hidden Welsh beach even the sat nav can't find

We all love a beach day here in Wales, even in winter. Thankfully we're 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 explore.

Great news! There is a huge sandy beach that few people know about. 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 that is.

It's an absolute gem of a beach owned by the National Trust and found beneath towering cliffs. You’ll get sweeping views over Cardigan Bay all the way to the mountains of the Eryri National Park. Lush!

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.

This lovely dog-friendly beach is rarely very busy, largely because it's a fair stomp from the nearest parking and is reached by walking across fields and ascending a steep flight of steps.

Even in the middle of the school holidays, it never feels super rammed, so it’s a brilliant spot if you're after peace and big ocean views.

What makes this almost secret beach tricky to visit is that the mobile signal can be very spotty here, so good luck navigating with Google Maps.

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."

Online it's even dubbed the "Porth Ceiriad Mystery Tour" because of the curious case of disappearing tourists 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.

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.

The Beach Guide notes that, along with a beautiful sandy shore and geologically significant cliffs, the surf at Porth Ceiriad is among 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 crafts, 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 paid-for car park perched right up on the cliffs that gives you the feeling you might just drive off the edge, but don’t worry, as you won’t, but it’s a bit of a thrill!

If that’s not your bag, you can take an earlier turning towards Bwlchtocyn, where there's a smaller car park tucked away on the far side of the village.

You'll need to navigate a few cattle grids and some fairly narrow lanes, but you’ll get there!

Postcode: LL53 7BY