Traeth Mawr

The beach at Traeth Mawr stretches out proper golden when the tide's right, backed by dunes that shift with each season. You'll find it just south of Newport in Pembrokeshire - it's the sort of place locals know well but doesn't get mobbed with day-trippers the way some Welsh beaches do.

The sand here is wide and firm, good for walking or letting the kids loose with a bucket. The dunes themselves are worth exploring if you've got half an hour spare - they're stabilised with marram grass and the views back towards the Preseli Hills are solid. When the tide's out, the beach extends well, and on calmer days the water's manageable for a swim, though it's bracing even in summer.

This works brilliantly as part of a broader coastal wander around Newport. You're only a few minutes' drive from better-known spots like Newgale and Tenby if you fancy a change of scenery, but Traeth Mawr keeps things quieter. Free to access, naturally - just park up and go. Allow an hour or two if you're making a proper afternoon of it.

If you're staying at Llwyngwair Manor Holiday Park just inland, this is an easy run to blow off steam. It's a straightforward beach rather than dramatic - no caves or rock pools to speak of - so families with very young children might find it a bit plain, but walkers and anyone after a proper seaside reset will rate it.