Sandy Beach | Traeth Tywodlyd

The stretch of sand at Traeth Tywodlyd doesn't announce itself with fanfare, which is rather the point. You arrive at this Anglesey beach near Holyhead and immediately understand why locals keep quiet about it - the golden sand rolls on properly uncluttered, the dunes behind feel genuinely wild, and there's none of that overcrowded seaside theatre you get elsewhere.

It's a working beach rather than a show-off one. Rock pools scatter across the lower shore when the tide's out, giving kids something to do beyond building their millionth sandcastle. The backing dunes have walking paths that lead inland, so you're not trapped on the sand if the weather turns temperamental. On a decent day - and there are enough of them - the light across the water is genuinely lovely.

Walkers and families with patient children will get the most from this place. It's not the kind of beach where you park up for the entire day and never leave your spot. You'll want to explore the dunes, potter about in the shallows, maybe walk towards Holyhead itself. The sand itself doesn't shift dramatically season to season, so whenever you visit should work fine.

Stay at either Pengraig or Llain Ffynnon - both rated exceptionally well - and you're a short drive away. Those campsites sit you perfectly for exploring the wider Anglesey coast without fighting crowds. Sandy Beach works as the thinking person's alternative to the busier stretches nearby.