After spending too much time indoors at Christmas, there is nothing better than getting out in the winter sunshine on a cold morning. Thankfully, Wales is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world that are the perfect place to spend a crisp winter’s day.
Wales has it all – from coastal walks with amazing views of the Welsh coastline, to more gentle strolls across golden sands. Many of these beaches are hidden gems and are the perfect place to enjoy some peace and quiet in nature.
If you are looking for some other places to explore this winter, we also have a list of adventures that are less than an hour’s drive from Cardiff. But for those after some serene waters and peaceful views, then here are ten beautiful Welsh beach walks to enjoy on a crisp winter’s day.
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Porthdinllaen, Llŷn Peninsula
Ty Coch Inn, Porthdinllaen -Credit:Ian Cooper/North Wales Live
Porthdinllaen is a picture-perfect fishing village on the Llyn Peninsula in north west Wales. Visitors can enjoy a gentle walk across the sandy beaches, as the crystal clear waters sneak up on the stone houses dotting the shoreline. You can also enjoy a pint at the Ty Coch Inn pub, which is practically on the beach and earned the title of the third best beach bar worldwide not too long ago. Read more here
Rhossili Bay, Gower
Rhossili Bay -Credit:Justin Paget/Getty Images
Any list of the best Welsh beach walks would be incomplete without Rhosilli Bay, one of Wales’ best known and loved beaches. It is regularly voted among the best beaches in the UK, Europe and even the world and with its golden sands stretching out for miles, it is easy to see why.
Travel expert Simon Calder, who you’ll regularly see on programmes such as This Morning giving his advice on all manner of travel issues, has described the beach, at the western tip of the Gower peninsula, as “pristine” and “world class”. The village of Rhossili is perched just above the beach and there are plenty of great places to eat – including The View, which has a mind-blowing panoramic view of the beach below.
Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire
Llansteffan, Carmarthanshire -Credit:WalesOnline/ Rob Browne
In Llansteffan, there is a beautiful walk that starts and ends on a beach. Taking a route up onto the Wales Coast Path at the seward end of the beach, you will pass Llansteffan Castle, enjoy beautiful views of the Carmarthenshire coast and past Lord’s Park, a farm with a pretty white farmhouse with windows painted red.
A grassy path leads down into a narrow valley alongside fields and hedgerows. At the foot of the valley you will find St Anthony’s Well, said to have been a site of healing since the 6th century. A downhill walk will take you back to the beautiful beach at Llansteffan.
Whitesands Beach, St Davids
Whitesands Bay -Credit:UGC
Whitesands Bay is one of the most popular beaches in Pembrokeshire and stretches for nearly four miles along the western coast. The beach is popular with surfers, kayakers and anglers and there are traces of a 6th century chapel buried beneath the dunes.
As well as stunning walks across the beach, Whitesands is also a good base for short walks along the world-famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path or to the summit of Carn Llidi, a jagged hilly mass which offers some superb views once you reach the top. The smallest city in Britain, St Davids, is also just two miles inland.
Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire
Pendine Sands -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline
The seven-mile stretch of sandy beach at Pendine in Carmarthenshire is another perfect winter walk for the new year, especially as it is dog friendly in the off-season. Starting at the western end near Gilman Point, you’ll find rugged cliffs and rock pools to explore. Heading east, the sands stretch seemingly endlessly, offering a chance to enjoy uninterrupted sea view.
As well as a walk across the beach, the dramatic cliffs near Gilman Point form part of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, so there are also plenty of coastal trails to explore. The eastern expanse, the famous Laugharne Sands features flat, golden sands that have hosted historic land speed record attempts.
Marloes Sands, Pembrokeshire
Marloes Sands -Credit:Shared Content Unit
Marloes Sands is the very definition of a hidden gem. It’s surrounded by cliffs and is accessible only on foot, when the tide allows. Not only is the beach a destination in itself, with its golden sand and turquoise waters, but it is also right on both the Wales Coast Path and the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.
The Marloes Pennsula coastal walk will take you along a beautiful heathland, across farmland and through the remains of Iron Age forts. The walk also provides the perfect vantage sport for wildlife spotting, whether it be the seabirds diving down to find fish or the Atlantic grey seal pups which are born on the beaches around the peninsula each year.
Barafundle Bay, Tenby
Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire -Credit:Loughborough Echo
Another beach only accessible by foot via the Coastal Path is Barafundle Bay, a beach backed by dunes and trees. It’s just a short trip on foot from Stackpole Quay and the path will take you across the often breezy cliffs before you reach the beach.
Described as a “jewel in the crown” by one visitor on TripAdvisor, the stunning sheltered beach is worth the short trip down the coastal path. You can even take your dogs along for a stroll on the sandy beach. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What’s On newsletter here
Read more about Barafundle Bay and its history here.
Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire
Cwm Yr Eglwys in Pembrokeshire -Credit:Richard Williams
A trip across the Ynys Dinas peninsula is another beautiful walk for a crisp winter’s day. Separated by a short walk in Dinas Cross are two idyllic beaches which guarantee visitors sunshine all day long. The quiet village was previously popular with sea captains who built many of the stone houses which are dotted around.
Cwm yr Eglwys beach, which is east-facing on one side of Ynys Dinas, is connected to the west-facing haven of Pwllgwaelod on the opposite side of the peninsula by a short ‘valley’ path, which means you can chase the sun as it moves during the day if you really want. The well-surfaced path which is wheelchair and pushchair friendly makes use of a wooded valley formed during the ice age and is relatively straightforward, with only a few small gradients.
Read more here
Monknash beach, Cowbridge
Monknash beach -Credit:WalesOnline
Another beautiful walk that will lead you to a hidden gem beach can be found at Cwm Nash. To reach Monknash beach and its dramatic cliff backdrop, you will follow a picturesque walk through wondrous woodland alongside the Nash Brook stream.
As part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, not only does it offer a view over wide golden sands during low tide, but also rocks and rock pools, which add to the already breathtaking landscape.
Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
Three Cliffs Bay -Credit:Julie Jones
Another part of the Wales Coast Path to explore this winter is the Three Cliffs Beach at Gower. The scenic, sandy beach is backed by three limestone cliffs. There is a spectacular shoreline of sand dunes along with plenty of rock pools.
The Pennad Pill river snakes across the sparkling sands and there are striking clifftop walks with panoramic views of the beach. Its beauty is well-recognised – the Three Cliffs Bay was used for filming of the Netflix series The Witcher.
Read more about the beach and how to get there here