are plenty of cafés, shops and restaurants close to the beach too which means you can easily stay here all day.
Prestatyn Beach, Clwyd
- where? Nant Hall Rd, Prestatyn, LL19 9LN
- dog friendly? Yes (restrictions in summer)
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, café & bar & ice cream parlour
In the coastal resort of Prestatyn you will find a five mile long stretch of sand that is created from 3 different beaches. As well as the sandy beach there is also a wide promenade which cyclists and walkers use which starts in Prestatyn and can go all the way across to Rhyl. The beach is separated with rock groynes and by the car park you will find the Beach Hut Café & Bar where you can enjoy a bite to eat and drink with indoor and outdoor seating.
Abersoch Beach, Gwynedd
- where? Abersoch, Pwllheli, LL53 7DP
- dog friendly? Yes (not on northern part between April & September)
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, beach café
Abersoch is an extremely popular place for holidaymakers which makes Abersoch Beach one of the most popular on the Llŷn Peninsula. This area is renowned for its water sports and sailing and Abersoch Beach is the place to go for it, there is a centre where you can hire boards and kayaks to try out the sport yourself. As well as that the beach is huge so there is plenty of room to find a space to chill for the day. Along with a café that serves hot and cold food and beach essentials.
Lligwy Beach, Anglesey
- where? Lligwy, Dulas, LL70 9PQ
- dog friendly? Yes
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? No
You will find Lligwy Beach on the north eastern side of Anglesey not far from the coastal village Moelfre. The beach itself is over half a mile long at its widest point and is surrounded by limestone rocks making it quite a sheltered beach. As well as the beach being great for relaxing it’s also popular for water sports like kite surfing and wind surfing. If you are wanting to explore the area you will find sand dunes line part of the beach also.
Kinmel Bay, Clwyd
- where? The Promenade, Kinmel Bay, Rhyl, LL18 5NL
- dog friendly? Yes
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, café
Recently, Kinmel Bay has been awarded a 2021 Seaside Award. Also known as Sandy Cove Beach, Kinmel Bay is an extremely popular place to go for tourists in the summer months and water sport lovers. As well as the large sandy beach you will also find a narrow promenade that goes through the nature reserve here. This beach is also a popular place to see grey seals in the waters so make sure you keep an eye out for them.
Harlech Beach, Gwynedd
- where? Harlech, LL46 2UG
- dog friendly? Yes (not in section by holiday park between April & September)
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes in town
Harlech Beach is a peaceful place to go and enjoy the impressive view of the historic Harlech Castle. The beach itself has plenty of flat sand to relax on but there are also so many amazing sand dunes that you can explore. You can easily spend the whole day here with family as kids can enjoy running through the dunes and building sand castles along with relaxing in the sun. There is also a shop and café within walking distance from the beach too.
Whistling Sands Beach – Porthor Beach, Gwynedd
- where? Aberdaron, Pwllheli, LL53 8LH
- dog friendly? Not allowed on beach between April & September
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, café
Although it does look like this beach could be abroad in some tropical island it is in fact towards the most south western point of the Llŷn Peninsula. This is a beach that isn’t as known as some in the area but it is definitely one you will want to go to when you are next in North Wales. This stunning golden sands beach is backed by large grassy cliffs with a variety of different walks you can enjoy around the area. The name “Whistling Sands” actually came from the noise the sand makes underneath your feet during a dry spell due to the unusual shape of grains of sand that are here.
Benllech Beach, Anglesey
- where? 64 Bay View Rd, Benllech, Tyn-y-Gongl, LL74 8TT
- dog friendly? Not allowed on main section from May till September
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, café & restaurant
Known for being one of the most popular beaches in Anglesey, Benllech Beach is on the eastern coast and can offer a long stretch of beautiful golden sands. You will find this beach is extremely popular with both tourists and locals and is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area. Whether you want to just sit and relax, or swim in the ocean, look around the rock pools or do a spot of sea fishing. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Benllech Beach.
Dinas Dinlle Beach, Gwynedd
- where? 1 Parc Llanfair, Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon, LL54 5TW
- dog friendly? Not allowed on main section from May till September
- parking? Yes
- facilities nearby? Yes, café
Dinas Dinlle Beach is an extremely popular beach due to the size of it, once you get through the small area of small pebbles you will get to the vast span of stunning golden sands. Another great thing about this beach is when there are clear skies in the summer you can see all the way across to Llanddwyn Island which is on Llanddwyn Beach mentioned in the list above! If you love water sports then you will be pleased to know that jet skis, power boats, scuba divers and wind surfers are frequently used here.
We have four different resorts in North Wales where you can own a holiday home which means you will have plenty of time to get through this list and visit all the beaches.
So you are going on a road trip? Make sure you have the best songs to make the journey fun.
