As we head into the month of December, we are entering the season of festive swims where brave souls across the UK take to the sea for a spot of wild swimming. Many do this to raise money for charity, while others simply want to take on the challenge of braving the cold waters. 

Irrespective of your reason for doing it, there are plenty of great beaches in North Wales for swimming if you are planning to do your own festive dip over the Christmas or New Year period.

To help you choose your destination, we’ve put together a short list of what we consider to be the best beaches in North Wales for swimming to help make your decision making process a little simpler. Let’s start off with one that is right on your holiday home doorstep…

1. Rhyl

Here at Marine Holiday Park, we are incredibly fortunate to be located in one of the most famous seaside resorts in the UK. Rhyl has been the destination of choice for families across the generations thanks to its sandy beach, generally calm waters and plethora of traditional seaside attractions. 

There are plenty of nearby facilities that you can head to for a warm after your dip, with a number of cafes along the promenade serving warming brews and hot meals where you can grab a well earned reward after you’ve completed your challenge. 

Whatsmore, if you choose to go wild swimming in Rhyl then you will be just a short walk away from your holiday home where you can go for a freshen up and a change of clothing. 

2. Colwyn Bay

Colwyn Bay promenade has recently undergone a significant redevelopment which has transformed it into one of the most modern seafronts in the country. Along the way, tourists can let their children take advantage of the various educational and play amenities which are made up of hopscotch courses, climbing apparatus and much more. There is even free WiFi internet access and charging points for mobile devices should you find yourself low on battery. 

However, what you really want to know is whether or not this is one of the best beaches in North Wales for swimming. The simple answer to this is yes, with Colwyn Bay being one of the most popular watersport hotspots in the country. 

Wild swimmers are almost a daily occurrence here, so you won’t feel like the odd one out. There are also lots of facilities to take advantage of here including the Môr Watersports store selling all of the watersport equipment and accessories that you could ever ask for. This includes the increasingly popular dry robes which are a must have as you begin to retreat back to shore. 

Another welcome feature at Colwyn Bay beach is that it has a regular lifeguard presence during peak periods.

3. Llandudno

Another great seaside resort located just a short drive away from Marine Holiday Park is Llandudno. This is an iconic destination with a good old fashioned charm which is characterised by its flat promenade and elegant Victorian pier. You’ll find plenty of traditional seaside attractions here including seaside amusement arcades, ice cream parlours and Punch & Judy shows. 

There are two beaches on offer here, the most popular of which is the North Shore beach which lies adjacent to the promenade. This beach is largely pebbled but its close proximity to the town's stand out attractions ordinarily makes it the most popular. 

However, when it comes to the best beaches in North Wales for swimming, it is Llandudno's quieter West Shore Beach which is ultimately the better location. It faces Conwy Bay and is a popular destination amongst water sports enthusiasts thanks to its clean waters and ample array of facilities which include public toilets, cafe, ice cream parlour and even a children’s play area. The only drawback with both of Llandudno’s beaches is that neither has a lifeguard presence. We would therefore advise taking extra care if you opt to swim here. 

4. Abersoch

If you are willing to travel a reasonable distance for what is potentially the best beach in North Wales for swimming, then we would recommend taking a trip down to Abersoch. 

Not only is this a watersports hotspot, but it is also a fantastic beach for building sand castles, sunbathing and even shopping with the main high street being filled with quirky local businesses and industry renowned chains, the majority of which have an association with watersports. This includes major brands such as Animal, The White Stuff, Crew Clothing and Fat Face.

A journey to Abersoch would take over one and a half hours to complete from Marine Holiday Park, so it isn’t a realistic destination for a day out in North Wales if you are staying with us. We would therefore recommend booking a short break at our sister resort Gimblet Rock Holiday Park in Pwllheli. This is located just a short drive away from Abersoch in the equally as idyllic seaside resort of Pwllheli, with the golden sands of Pwllheli beach being directly accessible from our resort.