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Beaches in Mid Wales

Beaches in Mid Wales | Cardigan Bay and the Ceredigion Coast

The best beaches in Mid Wales

Mid Wales has some of the finest beaches in Britain, stretching from the wide sands of Barmouth in Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia) to the sheltered coves of the Ceredigion coast. Summer is when they come into their own, but even in spring and autumn you will often have long stretches of sand almost to yourself.

Barmouth

Barmouth has the big beach. A wide sweep of sand backed by dunes, with the Mawddach estuary on one side and Cardigan Bay on the other. It is the classic family beach: flat, sandy, shallow enough for paddling, with the town close by for ice cream and fish and chips. The beach has a Blue Flag award and lifeguard cover in summer. Walk south across the famous railway bridge for views up the estuary to Cader Idris.

Aberdyfi

Aberdyfi sits at the mouth of the Dyfi estuary in Southern Eryri. The beach is wide and sheltered, popular with families and sailors. The village itself has colourful houses along the waterfront, a sailing club, cafes and a championship golf course. It is quieter than Barmouth and feels like a well-kept secret.

Aberystwyth

Two beaches flank the Aberystwyth promenade, with the Victorian pier and Constitution Hill between them. North Beach is pebbly but dramatic, backed by the cliff railway. South Beach is sandier and better for families. The town is right there for shops, restaurants and the National Library. The seafront promenade is a proper old-fashioned seaside walk.

New Quay

New Quay is the place to combine beach time with dolphin watching. The harbour beach is sheltered and sandy, with clear water and bottlenose dolphins regularly spotted from the shore. Traeth Gwyn (New Quay beach) is a longer stretch south of the harbour. Dylan Thomas lived here and based Under Milk Wood on the town.

Llangrannog

Llangrannog is a small cove village on the Ceredigion coast. The beach sits between headlands, with rock pools at low tide and good surfing when the swell picks up. The Ceredigion Coast Path runs through the village, and the National Trust look after the headland walks. Ynys Lochtyn, the small headland south of the beach, is one of the most photographed spots on the Welsh coast.

Borth

Borth is a long village on a long beach. Three miles of sand and shingle, exposed to the Atlantic and popular with surfers. At very low tide, the stumps of a prehistoric submerged forest emerge from the sand, around 4,500 years old. Borth is also the gateway to the Dyfi National Nature Reserve and the RSPB Ynys-hir reserve.

Aberporth

Aberporth has two beaches divided by a headland. Both are sandy, sheltered and family-friendly, with rock pools and good swimming. The village is small and uncommercial, and the dolphin-watching from the headland between the beaches is excellent.

Practical information

Most Mid Wales beaches have free parking nearby, though some charge in peak summer. Lifeguard cover operates at Barmouth and Aberystwyth from late May to September. Dogs are restricted on some beaches in summer; check local signs. The Wales Coast Path connects most of these beaches if you fancy walking between them. Accommodation along the coast fills up fast in July and August, so book ahead if you want a sea view.

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Pen Cerrig-Calch Walk

Address

Brecon Beacons | Black Mountains, Powys

Telephone
01873 812105

Powys

Both this walk and the one following to Pen Allt-mawr are more demanding walks. Start the walk in the pay and display car park and follow the directions for getting up Table Mountain
Vintage Weekend | W&LLR

Address

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, The Station, Pool Road, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0SF

Telephone
01938 810441

info@wllr.org.uk

Pool Road, Llanfair Caereinion

Dates

From:

18 July 2026to19 July 2026

Great Western Pickering carriages, goods wagons, and Austrian heritage trains operating.
Dyfi Discovery Walk | Pennal Walk

Address

Pennal, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 9DR

Telephone
0300 065 3000

MACHYNLLETH

Start: Pennal village
Grid Reference: SH 699 004
Distance: 13.2km – 8.3 miles
Grade: Strenuous – A mountain walk, not to be undertaken in poor visibility
Maps: OS Explorer – OL 23
Usk Reservoir

Address

Nr Trecastle, Powys, LD3 8YF

Powys

The Usk Reservoir is a remote upland 280 acre reservoir surrounded by the Glasfynnedd Forest. Waymarked route around the reservoir for walking and cycling. Great for fishing and is one of the National Park's top ten sites for stargazing.
Presteigne | Tourist Information

Address

The Judge's Lodging, Broad Street, Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2AD

Telephone
01544 260650

presteignetic@powys.gov.uk

Presteigne

Presteigne has its own Tourist Information Centre, based in The Judge’s Lodging historic building. There is a large amount of local information available, stretching throughout Powys, going into Herefordshire and much of Shropshire.
South Clettwr Valley Walk

