Pwllheli beach

The beach at Pwllheli curves along the Cardigan Bay coast like a generous smile, backed by a proper working seaside town rather than a parade of gift shops. You get a long stretch of sand that's genuinely good for families - the water's shallow enough for ages, and the beach stays relatively uncrowded even in summer compared to the honeypots further down the Welsh coast.

There's a promenade running alongside with the usual ice creams and cafés, plus a little lifeboat station if you're the type who notices these things. Walkers will find the coastal path accessible from here, taking you towards Abersoch or inland towards the Llŷn Peninsula's quieter corners. The town itself - Pwllheli - has proper character: it's the only seaside town with a marina on the peninsula, which gives it a slightly different energy to other Welsh beach towns. You're not paying to get in; it's just there, waiting.

Allot a couple of hours if you've got kids building sandcastles, longer if you're walking. Windy days are common up here, so come prepared with a windbreak. The nearby holiday parks - Gimblet Rock is virtually on the doorstep, with Hafan y Môr and Tal-y-Fan a short drive inland - make this an easy base for a week rather than a flying visit. Spring and early summer beat the school holidays for breathing space. It's not dramatic or Instagram-famous, but that's rather the point.