Beaches & swimming in GwyneddGwynedd, Wales

A wide dune-backed sand beach below Harlech Castle, part of the Morfa Harlech nature reserve.

A National Trust cove near Aberdaron whose dry sand squeaks underfoot when walked on.

A two-mile Blue Flag sand beach at the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary.

A sheltered sandy bay at the fishing village of Aberdaron at the tip of the Llŷn.

A sheltered sandy beach lined with beach huts, centre of Abersoch's sailing and watersports scene.

A broad sand beach near Porthmadog that cars are allowed to drive onto, backed by dunes.

Twin sand-and-shingle beaches either side of the castle headland at Criccieth.

A long pebble-and-sand beach south of Caernarfon below an Iron Age hillfort on an eroding headland.

A sheltered mile of sand backed by colourful beach huts below the Mynydd Tir-y-Cwmwd headland.

A remote sandy bay backed by crumbling cliffs south of Abersoch, reached by a field path.

A secluded cliff-backed cove near Rhiw on the south Llŷn, reached by a steep path past a waterfall.

A sheltered sandy bay by an old fishing hamlet on a National Trust headland, home to the Tŷ Coch Inn.

A tidal peninsula near Llanbedr with sweeping sands known for the variety of shells washed up.

A mile of pale remote sand on the north-west Llŷn coast near Llangwnnadl.