Itinerary Planner

Family Beach Week in Mid Wales | Five Days of Sand and Steam Trains

Five days on the Cardigan Bay coast for families, from the long sands of Barmouth in Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia) south to the coves of Ceredigion. Each day has a beach and one other trip, usually a narrow gauge railway, and the drives are short. The best months are May to September, and the beaches are good in any season for a blowy walk.

Day one: Barmouth and Fairbourne

Barmouth beach is wide, sandy and shelves gently. Walk across the railway bridge over the Mawddach estuary for the view up to Cadair Idris, then catch the little ferry across the river mouth (in season) to the Fairbourne Railway, a miniature railway that runs along the sand spit.

Day two: Talyllyn Railway and Tywyn

Drive south to Tywyn and ride the Talyllyn Railway inland to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol, stopping at Dolgoch Falls for the short woodland walk to the waterfall. Afternoon on Tywyn beach, which is long, sandy and quiet.

Day three: Aberdyfi and Borth

Aberdyfi has a sandy beach with dunes and a small harbour where children go crabbing off the jetty. Drive round the estuary to Borth for more sand, and The Animalarium, where children can pet and feed animals.

Day four: Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge

In Aberystwyth, walk the promenade and take the Vale of Rheidol steam railway to Devil's Bridge for the waterfalls and the three bridges over the gorge. It's about an hour each way.

Day five: New Quay and Llangrannog

Take a boat trip from New Quay to look for bottlenose dolphins, then spend the afternoon at Llangrannog, a sandy cove between cliffs with rock pools at low tide.

Good to know

• Check tide times, and swim between the red and yellow flags at beaches with lifeguards in summer.
• Railways and boat trips run seasonal timetables. Book ahead in the school holidays.
• See our beaches page.