Aberystwyth is an iconic seaside town to visit in Mid-Wales with no fewer than two beaches right along the promenade in the town itself, known as Aberystwyth North Beach and Aberystwyth South Beach.
Whilst it's nice to have these beaches right on your doorstep, having spent a lot of time in Aberystwyth myself, I can't legitimately say they are the nicest beaches in the area.
But, never fear! Just a stone's throw from Aberystwyth are some far better family-friendly beaches with golden sand, dunes, and safe water for swimming as I'll share in this guide.
Note: #5 and #6 are the very best ones, although they are a little further away.
1. Tan-y-Bwlch Beach
Just outside of Aberystwyth, you'll find Tan-y-Bwlch Beach, you can see the town in the background in the image above. This is a long stretch of beach made from pebbles, grainy sand and boulders running from the stone jetty to Allt Wen.
Tan-y-Bwlch Beach doesn't have any facilities such as toilets, nor is it patrolled by lifeguards. However, you can still swim here if you are vigilant. The beach is free of charge year-round.
You could walk here from Aberystwyth town centre or there is a small car park at the beach (which is in oretty bad shape). It's not the easiest beach to reach as you'll need to climb up a short bank made up of loose pebbles, so it's not suitable for those in wheelchairs or using pushchairs.
Are dogs allowed? Dogs are allowed on Tan Y Bwlch beach all year round.
2. Borth Beach
Just 7 miles north of Aberystwyth, you'll find the small seaside village of Borth, which takes about 15 minutes or so by car. Borth Beach runs alongside the town and stretches for miles along the coast. The beach is made up of pebbles and some patches of sand.
There is a pay-and-display car park right near the beach which has a short slipway over the pebbles to the sandy areas although many people tend to park along the roadside which is free.
You can also walk here along the Wales Coastal Path which takes around 3 hours each way. It's one of my favourite stretches of the path, although I tend to take the train back afterwards rather than walking both ways.
As the beach runs alongside the town, there are plenty of facilities for people to enjoy all the way along, including amusement arcades, local cafés, newsagents, public toilets, pubs and even an animalarium! This beach is also patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months.
Are dogs allowed? Dogs are not allowed on Borth beach between 1st May to 30th September which coincides with the main holiday season for the area. Although dogs are welcome on the beach for the rest of the year.
3. Ynyslas Beach
Just 1.5 miles further north of Borth, you'll find Ynyslas, a small village that's home to a cluster of residential properties and several popular caravan parks as well as it's own beach. It takes about 25 minutes to drive here from Aberystwyth.
Ynyslas is a firm favourite among holidaymakers in the summertime so accommodation gets booked up quickly! Ynyslas has a fantastic beach, which is mostly made up of long stretches of golden sand, with a few pebbly/rocky areas. It is possible to walk from Borth Beach to Ynyslas when the tide is low enough.
The beach is completely flat and is even firm enough to drive on. You can choose to park on the sand, but take extreme care not to get caught out by the tide. There are plenty of locals who use Ynyslas, and on occasion, Natural Resources Wales officers will be patrolling the area to give out advice.
There is no entrance fee to Ynyslas beach during autumn and winter, however, during spring and summer, there will be a charge of £2 for car parking.
There are minimal facilities at Ynyslas Beach, with there only being one set of toilets in the visitor centre, which is located around 10 minutes’ walk away from the car park. In the height of summer, there’s normally an ice cream van parked in the car park, but no official cafés or restaurants.
Are dogs allowed? Yes, dogs are allowed on Ynyslas beach all year round although there will be occasions when sections are cordoned off because of nesting birds.
4. Llanrhystud Beach
Now let's consider the beaches near Aberystwyth in the other direction. Llanrhystud is the first small village to the south of Aberystwyth, taking about 20 minutes to reach by car.
The beach at Llanrhystud is not the most popular in the Ceredigion area and is mainly used by locals rather than tourists. It's a free beach but it's very similar to those in Aberystwyth, mostly pebbles with patches of sand when there is a low tide. There's free parking with space for about 15 cars.
Llanrhystud beach is flat but made up of pebbles so access with a pushchair or wheelchair will be difficult. At low tide, it is possible to walk along the sand.
Except for car parking, there are no other facilities available at Llanrhystud beach. The nearest available toilets are at the Texaco garage opposite where you turn to access the beach. In the village, is a pub and small shop (you will pass these as you go through the village).
Are dogs allowed? Yes, dogs are allowed on Llanrhystud beach all year round.
5. Llangranog Beach
Llangranog is a small village approximately 30 miles south of Aberystwyth and is best accessed via car journey which will take you about 50 minutes.
This area is home to a cluster of residential properties and a few tourist attractions including the Internal Museum of Firepower, and the Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Wales League of Youth), which offers a range of sports and leisure facilities such as a dry ski slope and a swimming pool.
However, it's best known for Llangranog Beach, a beautiful little sandy beach that's one of the few in Ceredigion to have a Blue Flag Award, recognising it's cleanliness, safety, and sustainabiloty.
There is parking at the beach (although it's paid and has limited spaces) as well as facilities including toilets, cafés and pubs all in close proximity.
Are dogs allowed? Dog restrictions are in place on Llangranod beach between May and September, although dogs are welcome during the off-season.
6. Mwnt Beach
The final beach I recommend near Aberystwyth is Mwnt Beach. This is one of my favourite beaches in Mid-Wales, although it's quite a bit further than the others on this list.
Mwnt is 39 miles south of Aberystwyth so it's not as close as the others I've recommended, so expect it to take you just over an hour, even on a good day.
When you arrive in Mwnt, to get to the beach requires you to take a single-track road to the beach, however, there are passing points available should you meet any traffic.
The beach is in a hidden cove and very few tourists come here so it's still a bit of a gem. It's managed by National Trust so it's kept in good condition. There is no charge to use Mwnt Beach and facilities available include toilets and a kiosk selling ice creams.
Keep in mind that there is a 10-minute walk from the car park to the beach itself. Although this is along a tarmac path so it's perfectly suitable for those using pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Are dogs allowed? Mwnt beach has dog restrictions between May and September which is peak tourist season, although four-legged friends are welcome throughout the remainder of the year.
Published: 22 May 2022 · Last updated: 12 October 2023