A hidden away town on a tiny peninsula, this idyllic chocolate-box town is easy to overlook as you explore your way around the North of Wales. A short journey outside of the borders of Snowdonia, you can find this picturesque location along the northern coast, with the adjacent golf course likely to be the first thing you will spot on maps. So what does Porthdinllaen have to offer? Well, whether you're interested in beach walks, coastal paths circling cliffs, quaint Welsh villages or a pint in the local this place will provide everything you need to the highest calibre. Even if you're just looking for a peaceful spot to watch the world go by, find a spot at the tip of the peninsula to look out over the ocean, and if you're lucky you may even get to spot something cute swimming in the waters; in order to get to that we need to do a little walking first...
Your journey will begin, or end depending on your outlook and how long you've been driving, at the National Trust owned and operated car park - with the typical free parking for card-carrying members. Even the views from the car-park are absolutely breathtaking, giving panoramic views all around the bay; little fishing vessels bob in the water as the waves gently lap against the golden sands. If you need a bite to eat or a drink there is a cafe directly opposite the car-park, otherwise, it is time to head onwards. The stairs wind down the hillside, roughly cut in but wide enough so as to feel safe and with plenty of room, at certain points, to pass one another; once at the bottom of the stairs, you will reach a slipway where there are some facilities if required. Once ready make your way down to the bottom of the slipway and head to your left to finally begin your walk around the gorgeous golden beaches.
Hopefully, you get to experience similar weather to what we had, with the sun beating down and the ocean practically a pond with nary a true wave to be seen. The bay offers excellent protection from the North Sea waves and the waters here are so calm, there were even people snorkelling! The beach gracefully curves as you follow the bay, with occasional rocky, muddy or partially flooded spots to offer a light challenge to progression. As you move onwards, keep monitoring the cliff-side as many a nesting bird can be seen zipping in and out, although they will be hard to miss considering the noise they make. En route you will find the occasional building, including the peculiar stilted building roughly halfway into the walk - keep making your way forwards and the town will quickly pop into view.
The town itself is lifted right off of a postcard or watercolour painting, built with its back to the cliffs and centred around the Tŷ Coch pub, it is the kind of town you picture when trying to imagine the perfect seaside town. Little back streets barely wide enough for a single car and terrace housing with front doors that open out to straight onto the sand, you will be hard-pressed to find a town closer to the sea. We didn't stop in the town itself for too long, as unfortunately the amazing weather meant it was absolutely heaving with people; if you are looking for somewhere to sit in the sunshine with a drink amongst friends, however, this may well be the perfect spot for you.
Our journey took us onwards to what we felt was the main attraction, but first was the coastal walk - an absolutely excellent little walk in its own regard and a great option to walk off any calories you just took in at the pub. Porthdinllaen has two routes that lead you to the tip of the peninsula, the lower walk along the base of the cliffs and the upper walk through the golf course. The upper walk is far more accessible if needed, but it is the lower walk that offers twisting paths, narrow rough-cut stairs and just an all-round fun little trek - not a massively challenging walk, but an exciting one nonetheless. I should mention that the lower walk had been closed prior to our arrival, with it reopening just a few days before we made the trip, I don't know how often this happens but just be aware you may be back-tracking if you get unlucky.
Once you reach the modern RNLI station, make your way up and along the edge of the cliff and find a spot overlooking the rocks out to sea, it is here where you can find the primary reason we came: seals! The tip of Porthdinllaen seems to be a favoured place for these cute creatures to drift in the currents and sun themselves on the rocks at low tide. Pick a nice spot, ideally with a packed lunch and watch them start to assemble as the tide drops. The number of seals can vary greatly depending on the time of year; with pups typically born in the winter, if you visit in early spring the little ones may be around. Eventually, I carefully made my way down the cliffside to the water's edge and the seals are incredibly inquisitive, with what appeared to be the same one or two seals constantly swimming back and forth to pose for photos. The visit was an incredible experience, and one I am eager to do again.
Continuing up the cliff and over the top, you come to NCI Porthdinllaen, a coast guard monitoring station. You're welcome to visit, all you need do is shout up first to save clashing with anyone trying to come down. From this tower, you will have perfect 360-degree views around the peninsula, and if you're lucky like we were you may even be able to say hello to the coast guard's four-legged friend. The person operating the station may give you a little bit of information about what has been happening in the local area, including wildlife activity, then once you have had enough of the views from the surrounding balcony you can make your way down and continue travelling onwards.
As mentioned previously, there are two routes that take you to the tip of the peninsula and on our return journey we opted to take the upper route back to the town. Being up this high offers stunning views of the beaches and of course the town itself, so if I was to recommend the best way to walk here I would absolutely follow the lower path out to the tip of the peninsula and then follow the upper path along the golf course back. We did eventually cut back down the road into the town so we could enjoy those gorgeous beaches one last time, before making our way home.
This picture-perfect spot along the North Wales coast is an absolute gem of a find, with stunning views, perfect beaches and a quaint little town in the middle it has a bit of everything you could want from a day out in Wales. Our trip was absolutely improved by perfect weather but I think at all times of the year and in most conditions, you will totally love visiting this unique spot. Pack a lunch, and find somewhere to watch the seals, take a beach towel and sun beside the gently rolling waves, take on the full perimeter walk along the cliffs and beyond or find a spot in the pub for a tipple; whatever you want out of a day you can find it at Porthdinllaen.
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