Address

Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 4DN

Telephone
01239 613230

cardigantic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Ceredigion

Part of Llandysul Trails - South Clettwr Valley Walk
Start: SN452425 - Car Park, Capel Dewi church hall
Suitable for: Moderately fit walkers
Grade: Easy
Distance: 4.8km/3M
Time: 2 hours (excluding rest stops)
New Quay Music Festival

Address

Parc Arthur, Mill Street, New Quay, Ceredigion, SA45 9QD

Telephone
01545 560688

info.nqmf@googlemail.com

New Quay

Dates

From:

31 July 2026to1 Aug 2026

New Quay Wales Music Festival is a local run music and arts festival taking place in the small fishing town of New Quay.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail

Address

Pembrokeshire, SA72 6DY

Telephone
0845 3457275

pcp@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail twists and turns its way through 186 miles of breathtaking coastal scenery in Wales.
Manorbier to Skrinkle Haven (3.22km / 2 miles) An exhilarating cliff top walk with outstanding views
Betsi Cadwaladr | Heritage Trail

Address

Station Road, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NG

Bala

A circular walk first through the town, over farmland and moorland to Llanycil returning along the lake and through the town with many stiles. The walk passes various locations associated with Betsi Cadwaladr.
Mynyddoedd Cambria | Pumlumon

Address

Cambrian Mountains, Devils Bridge, Ceredigion

Telephone
01974 282581

wynne@pumlumon.org.uk

Devils Bridge

Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Pumlumon, aptly named "five peaks," as it stands as the highest point of the Mynyddoedd Cambria, the magnificent Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales. This is a wild landscape on the eastern edge of Ceredigion.
Llanidloes

Address

Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6EQ

information@llanidloes.com

Llanidloes

Llanidloes is a small historic market town in Mid Wales; it is the first town along the River Severn.
Churchstoke and Priest Weston (Cycle Route)

Address

Trefaldwyn | Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6HN

Powys

A lovely cycle ride requiring 2 miles on main road at the beginning, after which you will be on beautiful, country lanes.
19.3 Miles ( 31KM) 2-2.5hours - Elevation Ascent: 427m
Tal-y-Bont Walk

Address

Talybont, Ceredigion, Ceredigion, SY24 5HE

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Ceredigion

Start: Tal-y-bont village green
Grid Reference: SN 654 891
Distance: 3.1 km – 1.9 miles
Grade: Easy/moderate
Terrain: Tarmac road and grassy tracks. Can be muddy
Maps: OS Explorer – 213
Cwm Byddog Nature Reserve

Address

Clyro, Hay-On-Wye, HR3 5SL

Telephone
01597 823298

info@rwtwales.org

Hay-On-Wye

Ancient trees of this age are one of the rarest habitats in Europe and the UK has a large proportion. They support a range of rare and declining species of epiphytes.
Clarach South Beach

Address

Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DL

Telephone
01970 612125

AberystwythTIC@Ceredigion.gov.uk

Aberystwyth

Clarach South beach lies about a mile along the Ceredigion Coast Path over Constitution Hill from Aberystwyth, or about three miles through a nature reserve and the village of Llangorwen.
St Michaels Church

Address

Discoed, Nr Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2NL

Telephone
01547 560246

davidhiam@aol.com

Nr Presteigne

Friends of St Michael's raise funds for the ancient church on the Welsh border near Presteigne. St Michael's in Discoed (Old English 'dic' and 'cot' a cottage by Offa’s Dyke) acts as a both a spiritual and artistic hub to the community.
Hafren Forest (NRW)

Address

Hafren Forest (NRW), Rhydybenwch Car Park, Old Hall, Near Llanidloes, SY18 6PT

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Old Hall, Near Llanidloes

Choice of walking trails along the River Severn which flows through Hafren Forest. Trails go to waterfalls and the source of the Severn on Pumlumon. Riverside accessible trail with viewing platform over cascades. Picnic area and toilets.
Barbecue Specials | Bala Lake Railway

Address

Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchlyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7DD

Telephone
01678 540666

enquiries@bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Bala

Dates

From:
6 Aug 2026
From:
13 Aug 2026
From:
20 Aug 2026

Enjoy scenic journeys along Bala Lake with grilled food and refreshments at the station — perfect for a summer outing with family or friends.
Coed Crafnant Reserve

Address

Llanbedr, Gwynedd, LL46 2YA

Telephone
01248 351541

info@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Gwynedd

This 120 acre reserve is a fine example of Ancient Woodland, with a rich flora of mosses, liverworts and ferns. The Coed Crafnant Reserve is comprised of two distinct woodlands; Coed Crafnant and Coed Dolbebin.
Talley Woodlands (NRW)

Address

Talley, near Llandovery, SA19 7AX

Telephone
0300 065 3000

near Llandovery

Talley Woodlands overlook an historic village and ruined abbey in Carmarthenshire, 12 miles from Llandovery. Picnic area and waymarked walking trails with steep climbs and far-reaching views over the abbey and surrounding hills