Best Beaches Near Bangor
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best beaches near Bangor are Traeth Llanddona, Traeth Coch Pentraeth, Traeth Gwyn, Traeth Bychan, Traeth Nant Bychan Beach, Llanddwyn Beach, Deganwy Beach and Dinas Dinlle Beach.
Bangor sits on the mainland shore of the Menai Strait, a short hop from Anglesey and its long, sandy coast. Cross to the island and head for the east coast, where the wide tidal flats of Red Wharf Bay hold two fine beaches: Traeth Llanddona at its eastern end and Traeth Coch at Pentraeth.
Nearby, the pale pebbles of Traeth Gwyn shelve steeply below the cliffs toward Penmon. Further up the coast between Benllech and Moelfre lie the sheltered sands of Traeth Bychan and the little cove of Traeth Nant Bychan.
Round on the south-west of Anglesey, Llanddwyn runs for miles below Newborough Forest and its great dunes. Back on the mainland, Deganwy looks across the Conwy estuary to the castle, a short drive east, while to the south, past Caernarfon, Dinas Dinlle spreads its sand and pebbles below an Iron Age fort.
Whether you fancy vast flats or a quiet cove, there is plenty here. Here are eight beaches to seek out near Bangor.
Traeth Llanddona
Photo: Eirian Evans via Geograph.org.uk
Traeth Llanddona When the tide pulls back, a vast sweep of firm sand opens out at the eastern end of Red Wharf Bay, backed by dunes and roomy enough for walking, kite-flying, windsurfing and kayaking. The catch is the water itself, which floods in fast across the flat bay and needs watching.
The beach lies below the village of Llanddona on the east coast of Anglesey, within the island's area of outstanding natural beauty. A steep, narrow road drops to a car park with toilets, a cafe and a shop.
Dogs are kept off part of the sand during the summer months.
Traeth Coch Pentraeth
Photo: Eric Jones via Geograph.org.uk
Traeth Coch Pentraeth lays bare some ten square miles of sand at low tide, a vast tidal bay on the east coast of Anglesey near the village of Pentraeth, known in English as Red Wharf Bay. Walkers and birdwatchers spread out across the flats, which come alive with oystercatchers, curlews and, in winter, geese; cockles are still gathered here.
The catch is the tide, which sweeps back in fast over the near-level sand, so keep half an eye on the water. Two pubs sit along the shore, and the coast path curves around the bay toward Benllech and Penmon.
Traeth Gwyn
Photo: Eric Jones via Geograph.org.uk
Traeth Gwyn, or White Beach, is a secluded, steeply shelving beach of pale pebbles backed by cliffs on the east coast of Anglesey, near Llanddona on the northern side of Red Wharf Bay toward Penmon Point. Clear water and a quiet setting suit sea angling, kayaking and a careful swim, though it shelves steeply and has currents.
You reach it down a long single-track lane to a tiny clifftop parking spot, then a steep flight of steps, and there are no facilities, which keeps it little visited. Do not confuse it with the Traeth Gwyn at New Quay in Ceredigion, which shares the name.
Traeth Bychan
Photo: Chris Andrews via Geograph.org.uk
Traeth Bychan is a small, sheltered bay of mixed sand, gravel and pebble between Benllech and Moelfre on the east coast of Anglesey. A slipway makes it a base for sailing, kayaks and jet skis, home to a long-established watersports club, and the sands open up at low tide alongside the coast path.
A caravan park, a cafe and parking sit behind. It also has a place in history: in 1939 the wrecked submarine Thetis, lost in a diving trial in Liverpool Bay with heavy loss of life, was raised and beached here for salvage.
Traeth Nant Bychan Beach
Photo: Anthony Parkes via Geograph.org.uk
Traeth Nant Bychan Beach sits just south of Moelfre on the east coast of Anglesey, below Nant Bychan Farm. It is a small cove of mixed sand and shingle with rocky outcrops and rock pools, quiet and free of any development on the shore itself.
The campsite on the headland above is how most people find their way down to it. It is a separate beach from the larger Traeth Bychan a little further along the coast toward Benllech.
Llanddwyn Beach
Photo: Bob Shires via Geograph.org.uk
Llanddwyn Beach, also called Newborough Beach, is a long sweep of sand running about three and a half miles along Llanddwyn Bay on Anglesey. It stretches from the tidal island of Ynys Llanddwyn at its western end toward Abermenai Point, backed by Newborough Forest, a conifer plantation begun in 1947, and the vast dunes of Newborough Warren, among the largest in Britain.
The flat, gently shelving sand forms part of a national nature reserve. A toll road and a large car park lead to it, and forest paths give views across to the mountains of Snowdonia.
Deganwy Beach
Photo: Ceri Thomas via Geograph.org.uk
Deganwy Beach Look out from the shingle here and Conwy Castle sits across the estuary, with the Great Orme rising beyond and Anglesey away in the distance. Behind the town, on its own hill, stand the ruins of Deganwy Castle.
The beach itself runs long beside the Conwy estuary at Deganwy in north Wales, a mix of sand and shingle where the coarser stones at the top give way to firmer sand as you near the water. A low sea wall and promenade edge the shore, close by a modern marina.
The outlook is very much the reason to come.
Dinas Dinlle Beach
Photo: David Medcalf via Geograph.org.uk
Dinas Dinlle Beach is a long beach of sand and pebbles on the coast south-west of Caernarfon, a moderate drive from Bangor. A low grassy hill carrying an Iron Age fort backs the shore, with pebble banks along the top and wide sand opening out toward the sea, and views reach across to the Llyn Peninsula.
The fort on its hillock is slowly eroding into the waves, though its ramparts are still clear on the ground. A car park and steps give onto the beach and up to the ramparts.
FAQs
Which beach near Bangor has the biggest sands?
Red Wharf Bay, or Traeth Coch, near Pentraeth on Anglesey uncovers some ten square miles of sand at low tide, one of the largest expanses within easy reach of Bangor.
Are the beaches near Bangor safe for swimming?
Take care with the tides. The flats at Red Wharf Bay and Traeth Llanddona on Anglesey fill fast, and Traeth Gwyn shelves steeply with currents, so watch the water closely near Bangor's Anglesey shores.
How far is Llanddwyn Beach from Bangor?
Llanddwyn, also known as Newborough Beach, lies on the south-west of Anglesey about twenty kilometres from Bangor, reached by a toll road with a large car park and forest paths.
Conclusion
With Anglesey just over the Menai Strait, Bangor makes a fine base for a run of very different beaches. On the island's east coast, Traeth Llanddona and Traeth Coch spread their vast sands across Red Wharf Bay, while Traeth Gwyn, Traeth Bychan and Traeth Nant Bychan offer quieter coves toward Penmon and Moelfre.
Away to the south-west, Llanddwyn stretches for miles below Newborough Forest and its dunes. Back on the mainland, Deganwy gazes across the Conwy estuary to the castle, and Dinas Dinlle lies beneath its old hillfort past Caernarfon.
From huge tidal flats to sheltered rock-pool nooks, there is a beach here for every mood. Watch the fast Anglesey tides, bring stout shoes for the steeper paths, and these are the beaches to seek out near Bangor.
