Llangrannog Beach

Llangrannog, is not only a pretty, sandy beach nestled between craggy cliffs near the Ynys Lochtyn peninsular, it is also a popular destination for bodyboarding and surfing, as well as other water sports. The village itself is picturesque and offers all the facilities you need for a family day out.

How To Get To Llangrannog Beach

Arriving By Car

Llangrannog Beach is situated half way between New Quay and Aberporth, it is clearly sign posted from the A487 (the main coast road). You then follow winding country lanes towards the village of Llangrannog. Beware as you get closer the lanes get narrower and harder to navigate.

It takes about 25 minutes from New Quay and only about 20 minutes from Aberporth to get to this gorgeous little beach.

When you arrive there are two options for car parks. There is a small car park, right next to the beach, where you can pay by cash or through an app (however the signal is very poor in the area so makes using the app tricky!). There are horror stories online of people being fined as they took too long to pay by the app as there was no reception.

The other option is a free car park about half a mile away from the beach on the B4334. This is a large grassy car park with plenty of spaces, which also offers a park and ride service in the summer months.

We parked in the free car park and strolled down to the beach with all our bodyboards and other beach equipment, as we had read about the beach car park being over priced and often not accepting cash. However, the walk through the picturesque village was a lovely way to start our day.

Arriving By Foot

Llangrannog sits on the Ceredigion Coastal Path and the path leads directly down to the beach from Penbryn. In the other direction, the coastal path takes you to the Ynys Lochtyn peninsular which offers stunning, panoramic views.

Llangrannog Beach

The beach itself is a beautiful, golden sandy cove surrounded by cliffs, set into a lush green valley. It is a popular place for water sports including surfing, bodyboarding and kayaking. Along the sea front there are a few cafes and 2 pubs, so if you don’t fancy bringing a picnic there are lots of options.

The beach is lifeguarded daily from May to September (10am – 6pm) which makes it great for families, as you know your little ones are safe while enjoying the water. It also has public toilets close to the beach which is always important!

As well as water sports and the usual beach activities, there are also caves in the cliffs to explore and rocks to climb over (one of our families favourite pass times).

Village of Llangrannog

The village has all the facilities you need for a day out at the beach. A small shop selling beach supplies such as buckets and spades and fishing nets.

There is a family run ice cream parlour, Caffi Patio, which serves homemade ice cream, milkshakes, cakes, snacks and hot drinks.

The Beach Hut, is a small cafe and fish and chip shop, serving delicious food and drinks. It has indoor and outdoor tables overlooking the beach. Inside it is tastefully decorated, in keeping with its name, using upcyled and reclaimed furniture and beach paraphernalia.

There are two pubs The Ship and The Pentre Arms which are right next to the beach so you don’t have far to go for a refreshing pint or somewhere to warm up.

The Pentre Arms offers homemade food and a fully stocked bar in a stunning location. The most popular table has to be the one right next to the picture window, which has uninterrupted views of the beach and out to sea towards Ynys Lochtyn peninsular.

The Ship is a cosy place to eat and drink. It again offers a variety of homemade food in a homely environment and a wide range of drinks.

Cilborth Beach

Cilborth beach is a hidden beach, which can be accessed directly from Llangrannog beach at low tide and also via a steep set of steps that form part of the coastal path. A secret beach is always a treat, especially when its so close to the easily accessible Llangrannog beach. We love the sense of adventure and achievement when you manage to be one of the first people to walk round as the tide goes out.

Why We Love Llangrannog Beach

The biggest pull for us as a family is the opportunity to bodyboard, which both my girls absolutely love. Once in their wetsuits, they will spend hours in the sea – even in May when it was decidedly chilly. Llangrannog really reminds me of beaches we have visited in Cornwall but with out the crowds. We were able to easily find a table, with a sea view, at The Beach Hut without booking or waiting in a long queue. Not to mention that the food was homemade, delicious and had a slight twist on the normal chip shop fare. The large free car park was also a bonus, making it easy to park, as long as you don’t mind a walk. Overall, Llangrannog has something to please everyone, tasty food options, watersports, bracing cliff walks and golden sand to relax on.