As you stroll through Corsican pines, with red squirrels scurrying up trees and the sea shimmering in the distance, more wonders await. Unfolding below is a wide open sandy beach and, in the distance, the towering mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). It can take your breath away.
This corner of Anglesey is a natural treasure trove. Here you might spot ospreys hunting for fish and wild ponies grazing on expansive dunes. Here, the sand can shift almost before your eyes.
The vast beach is dog-friendly and forest pools harbour all kinds of wildlife – some more alluring than others. And then there’s Ynys Llanddwyn, impossibly beautiful and romantic. No wonder a recent visitor described this place as the “stuff of dreams”.
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Newborough’s woods, beach and warren combine to form a package that most find irresistible. “What a wonderful place!” said a visting Essex family. “Pine trees, nature reserve, dunes and a beautiful sandy, shallow beach.”
Charlotte, from Herefordshire, went further. “The beach is gorgeous and the water is clear. Probably one of the best beaches in the UK, and the forest was lovely too.”
Except for its forest, the whole area is a National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). The forest itself has a network of footpaths and marked trails. There are also two cycle routes and a trim trail for the fitness-minded.
Llyn Parc Mawr is a good spot for catching red squirrels, and the Cefni estuary for spotting ospreys. On the Warren dune system, the views and wildflowers are spectacular.
The reserve and forest have no fewer than seven car parks. Some are a good walk from the coast and, inevitably, many people gravitate towards the beach car park, which can get busy. It pays to arrive early here – and there may be queues to get out later in the day.
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“The facilities are excellent with plenty of parking, clean toilets, and outside shower,” said one Tripadvisor reviewer. “Spend the day here, take a picnic, relax, paddle, swim and explore. Fantastic for all the family.”
The beach car park is one of three that charges for entry, along with Airman’s and Cwningar. The other four are free. An ANPR camera captures number plates and visitors pay by card or cash on departure (£2 for two hours and 40p for every extra 20 minutes, £7 maximum per day).
From the beach car park, a 53-metre wheelchair-accessible boardwalk links to a viewing platform over the dunes. Often this is covered with sand, especially after bad weather.
“We use a mini-digger to clear the boardwalk,” said NRW. “But it can soon be re-covered with sand, even within the same day.”
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Given the area’s shifting sands, ongoing management is needed. NRW is developing a new “Newborough People Plan” and it is currently asking residents and visitors to help shape it.
Next week, public engagement sessions, to share ideas, are being held at the Prichard Jones Institute, Newborough, LL61 6SY. NRW staff will be on-hand to discuss how site can be managed responsibly while meeting the needs of its users. No booking is necessary. The dates are:
- Monday, May 22: 11am-3pm.
- Tuesday, May 23: 9.30am-3pm.
- Wednesday, May 24: 3pm-7pm.
- Thursday, May 25: 11am-7pm.
- Friday, May 26: 10am-2pm.
Justin Hanson, of NRW said the new plan will develop specific proposals for each aspect of the site. These will complement each other to form cohesive overall goals.
“We know how popular the site is with residents and visitors, and people are just as important as nature and woodland at Newborough,” he said. “Understanding how they use the site is a significant part of knowing how to manage this dynamic and changing place in the face of the nature and climate emergencies.”
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