Best Beaches Near Aberystwyth
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best beaches near Aberystwyth are Tan Y Bwlch Beach, Ynyslas Beach, Llanrhystud Beach, Cei Bach Beach, Cwm Silio Beach, Benar Beach, Penbryn Beach and Traeth Gwrddon Beach.
Aberystwyth sits midway along the Ceredigion coast, with quiet shores scattered north and south along Cardigan Bay. Close to town, just across the harbour and the mouth of the Ystwyth, Tan-y-Bwlch offers a wilder alternative to the seafront below the hillfort of Pen Dinas.
Head north and the sands of Ynyslas spread out below the county's biggest dunes on the Dyfi estuary. To the south, Llanrhystud is a rural mix of sand and pebble where the Afon Wyre meets the sea.
Further round the coast in the same direction lie the sheltered sands of Cei Bach near New Quay and the hidden valley cove of Cwm Silio. Keep going and you reach the National Trust sweep of Penbryn and the tiny, hard-won cove of Traeth Gwrddon between Aberporth and Mwnt.
North again, over the border into Gwynedd, Benar runs long and empty behind the dunes of Morfa Dyffryn. Each rewards a little effort with space and quiet.
Here are eight beaches to seek out near Aberystwyth.
Tan Y Bwlch Beach
Photo: Mr Ignavy via Geograph.org.uk
Tan-y-Bwlch Beach sits just across the harbour from town, barely a stroll from the centre of Aberystwyth. This is a shore of coarse sand and pebbles on the south side, reached beyond the mouth of the River Ystwyth and watched over by the Iron Age hillfort of Pen Dinas with its column-shaped monument.
A steep storm bank of pebbles backs the beach, which forms part of a local nature reserve, and the Wales Coast Path runs along behind. Climb Pen Dinas for wide views over the town and bay.
It feels wilder and quieter than the seafront, with no lifeguard and a sea that can turn rough.
Ynyslas Beach
Photo: Fabian Musto via Geograph.org.uk
Ynyslas Beach lies a short drive north on the south side of the Dyfi estuary, just above Borth. Sandy and open, it is backed by the largest dune system in Ceredigion, part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve looked after by Natural Resources Wales.
There is a visitor centre with toilets among the dunes, and cars can drive onto and park on the firm tidal sands, which flood at high tide, so keep an eye on the water. Waymarked trails wind through orchid-rich dunes, the village of Aberdyfi sits across the estuary, and at low tide a submerged prehistoric forest shows on the sands at neighbouring Borth.
Llanrhystud Beach
Photo: Sandy Gerrard via Geograph.org.uk
Llanrhystud Beach is a rural beach of sand and pebbles on Cardigan Bay, a little way south of Aberystwyth where the Afon Wyre reaches the sea. A long bank of pebbles backs the sand that appears at low tide, with rockier ground to the north and rolling countryside behind.
It stays quiet and undeveloped, with a small free car park near the shore and shops and cafes in the village. Dogs are welcome all year round.
Cei Bach Beach
Photo: Jeremy Bolwell via Geograph.org.uk
Cei Bach Beach is worth the longer run south along the coast, a little way round from New Quay. This quiet beach of sand and shingle sits sheltered beyond Llanina Point, away from the busier town beaches, with low groynes breaking up the shore and the wooded coast path running along the slope above.
At low tide the sand opens out toward the neighbouring stretch of Traeth Gwyn. It makes a peaceful reward at the end of the drive.
Cwm Silio Beach
Photo: Eirian Evans via Geograph.org.uk
Cwm Silio Beach, also known as Traeth Soden, calls for a longer journey south down the Ceredigion coast, between Cwmtydu and New Quay. No road reaches this small, secluded cove of pebble and sand; instead you walk in on a wooded valley path of about twenty minutes, following a stream past small falls and footbridges.
Rocky cliffs frame the shore, seals are often seen offshore, and nothing has been built here. It is a proper hidden spot for those happy to make the walk.
Benar Beach
Photo: David Medcalf via Geograph.org.uk
Benar Beach lies well to the north, a longer trip up the coast into Gwynedd near Tal-y-bont and Dyffryn Ardudwy. This long, quiet strand of clean sand runs wide and open, backed by the great shifting dunes of Morfa Dyffryn, a national nature reserve.
Undeveloped and often empty, it is made for a long walk with the sea on one side and dunes on the other, the hills of Snowdonia rising inland behind. Orchids and other wildflowers grow among the dunes in summer, and seabirds work the tideline.
It faces west into the bay, plain, spacious and open to the weather.
Penbryn Beach
Photo: Anthony Parkes via Geograph.org.uk
Penbryn Beach rewards a longer drive south along the Ceredigion coast, a National Trust sweep of sand reached through a wooded valley. From the car park a quarter-mile lane leads down to the shore, or you can take a steeper woodland path with steps, and at low tide almost a mile of sand opens up below low cliffs and dunes.
It is a place for walks, swimming and quiet, with a cafe near the car park and the Wales Coast Path along the top. Dogs are allowed off-season.
Traeth Gwrddon Beach
Photo: Richard Law via Geograph.org.uk
Traeth Gwrddon Beach is the furthest of these, a long run south to a tiny cove between Aberporth and Mwnt. It hides at the foot of a steep green valley, where a small patch of golden sand shows among the rocks at low tide, backed by a stream with little waterfalls and the worn remains of old stone steps, mostly covered as the tide rises.
The way down is steep and rough, best for the fit and sure-footed, with no facilities and no lifeguard. Its difficulty keeps it quiet and unspoilt, a reward for those willing to make the descent.
FAQs
Which beach near Aberystwyth is easiest to reach?
Tan-y-Bwlch is the closest, sitting just across the harbour on the south side of Aberystwyth, about a mile and a half from the town centre and backed by the Wales Coast Path below Pen Dinas.
Are there sandy beaches with facilities near Aberystwyth?
Yes. Ynyslas, north of Aberystwyth on the Dyfi estuary, has a visitor centre with toilets among the dunes and firm tidal sands you can park on, while Penbryn to the south has a cafe near its car park.
Can you take dogs to the beaches around Aberystwyth?
Several welcome them. Llanrhystud, south of Aberystwyth, allows dogs all year, and Penbryn permits them off-season, so there are good options for a coastal walk with your dog.
Conclusion
From the shore just across the harbour to hidden coves a good drive down the coast, the beaches near Aberystwyth reward anyone willing to wander. Tan-y-Bwlch and Ynyslas lie close at hand, one wild below Pen Dinas, the other spread across estuary sands.
Southwards, Llanrhystud, Cei Bach, Cwm Silio, Penbryn and Traeth Gwrddon range from easy rural sands to steep concealed coves, while Benar draws you north into Gwynedd for a long walk behind the dunes. Some sit near the town, others ask for a proper journey along Cardigan Bay, but each offers space, quiet and a sense of the wilder Welsh coast.
Pack sturdy shoes, watch the tides, and take your time: these are the beaches to seek out near Aberystwyth.
