Best Blue Flag Beaches in Anglesey

Anglesey is known for its treasure trove of un-spoilt coastline, coastal walks, wildlife, and most of all its beaches, which it looks after meticulously, hence its high number of blue flag awards. When a beach is issued a blue flag it has been assessed on 33 criteria including cleanliness, swimming safety, beach facilities and environmental management to rank amongst the best in the world. Anglesey has six such beaches to brag about, namely Benllech Beach, Church Bay, Llanddona Beach, Porth Dafarch, Trearddur Bay and Llanddwyn Beach.

Benllech Beach

Located on the east side of the island, this long stretch of golden sand protected by cliffs and green hills offers crystal-clear waters and gentle shelving into the sea which is a delight to swim in or paddle in. Accessibility at Benllech Beach is optimum thanks to ramps, parking spaces, toilets and other facilities. The village behind the beach is easily accessible and there are beach kiosks that sell beach snacks and gear. The Anglesey Coast Path provides a delightful coastal walk that takes you along the hilly headland above the beach to Moelfre, a sweet fishing village that is becoming a popular resort but currently not overcrowded.

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Church Bay

Church Bay is a gorgeous little bay that lies between Carmel Head and Holy Island on the northwest tip of Anglesey, and named after St Rhuddlad’s Church, just above it. It does have a steep footpath from the village and Church Bay beach is made of a mix of sand and pebbles but its wild and wonderful nature more than makes up for this, as do the rock-pools at either end of the beach and the cliffs behind that protect sun worshippers from the off-shore winds. The Anglesey Coast Path follows the length of the cliff offering incredible vistas from the headland across Holy Island and beyond.

Llanddona Beach

This amazing beach lies on the eastern end of the famous Red Wharf Bay, on the east side of the island. This is an awesome stretch of golden soft sand, with pebbles aesthetically strewn across the shore, perfect for adding to your pebble collection at home. Being wild and wonderful Llanddona Beach has more basic facilities, including toilets, free parking and a beach café, but is close enough to the village of Llanddona for those who need more amenities.

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Porth Dafarch

Located on the west side of Holy Island with fabulous west-facing views across the Llyn Peninsula and Snowdonia. This is an idyllic little crescent beach of golden sand with rocky outcrops and cliffy headland which protects bathers from the strong winds. There are plenty of rock pools to rummage through and there are lovely shells, pebbles and sea glass to collect. Again, facilities are minimal but include toilets, car park and a ramp onto the beach for the disabled. The Anglesey Coast Path is well worth following here as it leads hikers to breath-taking sea vistas, caves and ancient rock formations.

Trearddur Bay

On the west coast of Holy Island there is a gorgeous blue flag beach called Trearddur Bay that has impeccable golden sands, lots of space and excellent swimming conditions. They regularly hold wild swimming events there, along with a load of water sports such as surfing, canoeing and water skiing. It comprises of a long oval shaped stretch of soft sand that gently slopes into the sea, which is calm, and easy to swim in. The scenery is un-spoilt and there are lovely sunsets here. Facilities are brilliant, perfect for a whole day out at the seaside with the kids.

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Llanddwyn Beach

Last but not least is the most magical of all these beaches, located on the Southwest of the island and boasting some impressive views of Snowdonia, Caernarfon and the Lyn Peninsula. It is covered in miles of soft golden sand, which slope into the sea with a gentle gradient, ideal for small children. It feels wild thanks to its enormous area of grassy dunes, which sweep along the length of the beach into a curved headland or peninsula, which is called Llanddwyn Island. Behind the beach there is woodland, and a coastal path that leads to the Llanddwyn nature reserve, famous for its spectacular wildlife and birdwatching opportunities. This is a popular spot for water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing so a little windy at times. There are good facilities here including toilets, parking, an area of picnic tables and a seasonal café.

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