Top Beaches Day Trips from Aberystwyth
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Beaches Day Trips from Aberystwyth include 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, a lively university and seaside town looking out over Cardigan Bay. Its own seafront is a fine place to start, but the wider stretch of coast either side rewards anyone willing to travel a little further for the day.
Right on the doorstep, Tan Y Bwlch lies just across the harbour beneath the hillfort of Pen Dinas. Head north and you reach the dunes of Ynyslas on the Dyfi estuary, and, further still into Gwynedd, the wide sands of Benar near Dyffryn Ardudwy.
Turn south instead and a string of quieter shores unfolds: rural Llanrhystud, sheltered Cei Bach and the hidden cove of Cwm Silio around New Quay, the National Trust sweep of Penbryn, and the tucked-away Traeth Gwrddon between Aberporth and Mwnt. Some are an easy hop from town; others are a proper day-trip drive along the bay.
Whether you fancy dune walks, seal-spotting or a long empty strand to yourself, there is plenty within reach. Here are eight beaches for a day trip from Aberystwyth.
Tan Y Bwlch Beach
Photo: Mr Ignavy via Geograph.org.uk
Discover Tan Y Bwlch Beach Just across the harbour and the mouth of the River Ystwyth, this shore of coarse sand and pebbles sits on the south side of town, below the Iron Age hillfort of Pen Dinas with its column-shaped monument crowning the top. A steep storm bank of pebbles backs the beach, which forms part of a local nature reserve.
The Wales Coast Path runs along the rear, and a climb up Pen Dinas rewards you with wide views over town and bay. Wilder and quieter than the main seafront, it has no lifeguard and a sea that can turn rough, so take care.
Ynyslas Beach
Photo: Fabian Musto via Geograph.org.uk
Visit Ynyslas Beach A short drive north brings you to this sandy beach on the south side of the Dyfi estuary, just above Borth and backed by the largest dune system in Ceredigion. The dunes, mudflats and nearby bog form the Dyfi National Nature Reserve, run by Natural Resources Wales, with a visitor centre and toilets tucked among the dunes.
Cars can drive onto and park on the firm tidal sands, which flood at high tide, while waymarked trails thread through orchid-rich dunes. Aberdyfi village sits across the water, and at low tide a submerged prehistoric forest emerges on the sands at neighbouring Borth.
Llanrhystud Beach
Photo: Sandy Gerrard via Geograph.org.uk
Explore Llanrhystud Beach Heading south along Cardigan Bay, this rural beach of sand and pebbles lies on the coast at Llanrhystud, on the south side of the Afon Wyre where the river meets the sea. A long pebble bank backs the sand that appears at low tide, with rockier ground to the north and rolling fields and countryside behind.
It stays quiet and undeveloped, with a small free car park close to the shore and a handful of shops and cafes in the village. Dogs are welcome here all year round, making it an easy, unfussy spot for a relaxed coastal day.
Cei Bach Beach
Photo: Jeremy Bolwell via Geograph.org.uk
Seek out Cei Bach Beach A little further round the coast from New Quay, Cei Bach is a peaceful beach of sand and shingle on Cardigan Bay. Low groynes break up the shore, and the wooded coast path runs along the slope above.
Sheltered beyond Llanina Point, it sits well away from the busier town beaches, so it tends to stay calm and uncrowded. When the tide draws back, the sand opens out toward the neighbouring stretch of Traeth Gwyn.
It is a gentle, unhurried spot, ideal for a quiet paddle or a wander along the shoreline away from the crowds.
Cwm Silio Beach
Photo: Eirian Evans via Geograph.org.uk
Find Cwm Silio Beach Also known as Traeth Soden, this small, secluded cove of pebble and sand lies on the Ceredigion coast between Cwmtydu and New Quay. No road reaches it; instead you walk in on foot, following a wooded valley path of around twenty minutes down alongside a stream, past small waterfalls and footbridges.
Rocky cliffs frame the cove, and seals are often spotted just offshore. With nothing built on it, this is a genuinely quiet corner of the coast, well worth the effort of the descent for anyone happy to swap easy access for solitude and unspoilt surroundings.
Benar Beach
Photo: David Medcalf via Geograph.org.uk
Discover Benar Beach A longer day-trip drive north into Gwynedd leads to this long, quiet strand of clean sand near Tal-y-bont and Dyffryn Ardudwy. It runs for a good distance, wide and open, backed by the great dunes of Morfa Dyffryn, a national nature reserve where marram-covered ridges shift and roll behind the shore.
Undeveloped and often empty, it suits a long walk with the sea on one side and dunes on the other, and the hills of Snowdonia rising inland. Wildflowers, including orchids, grow among the dunes in summer, and seabirds work the tideline.
It faces west into the bay, open to the weather.
Penbryn Beach
Photo: Anthony Parkes via Geograph.org.uk
Visit Penbryn Beach Owned by the National Trust and reached through a wooded valley, Penbryn is a long, secluded sweep of sand on the Ceredigion coast of Cardigan Bay. From the car park a quarter-mile lane leads down to the shore, or you can take a steeper woodland path with steps.
At low tide almost a mile of sand opens up below low cliffs and dunes, perfect for walks, swimming and quiet. A cafe sits near the car park, and the Wales Coast Path runs along the top of the cliffs.
Dogs are allowed off-season, so it makes a fine year-round destination.
Traeth Gwrddon Beach
Photo: Richard Law via Geograph.org.uk
Seek out Traeth Gwrddon Beach Tucked at the foot of a steep green valley between Aberporth and Mwnt, Traeth Gwrddon is a tiny, secluded cove on the Cardigan Bay coast. A small patch of golden sand appears among the rocks at low tide, backed by a stream with little waterfalls and the worn remains of old stone steps, largely swallowed as the tide climbs.
The way down is steep and rough, a route for the fit and sure-footed, with no facilities and no lifeguard. That very difficulty keeps it quiet and unspoilt, a rewarding little beach for those willing to make the descent.
FAQs
Which beach is closest to Aberystwyth?
Tan Y Bwlch is the nearest, lying just 1.5km from the centre of Aberystwyth on the south side of the harbour, below the Pen Dinas hillfort. It is an easy walk or short drive from town.
Are these beaches good for families?
Several suit families well. Ynyslas, north of Aberystwyth on the Dyfi estuary, has a visitor centre, toilets and firm sands you can drive onto, while Penbryn offers a cafe and gently shelving sand. Note that the wilder coves have no lifeguard.
Can I bring my dog to the beaches near Aberystwyth?
Yes, at several. Llanrhystud, south of Aberystwyth, allows dogs all year round, and Penbryn permits them off-season. Always check local signs before you visit, as rules can vary by beach and time of year.
Conclusion
From the pebbles of Tan Y Bwlch beneath Pen Dinas to the far cove of Traeth Gwrddon, this stretch of Cardigan Bay offers a real mix of shores within a day's reach of town. Northwards you have the great dune systems of Ynyslas and Benar, ideal for long, breezy walks; southwards the coast folds into sheltered coves and quiet strands like Cei Bach, Cwm Silio and Penbryn, several of them undeveloped and blissfully calm.
Some beaches sit just minutes from the seafront, while others ask for a longer drive and, in places, a steep walk down. Take note of tides and the lack of lifeguards on the wilder shores, pack a picnic and pick your direction.
Whether you head north or south, these are the beaches for a day trip from Aberystwyth.
