Llanbedrog Beach

"On September 24 at around 6.55am the sun will rise due east of here, over Harlech Castle, 15 miles across the bay, and the Rhinogydd range beyond,” says Ted Lilley, sitting in his deckchair, pointing across a millpond sea. “You should come back for that. It’s magic.” Llanbedrog attracts a different crowd than neighbouring Abersoch. While the Range Rovers and the jet skis are vying for attention over there, there’s an altogether more relaxed feel on this huge, sheltered beach — come early to get a parking space. It’s a two-minute walk from the National Trust car park past the Aqua Beach Bar to sands shaded by a grove of oaks. To the right, at the foot of the Mynydd Tir-y-Cwmwd headland, a holiday cottage called Gorynys-Pedrog overlooks the water when the tide’s in. To the left, a beach, fringed by brightly painted beach huts, runs three and a half miles to Pwllheli. The beach huts, sadly, are not for hire, but the aforementioned holiday rental is. Predictably it’s fully booked for the summer, but there’s availability for the week of March 18, 2024 (from £1,753 for up to six, arriving March 17; dioni.co.uk). That’s the next time the sun rises due east over Harlech. Look out for Ted. Loos, café, dog-friendly, accessible. Water quality: not rated"