We thought we’d put our music knowledge to good use and create the ultimate playlist for your next road trip. To make sure the song selection was varied we asked everyone in our office for some song choices.
So no matter who you are going to be in the car with, you will all be able to sing along to these songs in the playlist. We have also created a Spotify playlist so you can just press play and start driving – you’re welcome!
50 songs for your next road trip
| 1. Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis
2. Rocket Man – Elton John 3. Love on Top – Beyoncé 4. No Roads – The Flatliners 5. Shotgun – George Ezra 6. Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey 7. Hey Ya! – Outkast 8. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac 9. My Number – Foals 10. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey 11. Cochise – Audioslave 12. How Far Will I Go – Moana Soundtrack 13. This is What You Came for – Calvin Harris 14. Redbone – Childish Gambino 15. Have a Nice Day – Stereophonics 16. Levitating – Dua Lipa 17. Young Folks – Peter Bjorn and John 18. Fluorescent Adolescent – Arctic Monkeys 19. Jungle – Tash Sultana 20. Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses 21. In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company – The Dead South 22. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen 23. Float On – Modest Mouse 24. Universally Speaking – Red Hot Chilli Peppers 25. I’m Still Standin’ – Elton John |
26. Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles
27. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People 28. American Boy – Estelle ft. Kanye West 29. Long Road to Ruin – Foo Fighters 30. LA River Drive – Dilated Peoples 31. Johnny B. Goode – Check Berry 32. Pompeii – Bastille 33. Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys 34. Mr Brightside – The Killers 35. Sweater Weather – The Neighbourhood 36. Miami – Will Smith 37. Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners 38. Summer – Calvin Harris 39. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond 40. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 41. Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen 42. Stand By Me – Ben E. King 43. Cake By the Ocean – DNCE 44. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen 45. Don’t Stop – Red Hot Chilli Peppers 46. Beat It – Michael Jackson 47. Riptide – Vance Joy 48. Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand 49. Bat Out Of Hell – Meatloaf 50. Viva la Vida – Coldplay |
If you decide to go on a road trip but haven’t decided where you want to go yet, we have some incredible resorts across the UK that will be perfect for you.
Whether you are wanting to explore the area or find things to do that will keep the whole family entertained there are plenty of things to do in the Peak District.
The Peak District is a stunning area of England, full of incredible natural beauty and a huge list of things to see and do. Enjoy spending time around the Peak District and find famous walks, explore the countryside or find the adventure. Our exceptional resort in the Peak District can provide the perfect base to explore along with being the place you can escape to in the evening before exploring more the next day.
Peak Wildlife Park
Winkhill, Leek, ST13 7QR | 25 mins
A zoo always makes a great family day out and the Peak Wildlife Park is an amazing one in the area. The zoo can take around 3 hours to get around and see all the animals and there are food options too so you can stay and enjoy a bite to eat and make it a full day experience. The most unique part of Peak Wildlife Park is their large walkthroughs where you can come face to face with endangered and exotic animals. Their walkthroughs are with animals like red squirrels, lemurs, penguins and wallabies.
Treak Cliff Cavern
Castleton, Hope Valley, S33 8WP | 40 mins
If history is something you like to learn more about, you’ll definitely want to make a trip to the Treak Cliff Cavern in Castleton. It’s famous all over the world because of its unique deposits of Blue John Stone and you will find some of the most beautiful cave formations in the UK here. The tour is a self-guided audio tour where you will go into the caverns and take in the views of the amazing Hope Valley. There is also a café here that you can enjoy a range of drinks, homemade cakes and ice cream.
Gulliver’s Kingdom
Temple Walk, Matlock Bath, DE4 3PG | 22 mins
Gulliver’s Kingdom is perfect if you have younger kids who still love the thrill of rides and experiences. From log flumes to chair lifts, a drop tower to a crazy barrel ride there are so many different rides and attractions that are perfect for kids of all ages. And you will also find a range of places to eat and drink around the resort too which makes it a perfect place to stay all day.
Crich Tramway Village
Crich, Matlock, DE4 5DP | 29 mins
Travel back in time to the 1800s and 1900s with the Crich Tramway Village. Inside this village there are over 60 different trams that will have been built between 1873 and 1982. Enjoy a bite to eat at Rita’s Tea Rooms or The Poulson Room or even The Red Lion Pub. You will also find a sweet shop and an ice cream parlour in the village. Find out more about the trams in the indoor exhibitions, or take a stroll through the period village scene. You will have the option to take a ride on some of the trams around the village.
Miller’s Dale Monsal Trail
Buxton, SK17 8TD | 23 mins
For those who are looking for somewhere to walk and enjoy being in nature in the Peak District, the Miller’s Dale Monsal Trail will be the perfect choice. The trail is perfect for cycling, horse riding and walking. The trail goes along the former Midland Railway line and the trail goes through 4 400m tunnels and 2 shorter tunnels which are all lit during the daylight hours so they are safe to use.
