Llandudno is a popular coastal town and the largest seaside resort in Wales. Llandudno North Shore beach, also known as Llandudno Beach, is the larger of the town’s two beaches, and, as the name suggests lies on the north side of the town between two headlands: Great Orme and Little Orme.
The beach is a wide, sweeping curve of mainly shingle and pebbles with some sandy patches and rock pools exposed at low tide. In 2014, 50,000 tonnes of rock were dumped on the beach in a controversial project to shore up flood defences. A promenade runs along the back of the beach with a small strip of garden separating it from the road, on which are elegant white hotels and guesthouses.
There are plenty of things to do on the beach and it’s an ideal location for a family day out. Children will enjoy building sandcastles and paddling in the sea. Pack a picnic and some beach games, or hire a deckchair and settle down with a good book, but please note if you want to bring your dog, there are seasonal restrictions.
Although there is an RNLI lifeboat station located on North Shore beach, there is no lifeguard cover, and care should be taken when swimming as the rocks are covered in algae and jellyfish wash up at certain times of the year. Look out for the zoned areas indicating areas for swimmers, power boats, and windsurfing and sailing. In recent years levels of bacteria in the water were found to be high and warning signs were erected to warn people that swimming was unsafe.
At 700 m long, Llandudno pier, opened in 1877, is the longest in Wales. It’s constructed from wrought iron lattice girdles resting on cast iron columns and is finished with wooden decking. Walk to the end of the pier to be rewarded with spectacular views of Llandudno Bay and, on a clear day, the Snowdonia mountains.
The pier has two amusement arcades – Leisure Island at the entrance of the pier, and The Deck housed in the original Victorian bandstand at the pier head half a mile out to sea – offering both modern and classic games. Try your luck at two pence pushers, grabbers, coconut shies, or space invaders shooters.
There are also fairground rides including a big wheel which stands over 21 m tall and at night lights up with over 10,000 lights.
Fishing is allowed from the landing stage at the end of the pier with daily rates and season tickets available. Due to its length, anglers can access deep water and catsharks, pollock, cod, dabs, bass, mackerel, and rays are just some of the species that can be caught.
A fish and chip shop, ice cream parlour, coffee shop, and bar, as well as a rock shop selling fudge, toffee, lollipops, shortbread, and novelty rock can all be found on the pier. There are also a few shops selling souvenirs and gifts.
Head to the promenade for Britain’s oldest Punch and Judy show performed by the 5th generation of the family who set it up in 1860. Using the original hand-carved puppets made from driftwood from the beach expect plenty of slapstick fun and nostalgia.
Boat trips run from the jetty on the promenade to the lighthouse at Great Orme, recognised as a country park, and the bird sanctuary at Little Orme passing the pier and various caves and coves on the way.
The lighthouse was built in 1862 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company using dressed limestone and Canadian pitch pine. Its ownership was transferred to Trinity House in 1973 until it was decommissioned in 1985 having been made redundant by radar. Today, rooms in the lighthouse can be rented as holiday accommodation, and the light is on display in the visitor centre at the summit of Great Orme.
The visitor centre also has interactive displays and films with information about Great Orme’s wildlife, history, and geology, and an aquarium full of marine life. You’ll also find mini golf and a children’s playground, and look out for the Great Orme goats, a small herd of wild Kashmiri goats with shaggy white coats and thick, long horns, that live on the headland.
The limestone grassland, heathland, and woodland of Great Orme support a rich variety of wildlife, in particular butterflies including some rarities such as the silver-studded blue. Wildflowers are also abundant. Look out for common and hoary rock-rose, wild thyme, pyramidal orchid, eyebright, carline thistle, and tormentil. At night the green lights of glow worms can be spotted moving through the grass.
On Little Orme, is Rhiwledyn Nature Reserve, managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust. It is a limestone-rich reserve covered in gorse and blackthorn in spring and wildflowers such as common rock-rose, wild thyme, and several species of orchid. Rabbits can be seen emerging from their burrows, and birds of prey including sparrowhawks, peregrines, and kestrels can be seen hunting in the skies above.
Herring gulls, fulmars, and cormorants are just some of the seabirds that nest on the cliffs at the edge of the reserve, with wardens from The North Wales Bird Trust patrolling to protect them. Grey seals can sometimes be seen swimming in Angel Bay, a tiny beach on the Little Orme headland.
Great Orme and Little Orme are popular with rock climbers with both headlands offering a mix of trad and bolted routes. Go Vertical located just off the promenade of Llandudno North Shore offers coaching and instruction in climbing, mountaineering, coasteering, gorge walking, and canyoning.
The Wales Coast Path runs through Llandudno and a 6.5 mile walk starting in Great Orme country park will take you past Penrhyn Bay and Rhos on Sea to Colwyn Bay.
Just behind the beach is a children’s play area with a paddling pool, where you can rent inflatables. You can catch a land train which follows the promenade around Great Orme where you can take in the views across Liverpool Bay and Anglesey before continuing to West Shore beach and returning to Llandudno pier.
Llandudno town centre has plenty of cafés, restaurants, and shops and there are stalls that run the length of the promenade selling street food, snacks, and ice cream.
There are also pay and display car parks in the town as well as roadside parking. Public toilets can be found near the beach which have disabled facilities.
