Stroll through Corsican pines, with red squirrels scurrying up trees and the sea shimmering in the distance, you could forgive yourself for thinking you were somewhere on the west coast of the USA. As you walk on, the wide open sandy beach unveils itself in front of your eyes while the towering mountains of Eryri can be seen in the distance, taking your breath away.
This corner of Wales is a natural treasure trove, where you might spot ospreys hunting for fish, wild ponies grazing on expansive dunes which can shift almost before your very eyes. Newborough forest opens up on to Traeth Llanddwyn, which is dog-friendly. And then there’s Ynys Llanddwyn, impossibly beautiful and romantic and the focus of many photographers trying to capture its beauty. No wonder a recent visitor described this place as the “stuff of dreams”. You can find our pick of the 40 best beaches in Wales here.
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Newborough’s woods, beach and warren combine to form a package that most find irresistible, North Wales Live reports. “What a wonderful place!” said a visiting 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. 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 dunes, 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.
“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 charge for entry, while 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.
Given the area’s shifting sands, ongoing management is needed. Natural Resources Wales is developing a new “Newborough People Plan” and it is currently asking residents and visitors to help shape it.
“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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