Conwy Morfa beach lies to the south of the River Conwy estuary and just a short drive from the pretty market town of Conwy. It is a wide bay with white sand, shingle, and marshland, and has fantastic views across to Puffin Island, the Great Orme peninsula, Anglesey, and West Shore beach in Llandudno. Behind the beach are sand dunes and the grassy slopes of Mynydd y Dref or the Conwy Mountains.
Families and friends will enjoy building sandcastles, playing games, and having a picnic on the beach, and as there are no dog restrictions, you’re welcome to bring your four-legged friend but please be sure to clean up any mess after you.
On calm days, the sea is safe for swimming and paddling but be aware there is no lifeguard cover and children should always be supervised.
For beach combers, Conwy Morfa is a good place to come to hunt for sea glass and pottery, although care should be taken as some of the pieces are sharp.
Adjacent to the beach is Conwy Marina, a busy 512-berth marina with lift-out facilities, engine servicing, boat repair, boat training, and brokerage. A watersports centre can be found on the marina with kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, and jet-skiing popular in the area.
There are good fishing opportunities in the marina with eels, whiting, rockling, bass, flounders, dabs, plaice, and catsharks all to be found in the surrounding water. Anglers have a choice of fishing off shingle, walls, or sand onto a mixed bottom.
Bring your binoculars and head to the sandbanks, mudflats, and mussel beds near the estuary which support a range of species including oystercatchers, dunlins, curlews, and redshanks. Other birds to look out for include choughs, jackdaws, ravens, and kestrels.
When the tide is out, it’s possible to walk along the shoreline to other beaches in Conwy Bay, but check tide times before you set off as the incoming tide can be fast and cut off the sandbanks along the coast.
Alternatively, take the Wales Coast Path through the dunes and scrubland at the back of the beach and onto Beacons Way before following the path through the marina. Cross the A55 North Wales Expressway and on to Marine Walk which passes through a woodland canopy. Continue until you go through an arch in Conwy’s famous town walls and arrive at Conwy Quay.
There are plenty of places to stop off for something to eat and drink at the Quay including The Liverpool Arms, the oldest pub in Conwy which has a large beer garden and stunning views across the waterfront and estuary. Next door is the Smallest House in Great Britain, also known as Quay House, which measures just 1.8 m wide and 3.1 m high.
At the southern end of the Quay is Conwy Castle, built by Edward I during his conquest of Wales. The fortress is well preserved and has the most intact set of medieval royal apartments in Wales. Climb the spiral staircases to the top of the towers to walk a complete circuit of the battlements and take in the amazing views over the town below and across to the Snowdonia mountains.
Next to the castle is Conwy Mussel Museum where you can learn about the history of Conwy’s mussel industry and pearl fishing heritage which dates back to the Romans. The museum is open from Easter to the beginning of September and has a shop which sells seafood.
From the Quay, you can either make your way back to the beach or cross over the suspension bridge and follow the coastal path all the way to Llandudno West Shore via Deganwy.
Overlooking Conwy Morfa beach is Conwy Golf Club, a championship links course originally laid out in 1869, making it the first golf course in Wales. The course is fairly flat but with some challenging holes, classic pot bunkers, and huge greens making it a testing course for golfers of all abilities.
Behind the beach is Aberconwy Resort & Spa, a holiday park with both static caravans and luxury holiday lodges. Facilities include a sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, gym, swimming pool, and restaurant and bar.
Conwy town centre has lots of shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as car parks and roadside parking. The nearest car park to the beach is just off the North Wales Expressway, where there are also public toilets and a beach café that is open in the summer.
