Perevor Favourites | Newborough Beach & Llanddwyn Island

Exploring Newborough Beach & Llanddwyn Island — Anglesey’s Wild Heart

If there’s one place in Wales that manages to feel both familiar and otherworldly, it’s Newborough Beach and Forest on Anglesey. It’s the kind of spot you return to again and again — wide open skies, salt air, and miles of forest tracks leading you out to the sea. Its one of my favourite places anywhere & we visit again and again. The mountains fall into the sea and it just takes my breath away every time.

The drive in through Newborough Forest already sets the tone. Tall Corsican pines line the road, and red squirrels can be found in the reserve for the eagle eyed. There’s a big car park near the beach entrance (pay and display, card accepted) but expect to queue at the weekend or on a bank holiday. The parking is easy wide bays with great toilets, outdoor showers and boardwalk access straight onto the sand. In high season there are often ice cream and burger vans. From the boardwalk, you can head left towards Malltraeth Bay, or right for the main walk to Llanddwyn Island — and that’s where the real magic happens.

Getting to Llanddwyn Island safely:

The island is actually a tidal peninsula, so timing matters. You can cross about two hours either side of low tide, which gives plenty of time to explore and return before the water comes in. The sand flats can flood quickly, so always check tide times for Caernarfon Bar before you set off (listed on the main noticeboard by the car park). Good walking shoes or waterproof boots help — the approach can be soft underfoot or damp after rain. We have been know to have to scamper back knee deep with boots in one hand and a toddler piggy back because we mistimed the tide!

Once across, you’ll find a small maze of footpaths leading to landmarks that feel straight out of a film set — and in fact, they are.

• Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse: The squat, white lighthouse at the western tip, built in 1845, overlooks the Menai Strait with Snowdonia in the distance.

• Tŵr Bach Lighthouse: Its smaller, older neighbour — easy to miss, but worth the detour.

• The Pilot’s Cottages: Preserved 19th-century dwellings once home to the local lighthouse keepers.

• St Dwynwen’s Church ruins: Dedicated to the Welsh patron saint of lovers — it’s said that if the holy well nearby bubbles while you’re watching, love will be kind to you.

The entire area was the backdrop for the BBC’s The 1900 Island, a series recreating the lives of Welsh fishing families from a century ago. Though it’s no longer on iPlayer, a few clips on the BBC website still capture how wild and beautiful this coastline is — the same wind, light, and sea that you’ll experience walking there today.

Finish your walk by looping back through the forest — the Dune Trail or Saint Dwynwen Trail are both well-marked — and if you’ve packed a flask or picnic, the sheltered dunes make the perfect spot to sit and take it all in.

For me, nowhere else captures Wales quite like this: ancient, rugged, peaceful, and alive with stories.

🌿 Weekend Guide: Newborough Beach & Llanddwyn Island

Location: Newborough, Anglesey, North Wales
Best for: Wild walks, coastal views, forest trails, tide-timed adventure
Perfect for: Families, couples, and anyone who needs a reset in nature

Getting There

Newborough is on the south-west corner of Anglesey, around 30 minutes from the Britannia Bridge. Follow signs for Newborough Forest / Llanddwyn Island. There’s a large pay-and-display car park at the end of the forest road (card accepted). Toilets and picnic benches are available year-round.

The Route

1. Start at the Forest Car Park – walk through the pines onto the beach.

2. Turn right and follow the shoreline for about 1.5 miles towards Llanddwyn Island. You'll be able to see it with the curve of the bay

3. Check the tides before you go. The island is accessible about two hours before and after low tide — check “Caernarfon Bar” tides online or on the board near the car park.

4. Once across, follow sandy paths to explore:

   •  Pilot’s Cottages & Cove – beautifully preserved 19th-century homes & the perfect picnic bay on the sheltered side.

   •  St Dwynwen’s Church ruins – dedicated to the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

   •  Tŵr Mawr & Tŵr Bach Lighthouses – two striking landmarks with sweeping views of Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula.

The circular route via the Saint Dwynwen Trail (around 4 miles) takes you back through dunes and forest — ideal for a calm, unhurried finish.

What to Pack

• Waterproof boots or sturdy trainers (soft sand and tidal flats) 
• Windproof jacket (the headland catches the breeze)
• Hot drink or picnic – the dunes make perfect shelter
• Compact camera or phone for the views
• Reusable bottle or travel cup – of course 
• Quick dry towel for when someone decides to paddle!

Dont forget to share your #LivePerevor afternoon when you go - we can't wait to see! 

Pocket glossary of the Welsh names you will meet on your trip:

Dogs at Newborough Beach & Llanddwyn Island

✅ Allowed:
Dogs are welcome all year round in most areas of Newborough Forest and the main beach.

🚫 Seasonal restriction (1 May – 30 September):
Between Cwningar car park and Llanddwyn Island, there’s a dog restriction zone during the summer to protect wildlife — mainly ground-nesting birds in the dunes. Signs clearly mark the start and end of this section.

You can still enjoy the forest trails, the beach west of the restricted area, and the access route towards Malltraeth Bay, all of which remain dog-friendly year-round.

🐕 On Llanddwyn Island itself:
Dogs are allowed on leads only (all year). It’s a sensitive wildlife area and home to rare seabirds and nesting species, so keeping dogs close protects both wildlife and paws — there are sharp shells and rabbit burrows all over the dunes.

 

| One of my favourite images of Seb - taken in 2014