Newborough Beach on Anglesey has been named one of the best beaches in the UK by The Times, just in time for the summer holidays. The annual list of the 50 best beaches across the country includes Cornish coves and vast stretches in the Outer Hebrides, but notably no beaches from the North West.
The Selection Process
To compile the list, The Times' chief travel writer Chris Haslam spent five weeks travelling the country, driving 4,307 miles and inspecting 607 beaches to find the very best across Britain and Northern Ireland. Newborough Beach, located along Anglesey's southern coast, was selected for its gorgeous sunsets, vast golden sand, and the towering Corsican pines of Newborough Forest.
Llanddwyn Island and St Dwynwen
Connected to the beach is Llanddwyn Island, accessible at low tide, home to a picturesque lighthouse and the 16th-century church of St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Haslam noted: "Some of the prettiest sunrises I've seen have been from Llanddwyn Island: the rocky peninsula at the left-hand side of Newborough beach on Anglesey's southern coast. I'm not alone in this opinion: over the years the numbers snuggling up around the Twr Mawr Lighthouse in the early hours have increased, with all awaiting the life-affirming moment when the sun rises over Eryri (Snowdonia) and send a path of gold across Caernarfon Bay."
Activities and Local Concerns
Haslam added that the area is popular for "swimming and kiting" and even just "loafing" around, with the Saturday Parkrun also a draw. However, Newborough and Llanddwyn frequently feature in 'best of' lists, and its popularity has led to local concerns about mass tourism. Despite several car parks, they are all rammed during summer, driving visitors to park elsewhere. One local man questioned whether it was fair to "promote somewhere that's already suffering huge problems due to excessive and unsustainable visitor numbers."
