This secluded Welsh beach is hard to reach, and that's part of its appeal. It's a gem of a beach owned by the National Trust and tucked away beneath towering cliffs.
A Hidden Gem on the Llŷn Peninsula
We all love a beach day here in Wales, and we are truly blessed to have so many sandy shores and isolated bays to choose from. If you’ve already ticked off the classics like Barafundle Bay, Rhossili Bay, and Harlech Beach, you might be itching to find somewhere new to plonk down your towel.
Great news! We've discovered a huge sandy beach that deserves a visit. Porth Ceiriad is located on a remote stretch of coast towards the southern end of the Llŷn Peninsula and offers a crowd-free day by the sea – if you can find it.
It's a gem of a beach owned by the National Trust and tucked away beneath towering cliffs. You’ll get sweeping views over Cardigan Bay all the way to the mountains of the Eryri National Park. It's also less than three miles from the popular seaside village resort of Abersoch, where you'll find plenty of cafes, shops, and facilities.
Why It's So Quiet
This lovely dog-friendly beach is rarely very busy, largely because it's hard to reach. These secluded shores are a fair stomp from the nearest parking and require walking across fields and climbing a steep flight of steps. If you visit in the off-season, it can be especially quiet, perfect for a spot of solitude by the ocean.
What makes this almost-secret beach tricky to visit is that the mobile signal can be very spotty here, so good luck trying to navigate with Google Maps.
The Adventure of Getting There
Finding the isolated spot is part of the challenge for intrepid explorers. Many Tripadvisor reviewers posted about their joy at finding the beach when the satnav couldn't. One poster remarked, "It's an adventure to get there on single-track country roads. Good luck with the tractors."
It's even been dubbed the "Porth Ceiriad Mystery Tour" because of the curious case of tourists disappearing after being led astray by unreliable satellite navigation directions and confounding maps.
To get there, you’ll need to go through the former Nant Y Big campsite. From there, it’s just a short trek across a couple of fields before you reach a steep set of steps carved right into the cliff. It's a bit of a thigh burner, but totally worth it once you see the golden sands and crashing waves.
A Wild Seashore Experience
While it's a perfectly lovely sandy stretch, this is where you come for a spot of solitude to walk the dog or have a bracing sea dip. There are no facilities here, including toilets, cafes, or lifeguards, so if you're plodding down here, you'll need to bring everything with you. It's a proper wild seashore free from seaside resort tat shops, whirring arcades, and beachside fish and chip shops.
If you bring a big beach picnic, be aware that there are no bins here, so you'll need to take all your rubbish home to keep this scenic spot beautiful and litter-free.
Surf and Watersports
The Beach Guide notes that, along with a beautiful sandy shore and geologically-significant cliffs, the surf at Porth Ceiriad is about the best on the Llŷn Peninsula.
If you're a pro surfer, there are large, powerful waves here that are more suited to experienced surfers than those at neighbouring Hell’s Mouth. They add that while generally quite sheltered, the surf at this south-facing beach comes into its own during the winter months.
If you're new to surfing, this might not be the best spot to give it a whirl. The waves can pack a punch here, and the rip currents can be downright feisty. There's also no lifeguard here, and the nearest loos and facilities are a few miles away.
Porth Ceiriad is also popular for other watersports, and in the summer, you might spot a range of craft, including kayaks, paddleboards, and even yachts.
If you're lucky, you may also see pods of dolphins here, their distinctive dorsal fins carving through the choppy waves.
How to Get There
To get there from Abersoch, head out along Lon Sarn Bach and keep going straight over the crossroads at Sarn Bach. About 0.7 miles on, take a left onto Lon Groes – you’ll spot it by the green electricity substation, so keep your eyes peeled.
Soon after, you’ll come to a contactless payment barrier at what used to be the Nant Y Big campsite. From there, a path leads you straight towards the beach.
There’s a car park perched right up on the cliffs, or you can take an earlier turning towards Bwlchtocyn, where there's a smaller, paid-for car park on the far side of the village.
Postcode: LL53 7BY. OS grid ref: SH 3139 2484.
