UPDATE - since writing my original review of Colwyn Bay beach it's been "rebuilt". Tons of sand…read morehave been dredged off shore and dumped on to the beach. The effect has been to raise the level of beach so much that the parts of it around the pier are now above sea level so the tide never comes in all the way. This means there's now a sandy beach 24/7, 365 days a year. In addition to this the new watersports centre, Porth Eirias, has showers and toilets and will eventually have a cafe so the facilities are also greatly improved. Added to the free parking this must now be the best beach for miles around.

The new beach was well worth the visit and luckily it was one of the hottest days of the year…read more Parking was difficult as it was so busy and the public toilets were closed as it was a weekend, it's a five minute walk to the shopping centre by the underpass . The beach is unbeatable. The only room for improvement would be to open the toilets on weekends even if just in the summer season.

If you're in Liverpool or Chester visiting, it's a must that you get the train across to West Kirby…read moreto see some of the stunning scenery that it has to offer. Not only does it have the Wirral Way, an old railway track that is not a country walk the length of Wirral, but it has the marine lake, the beach and Hilbre Island. Great for a family walk and a day out, Hilbre island is the biggest of three islands that lie between West Kirby and Wales. There's, 'Little I', the smallest, 'Middle I', the next biggest, and the 'Hilbre Island', the biggest! When the tides out loads of people flock over to Hilbre Island, about 40 mins walk from the beach! Here you can climb up and see great views and even a small house in which people live. Be sure to check the tides though as it's not uncommon for people to get stranded on Hilbre Island and it gets bloody cold at night in the middle of the sea!

This has to be a must. I never thought that I would have to book to access Hilbre Island Nature…read moreReserve (the three tidal islands lying at the mouth of the Dee Estuary, Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre). It's totally free of charge but groups are restricted to 50 people and permits are required in advance for any group of 6 or more persons. The permits are allocated on a strictly first come basis, so you may find that your chosen day is already booked. This makes it all the more exciting when you do actually get a permit and manage to go! Permits are available from the Visitor Centre, Wirral Country Park. The islands are cut off from the mainland by the tide for up to four hours out of every twelve. So not get stuck! The views, birds and plants are amazing. I might apply for the Dee Estuary Ranger job as he is the only permanent resident on the islands and lives in Telegraph House.

Red Wharf Bay / Traeth Coch in Welsh is the largest beach on Anglesey at low tide…read more At high tide it is a 5 mile walk around muddy saltmarsh shores, also through fantastic sand dunes. There are birds to be seen such as wading birds, curlew and oystercatchers. Been here a year ago in August. I can recommend it in the evening for a quiet picnic.

What a beach!read more

Jutting out betwixt the Ribble Estuary and the Irish Sea, just south to the more gaudy Blackpool is…read moreLytham/St. Anne's ... is the very underrated Lytham/St. Anne's Beach. Located on the North and South Promenade of the St Anne's-on-the-Sea, the best place to start with the beach is actually on a pier ... St. Anne's Pier, to be exact. More than 130 years old, the Victorian-era "Pleasure Pier" juts out 180 meters to the tip of the water. You'll get an expansive (and on cloudy days dramatic) view of both the north and south beaches, the Irish Sea, the towns of Lytham/St. Anne's, and, in the distance, Blackpool Tower and that town's less chill offerings. The pier is a great way to see both ends of the beach ... or keep the kids entertained with game-after-game while you sunbathe on the beach. At Lytham-St. Anne's beach, you have the exact same weather as down the road in Blackpool; the exact same miles of soft, castle-maker-friendly sand; the same local ice cream vendors with their yummy concoctions; the same famed Lancashire donkey rides; the same paddler's paradise (the water is a little cold, even in the summer, for all but the hardiest of swimmers). The difference? Lytham-St. Anne's Beach isn't as crowded. Oh sure, the whole western seaboard of England is crowded on a sunny summer day, but your odds of finding a good spot here are much higher. I've stayed in both areas and spent many a days on both Blackpool and LSA beaches; I much prefer this little slice of beachgoer's heaven.

A fantastic clean and swish British Seaside beach before you hit Blackpool. Gardens, a pier and a…read moremass of sand, quiet and sedate just how I remember it from the70's. Good to see somethings have not changed. Would love to live 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.

Dog friendly all year round with free car parking…read more Extensive sand dunes with sandy beaches during low tide as far as the eye can see. Panoramic views of the Great Orme. A great and extremely popular local beach for dog walkers.

The former Prime Minister William Gladstone was a huge fan of the resort of Penmaenmawr. After…read morefirst visiting the town in 1855 he paid eleven further visits over the following forty years. He's fondly remembered by the locals who erected a bust in the town and there's also a local gastro-pub named after him! If you visit the beach you can understand the attraction. This is a huge, flat and sandy beach (at least when the tide's out) and offers spectacular views of Llandudno and the Great Orme to the East and the Isle of Anglesey to the West. It's also reasonably easy to get to these days. Just off the A55, the main road between Chester and Holyhead and also close to the railway station which lies on the London to Holyhead line. There's a cafe, public toilets and an outdoor shower to wash off the sand after a day of building sandcastles and swimming in the Irish Sea. It's also always very quiet so you'll have no trouble finding space for the deckchairs. It's a shame really but the town has very little tourist accommodation available to attract holiday makers. So while ten miles along the coast Llandudno attracts thousands of tourists despite not having much of beach over in Pen a fantastic beach remains underused.

The West Shore is the less popular of the two beaches in Llandudno which is a bit of a shame. It is…read morelocated on the opposite side of town to most of the hotels and shops which means it tends to get overlooked. Unlike the North Shore (the other beach) this is an exposed and sometimes windswept place and being on the Conwy estuary there are strong tidal currents if you go too far out to sea. You should also be aware that when the tide goes out there are large expanses of sandbanks which can be quickly cut off when the tide turns. The liftboat is called out regularly to rescue people who get caught out by this. So if it's that bad why would anyone go there? Well firstly it's much easier to park here. The area is largely residential with a few hotels mixed in so there is quite a bit of free, unrestricted on-street parking. There is also a large pay and display car park right next to the beach. There are adequate facilities including the Beach Cafe which is a traditional seaside cafe selling snacks, ice creams, cups of tea etc or if you'd prefer something stronger then there's the bar of the Sandringham Hotel just over the road. There are a couple of convenience stores nearby for crisps, drinks, newspapers and so on. There are breakwaters along the beach which are part of the flood defence system but they create small, sheltered beaches which are great for sunbathing or paddling (just don't go too far out). On a hot, sunny day you can't go wrong so long as the tide's in. Because the beach is quite exposed it attracts wind surfers and kite surfers when the wind gets up. It's also a popular beach with locals and dog walkers as there is plenty of space. The views along the coast and of Anglesey and Puffin Island are also worth seeing. All in all a great beach to visit if the weather's good. STOP PRESS - The Sandringham Hotel is now called 'The Lilly' and is apparently a 'restaurant with rooms'. I'm not sure if there will still be a public bar.

I agree with other reviewers. Much easier to park, one of the hotels serves beer to non guests,…read morethere is a cafe too. So, yes - perhaps better left to those in the know and dog walkers. One visit I watched windsurfers struggling in very rough conditions, so be careful.