Matlock Farm Park
Jaggers Ln, Matlock, DE4 5LH | 26 mins
Explore Matlock Farm Park and learn about animals like pigs, donkeys, goats, sheep and even wallabies, emus, meerkats and rhea birds! As well as the animals you can see there are also different things like a go kart track, adventure playground and jumping pillow that your kids can have fun on. The Garden Room Café is also open and offers a wide range of hot and cold food and drinks to suit everyone.
Poole’s Cavern & Buxton Country Park
Green Ln, Buxton, SK17 9DH | 23 mins
The Peak District can provide you with some pretty impressive views, especially if you take a trip to Poole’s Cavern & Buxton Country Park. Poole’s Cavern is a two-million-year-old natural limestone cave that you can explore in a guided 45 minute tour. And whilst you are there you can also enjoy woodland walks through the stunning Buxton Country Park.
Chatsworth House
Bakewell, DE45 1PP | 27 mins
Chatsworth House is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been passed on to 16 other generations of the Cavendish family ever since. During your visit you will be able to explore over 25 different rooms as well as the beautiful gardens that surround the house. There are 105 acres of Chatsworth Garden and you will find things like waterworks, sculptures, Victorian rock garden and plenty of history to learn about.
Alton Towers
Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 4DB | 29 mins
For the thrill seekers who want a day out full of fun and adrenaline a trip to Alton Towers might be the perfect thing. There are over 40 different rides and attractions at the theme park which means you won’t find an issue picking things that will suit everyone. And it’s perfect for the whole family with large roller coasters like The Smiler and Nemesis but then you also have a CBeebies Land perfect for younger kids too. There are also different restaurants around the resort selling burgers, pizzas, fried chicken and more!
Mam Tor
Hope Valley, S33 8WA | 35 mins
Another walk that is great for incredible views is Mam Tor, the popular landmark hill and hiking spot. It’s about a 517 metres high and is about a 550 metre walk from the car park. Although it is relatively steep to climb Mam Tor the views are worth it and the walk can be completes in around 2 hours so it doesn’t have to be a full day trip. The walk is also extremely doable with young kids so the whole family can enjoy this experience.
Now that you know some of the things you can do in the Peak District you will be able to start planning your break away starting with a place to stay.
Being in Britain means we can never be guaranteed sunshine all year round.
And although staycations are still as popular in 2022 as they were in 2021 it may still rain during your caravan holiday. But we are here to tell you that you can’t let a bit of rain stop you from having fun and making memories! There are so many fun rainy day activities that you can do on your caravan holiday. To make things easier for you we’ve put all our amazing ideas into a list below so hopefully you find one that suits your family.
make use of the facilities on-site
If you are at one of our Darwin Escapes resorts you will find a range of different facilities available to use that will be perfect for all the family. From indoor swimming pools to restaurants, outdoor splash areas and bowling. You will be able to stay entertained no matter what the weather is at our resorts and make memories that will last forever.
Here is a list of facilities you may find at our Darwin Escapes resorts:
- Indoor swimming pools
- Play parks
- Outdoor splash areas
- Bowling
- Restaurants
- Gyms
- Spas
- Go Active activities
have a movie day
If you do find it’s raining during your caravan holiday and you want to stay inside a great idea would be to have a movie day. Either make sure you have some snacks in or face the rain to stock up on some goodies then you’re good to go. Find all your favourite family films that will be perfect to watch during your movie day!
find some indoor attractions
No matter where in the UK you are for your caravan holiday you won’t be more than a short car journey away from some amazing indoor attractions. This could be anything from a trip to the cinema, an indoor play area, indoor shopping centre, museums etc. If you stay at one of our Darwin Escapes resorts you won’t be far from some fun indoor attractions for all the family.
play some games
The main thing you want to do when you are looking for ideas for rainy day activities for your caravan holiday is ensure that you are doing things that keep everyone entertained. Make sure your prepared for your holiday and take some games with you that you can play together.
Top 6 games to play as a family:
- Monopoly
- Cluedo
- Game of Life
- Trivia Pursuit
- Pack of cards
- Guess Who?
get creative
If arts and crafts is your thing then it’s the perfect time to do so when it’s raining. Whether that’s with a drawing competition or you want to get even more creative and make something out of all the things you can find at the caravan park. It’s a great excuse to think a little differently and create some amazing things together.
bake some treats
Why not pop to the local shops and get all the ingredients you need to make some baked goods. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a baker why not get the packet mixes of cookies and brownies etc. It doesn’t matter how you make them everyone will enjoy eating them at the end!
go out and explore in the rain
Sometimes when it is raining and you have the right clothing, there is nothing better than to go out and explore in the rain. Go on a countryside walk or find a viewpoint to walk to. It’s a great way to enjoy some fresh air, be at one with nature and get some good exercise in.
