The ‘hidden gem’ beach near Greater Manchester you need to visit this summer

As the sun blazes down this week, thoughts turn to trips to the beach where you can take a dip in cooling waves, sunbathe on the sand and tuck into delicious ice creams. While Greater Manchester doesn’t have a beach of its own, there’s no shortage of incredible seaside destinations right on our doorstep.

Llandudno in North Wales is a traditional coastal resort for Mancunians known for its vast beach, Victorian promenade and cable cars up the Great Orme. While most people head to North Shore Beach where the heart of the action is, Llandudno has another beach which a lot of visitors haven’t heard of - so much so it’s been dubbed a ‘hidden gem’.

West Shore Beach is found on the other side of the headland. A sheltered cove, it’s backed by rolling sand dunes and quieter than North Shore Beach, providing a tranquil escape from the main attractions in Llandudno.

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The beach is very picturesque, with incredible views of the Conwy Estuary and Snowdonia in the distance. You can swim at West Shore Beach, but the water is very shallow and there are no lifeguards, so probably best to stick to paddling.

Several visitors have described this sandy spot as a ‘hidden gem’ on TripAdvisor. One wrote: “A real hidden gem! Only 15 minutes walk from the promenade, but feels like a world away. There is a quiet beach, and even sand dunes to explore.”

Another wrote: “This place is a hidden gem. It is so unlike the busy North Shore. It is peaceful with few shops and a vast sandy beach.”

West Shore Beach Café sells ice creams and refreshments, and there’s a pay and display car park right by the beach. There are public toilet facilities, too, and a children’s