Posiibly the greatest beach in Britain. Smooth golden sand meets the clear blue sea. Divine views…read moremake for picture postcard scenes and the open beach is perfect for a family day out. An abundance of inspiration for artists and photographers alike and has even been known to have good surf on windier days I have been here many a time and it has never failed to disappoint. A definite must-see if you are in the area with something for everyone.

Barafundle Beach is, for me, the best beach in Wales - And I'm not the only one who thinks it's…read moreamazing - It was voted by the Times and the Good Holiday Guide as one of the top 10 beaches in the whole world. Barafundle is a sandy beach, surrounded by limestone cliffs - you therefore have to be prepared for a bit of a hike along the cliffs to get to the beach (about 1K) - not a difficult walk, but steep steps at both ends. You can park in the National Trust car park for a few quid. This whole estate (Stackpole) is National Trust, and therefore beautifully preserved - This obviously limits facilities. There are tea rooms in the car parks near the beach - but no facilities at all once you walk there. This is to the great benefit of the beach - it is truly natural and wonderful. The 'desert island' experience is well worth the walk. The water quality is fantastic - it is crystal clear. There are no rocks or dangerous currents - so bathing is very safe - Although you must be careful because there is no lifeguard cover here. This beach is perfect - See my Stackpole review for some more of the attractions at this National Trust site.

Mid Wales is undiscovered country (well, almost). It's always been popular with families holidaying…read morefrom the West Midlands, but the many coastal towns have avoided the typical trajectory of other British seaside resorts (well, ok, not all). Aberdyfi is the quintessence of everything that can remain right with a British seaside town. From its multicoloured but not garish main street to its beautiful white sand dunes, Aberdyfi (pronounced Aber-dovey) is always Aber-lovely. There are watersports to get into, and the jet skis do tend to spoil the serenity at times, but these are small things when you take in the surroundings, which are very relaxing. Good for families, too you can still take a donkey ride during summer, but this tends to be less candyfloss commercialism than a little break from lounging around or swimming in the clean, cool waters. Alternatively, take a walk all along the beach to Tywyn and back. You'll like it.

This is a great place for walkers and families about seven miles south of Carmarthen. The beach is…read morelarge with lovely soft sand and there are nice views across the estuary and River Towy to the village of Ferryside. Swimming is prohibited however because of the tides and mud flats. There is an official car park and also another gravelly and grassy area where one can park for no charge. Besides the main car park are toilets and a shop and cafe. Overlooking the beach is the huge ruin of Llansteffan Castle, also well worth a visit.

Whitmore Bay is what most people think of when they talk about Barry Island, and has all the…read moreameneties you'd expect for a suburban resort: amusement arcades and fish'n'chips abound. Just behind is a small fairground, which I recall visiting when I was a small child - I used then to think it was quite impressive! The bay has also now been made famous by featuring extensively in the TV series 'Gavin and Stacey'. Up until the 1960s, however, it used to be packed during Bank Holidays with people coming on day trips from the mining communities in the valleys: newsreel footage shows every inch of sand covered with families! It's rather quieter than that, now, but still popular for day trips.

The larger of the two beaches on the island, this is very popular with holiday makers and local…read morewalkers. It's a surprisingly huge beach with soft golden sand and long headlands on either side. Ideal for families throughout the season for swimming and sunbathing. There is usually a coastguard presence. There are horse and carriage rides along the beach in summer, and many tourist and beach shops, cafes and fast food outlets around the promenade. The famous Pleasure Park lies behind the beach. The island railway station is fairly close (by foot) and you can journey to Cardiff from here.

This must be one of the best beaches not only in North Wales but also in the UK. It's got acres of…read moresand, spectacular views (you can see Bear Grylls' private island if you know which way to look) and parking is no problem at all. If you fancy a day at the beach then this should be at the top end of your list.

A sanctuary in Ireland, we came to this beach that was simply heaven on earth. Perfect for long…read morestrolls on the beach with your dogs. Big sand dunes line the beach with sand speckled with shells and round stones. Only 60 minutes away from Dublin city center and plenty of parking.

Roughly an hour away from our door in Dublin is Brittas Bay Beach, which is pretty fantastic in my…read moreopinion. 4KM of beach. Sandy beach. With sand dunes. This is stuff great childhood memories are made of. Fantastic. Now I've not had the chance to get into the water here, but it looks pretty good to me.... as long as I have my wet suit ;) There are great facilities here too, a car park, lifeguards during the summer months and decent enough toilets WITH toilet paper. I would imagine the toilets are abused on busy days... sorry that's the cynic in me, so BYOP. The notice board here is full of useful information also, including info to a website called www.jellyfish.ie. Who knew that existed, I didn't :) There is also a but... the south car park costs 4 EUR to get into. OK, so the money goes towards the car park, the lifeguard and the toilet maintenance. But I do think this is a bit steep if you are just dropping in for a look. But if you are going for the whole day, its fine. FYI the car park gates are unmanned and take coins, so make sure you have the right coinage with you before to depart for Brittas Bay. Also, the south car park closes at 8pm according to signs.

A great place for a day out in summer: a pleasant little town with some interesting craft (and…read moreother) shops, nice cafes and pubs, and this gorgeous big sandy beach. The water is shallow and the beach is well looked after, so it's great for all the family for swimming, sunbathing or making sandcastles! Very close to the shops and there's a cafe adjacent to the beach which sells good value hot snacks and light meals. There are nearby toilets and the car park is very close to the beach too.

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Visited April 2015: "Breathtaking views of the Narrow Sea/St George's Channel"…read more Overlooked by the imposing craggy hill of Carn Llidi, this wide expanse of fine white sand curves north towards the remote rocky headland of St Davids Head. It is known to surfers as one of the best beaches to surf at, cliffs to hike, has parking, and a restaurant. There is a lifeguard on duty from end of May and the beginning of September.

One of my favourite beaches in Wales as it's so beautiful and remote. The golden sand is soft and…read morethe bay is sheltered between the headlands of St David's Head and Point St John which stretch out into the sea. A 'blue flag' area which is popular with surfers, swimmers, canoeists and walkers. The Pembrokeshire coastal path takes you in either direction around the cliffs to enjoy the fantastic views. We have friends in St Davids (just a few miles away) so have often combined visits to see them with walks around this lovely bay.