We have 24 different resorts across the UK which offer holidays and holiday home ownership options.
So it’s that time of year again where you’re heading to your holiday home for the first time since winter.
You will want to give your caravan or holiday lodge a little bit of TLC and freshen it up ready for the upcoming months. And we are here to give you that helping hand you need to ensure you give your holiday home a thorough spring clean this year. Below you will find 12 different tips and things we suggest you do in order to make sure the inside and outside of your holiday home is ready for another year of memory making.
1. strip all the beds and re-make them
Since your beds have been unused for a few months they will have gotten a little cold and in need of a freshen up. So whilst you are decluttering and organising you could strip all the beds and put the bedding in the wash. This way they are clean, fresh and ready for your first holiday of the year together.
2. declutter and organise your holiday home
Sometimes the best place to start when it comes to spring cleaning is decluttering and organising. Go through everything you have in your holiday home and think if you need it or if you will use it this year, if not you can either donate, recycle or take it back home with you. Once you have decluttered and you only have the things you definitely will use you can then reorganise and put them back away.
3. check for any damage that could’ve happened throughout the winter months
If you spent the winter months away from your holiday home then you will want to start off your spring cleaning by checking for any damage. With the colder months there are more days that consist of constant rain and wind which can lead to damage on your holiday home. Make sure to check all windows, doors, outdoor areas etc. to figure out if you do have any damage before you start cleaning properly. If you do find any damage you will be able to pop into reception and the staff there can help you out.
4. clean out the kitchen cupboards, oven, and fridge freezer
To make everything feel fresh and ready for a new season you will want to deep clean the kitchen area. Start by emptying the cupboards and removing anything you won’t use or binning left over food items etc. Once that’s done you can then clean all the cupboards, the fridge freezer, oven, microwave and any other kitchen appliances that you have in your holiday home.
5. deep clean all bathrooms
Bathrooms are another important place you want to make sure you deep clean when it comes to spring cleaning your holiday home. There will have been a buildup of dust whilst you’ve not been there so you will want to make sure you clean all surfaces along with the shower head and taps before you use anything.
6. check all appliances are working
Because it’s been a few months since you’ve been in your holiday home you will want to check that all the appliances are working as they should. These are the main things you will want to check are still working; heating, hot water and showers, washing machine, wifi, TV, smoke alarm, lights, microwave, oven, kettle, toilet.
7. sweep up any leaves outside and jet wash decked area
We always have wind, frost, rain, snow and hail through the winter months so it’s no surprise that your outdoor area around your holiday home will need some care. You will probably need to sweep up leaves that have fallen and if you have a decked area jet wash that to avoid any slips.
8. add new plants and flowers for the season
Speaking of leaves, this brings us nicely onto our next tip, bring the outside in! Make your holiday home look as good as it can by adding new plants and fresh flowers on window sills and tables. This will add some colour and get you ready for spring and beyond.
9. clean your windows
Even if you’ve used a jet wash on the outside, don’t forget to clean INSIDE of the windows – use a microfibre cloth for a streak-free finish!
10. vacuum and mop all flooring throughout your holiday home
If you haven’t been inside your holiday home for months you want to make sure you deep clean everywhere and this means vacuuming and mopping all the flooring throughout your holiday home. This way you know there isn’t any leftover dirt or dust from the previous year.
11. check & clean outdoor furniture, barbecue and lighting
This is for the people who do have outdoor furniture, a barbecue and outdoor lights. If you left them out over the winter months you will want to check that nothing is broken or stopped working. Once you’ve done that you’ll want to clean everything ready to use it at your next stay.
12. freshen up the living and dining areas ready to use
The living and dining area is the place that is probably used the most when you are at your holiday home so it probably needs a little bit of a freshen up. Vacuum the sofas, dust all the surfaces and make sure everything is organised and put away.
Did you know that we have 24 different resorts across the UK and you can own a holiday home in 8 of them?
Sometimes it can be hard trying to figure out what you want when it comes to buying your first holiday home.
We have decided to put out a little bit of a inspiration for all the factors you might consider when it comes to choosing the perfect holiday home for you. The things you have to consider can be anything from the facilities available on your chosen resort to the size of the bedrooms or even the view you will have when you look out the window. So have a browse below and see what you like the look of and then hopefully at the end you will have a better idea of your dream holiday home.
what destination are you looking for?
beach
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countryside
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woodland
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what facilities would you use the most?
swimming pool
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gym
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spa
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what is your ideal holiday home?
open plan living diner area
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spacious bedrooms
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bright bathrooms
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amazing views
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So now you have an idea of the things that will make your dream holiday home you will probably want to get looking and see what is available. Either follow the links below or give our friendly team a call today on 0800 717 707.