Less than two hours from Manchester lying just beyond the concrete barriers of the A55 sits a vast sandy beach that tens of thousands drive past every day and scarcely give a second glance. Shorn of its Edwardian promenade, the construction of the A55 some 35 years ago robbed it of some of its lustre, but for those prepared to come off the Expressway, Penmaenmawr’s Sandy Beach in North Wales can be an unexpected surprise. The views are outstanding and the modern promenade has all the facilities needed to make it a genuine family resort.
At high tide, beach prospects aren’t always encouraging as only stones and groynes are visible. It’s only when the tide sweeps out that the full glory of the place is revealed: a vast sandy beach, six miles long, running all the way to Penmaenbach, with areas marked out for dogs and the rest left for families, anglers and watersports enthusiasts, NorthWalesLive . READ MORE: Met Office warns 'it's going to be hot' as UK braced for warmest day of year Backed by the foothills of Eryri (Snowdonia), the beach looks out over Anglesey’s coast, Puffin Island and the Menai Straits.
To the east, Llandudno’s Great Orme looms on the horizon. It’s long been a popular place to take the sea air while admiring the views. Penmaenmawr, once renowned for its granite mines, lured wealthy 19th-century holidaymakers and the seaside town still bears the hallmarks of its Victorian heyday.
The beach at Penmaenbach Point (Image: Chris Andrews/Wiki) Among it.