Morfa Bychan - Black Rock Sands Beach

© John Jennings and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Morfa Bychan, known locally as Black Rock Sands, is a sandy beach, with rocky areas- although the rocks aren’t actually black. The beach stretches for about 2 miles and is backed by a dune system which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are plenty of rockpools to explore here as well as some interesting caverns.

A river mouth lies at the south-eastern end of the beach, and the village of Morfa Bychan is a few hundred meters away. The beach has lovely views of the mountains and countryside of Snowdonia National Park.

A slipway provides vehicular access to the sands and most visitors park on the beach, making it a popular picnic destination and providing easy access for those with mobility problems. There are designated bathing and boat launching areas. Dogs are banned from the central section of the beach, but are allowed on the eastern and western sections.

There are a number of holiday parks in the area surrounding the beach. In the village of Morfa Bychan there are shops, places to eat and a golf club. There are more facilities in the town of Porthmadog, about 2 miles from the beach.