Anglesey has more than 50 beaches, but not all of them suit a day with small children. For families you want sand rather than shingle, water that shelves gently, somewhere to park, and ideally a loo and a café within reach — and, on the bigger bays, an honest understanding of the tides. These are the beaches that tick those boxes. For the island’s beaches overall, see our best beaches on Anglesey guide.
Benllech
Benllech is the classic Anglesey family beach — a broad, gently sloping sweep of sand on the sheltered east coast, with shallow water for paddling, summer RNLI lifeguards, parking, toilets, and cafés right behind the beach. It’s the easiest all-rounder on the island for a day with young children.
Trearddur Bay
On Holy Island, Trearddur Bay is a wide horseshoe of sand with summer lifeguards, rock pools at the edges, and shops and cafés close by. The main bay is good for swimming and bodyboarding; just mind the rockier coves either side. It pairs well with things to do in Holyhead.
Lligwy
Lligwy Beach, near Moelfre, is a sheltered, sandy, dune-backed bay that stays relatively calm — good for sandcastles and paddling, with parking above the beach. Combine it with things to do in Moelfre and the Lligwy ancient sites.
Llanddwyn / Newborough
Newborough Beach is vast and spectacular, with the bonus of a forest and the tidal island of Llanddwyn — but it’s a wilder, bigger beach with currents near the river channel and the island, so keep children in the shallows and away from the channel. See the full Newborough beach and forest guide.
Silver Bay
Silver Bay, on Holy Island’s south coast, is a small, shallow, sheltered beach popular with families and good for very young children at low tide.
A safety note on the big sandy bays
Two of Anglesey’s most beautiful beaches need extra care with children:
- Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch) draws out for what feels like a mile at low tide, but the tide floods back fast across the flat sand and channels — never let children wander far out, and head in well before the turn.
- Aberffraw (beach) has a tidal estuary with currents — fine for sandcastles, but supervise closely near the river mouth.
Family beach essentials
- Lifeguards: the RNLI patrols a handful of Anglesey beaches (including Benllech and Trearddur Bay) in summer — swim between the red-and-yellow flags.
- Tides: check a tide app; on the big bays, know when the tide turns.
- Bring: windbreak (Anglesey is breezy), sun cover, water shoes for rocky-edged bays, and warm layers — the Irish Sea is bracing even in August.
- Rainy backup: if the forecast breaks, the Anglesey Sea Zoo and the rainy-day guide have you covered.
Pick Benllech or Trearddur Bay for the easiest day, and save the wilder sands of Newborough and Red Wharf Bay for when you can keep a close eye on the water.