Morfa Bychan - Black Rock Sands

  • Morfa Bychan - Black Rock Sands - Gwynedd
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  • 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.

    Type of beach

    Sandy

    Lifeguard service

    No

    Dogs friendly beach?

    Dogs allowed

    Dogs are not allowed on the northern end of the beach between 1st April and 30th September. The rest of this considerable stretch of beach is dog friendly year round.

    Gwynedd dog friendly beaches »

    Facilities

    • Shop
    • Pub nearby
    • Slipway

    Nearest town

    Porthmadog

    Postcode

    LL49 9YB

    OS grid ref.

    SH 5291 3722

    Parking

    Parking available adjacent to the slipway or further north behind the dunes.

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    Morfa Bychan - Black Rock Sands Reviews

    King Cookie
    Aug 02nd 2022

    Amazing beach, you can take your Vw camper on, eat outside, walk for miles.

    Fantastic beach even in winter when it’s free to get on!

    Too many meany mouth bad reviews who slate the cars on the beach but still park on it!

    Oh the irony!

    Family friendly

    Jul 30th 2020

    We love this beach loads of space available even at busy times as long as you don’t mind moving away from the main car entrance easy for kids to splash in as it doesn’t get deep quickly. Often ice cream vans available though we don’t use them and the girls also love climbing on the rocks. Beautiful views all round can see Criccieth Castle.

    Fantastic beach

    Aug 11th 2022

    I have been going to Black Rock Sands for a few years now and love it, the dogs love it, we get there early to find a nice spot and enjoy the day. For those moaning about cars being on the beach, it is a drive on beach and if you do not like it then find somewhere else :) it is really that simple

    Fabulous Beach

    Aug 14th 2022

    We have spent nearly every day here during the August 2022 heatwave with our 2 and 4 month old. The beach and views are brilliant, really lovely sand fir sandcastles, rockpools for finding shrimp, crabs and fish in the afternoon and an ice cream van on the beach and you’re allowed to bbq. Never once did i feel unable to relax due to cars on the beach and my toddler. People tend to go quite slowly and follow set routes so once you have your spot, it is like any other beach, there are also few cars driving around as the day goes on. Being able to park instead of struggling wiht all of our stuff plus kids was also a big plus. Was also thankful to have a no dog area, we have a dog who we left at home so not an anti dog issue but dogs can often run quickly when playing and not look where they’re going which is more of a worry than cars, not to mention they can be disruptive when you arr trying to eat picnics and bbqs so in this sense it is nice to have a dog free area. Oh and the toilets are clean! Overall this is our favourite beach.

    Great beach

    Iz Brown
    Aug 05th 2021

    Love this beach - so convenient being able to take the car rather than lug all the equipment. Shallow waters are lovey.

    Disgusting charge for Blue badge drivers

    Melvyn Locke
    Jun 11th 2023

    It is now £8 to park on Black Rock sands, I am disabled and it is a beach that you can drive onto. But the charge is too high and I believe it is discriminatory against us blue badge holders. I cannot use soft sands and this beach is ideal for me. The charge has risen from £5 to £8 now. Please can this be reviewed?

    Our favourite beach in the area

    Gemma
    Feb 20th 2023

    A beautiful beach, plenty of space and lovely views. Handy that the beach is split into a dog friendly and not dog friendly - we have dogs and always bring them but it’s nice that there’s space for people who don’t want to be around dogs. The sea is lovely, full of life and there’s rock pools to explore.

    Those complaining about the cars on the beach are silly - there’s plenty of other beaches in the area you can use if you’d rather not have cars around. We love that we can just drive on, park up and have everything we need close by. Have been coming here for 30 years, since I was a child and now with my own family. Never once have we felt unsafe because of the cars.

    Fantastic beach

    Joanne
    Aug 13th 2022

    This beach is simply beautiful. It is sandwiched between Harlech & Criccieth castles with Snowdonia National Park behind it. It is vast & the beach is very clean. The water is very clear & you can go quite far out with the depth just coming to your waste.
    Yes, we did think it was unusual that motorhomes & cars were on the beach but there’s a big gap between them & the sea.
    Also, the tide doesn’t seem to come in or out.
    Beautiful place ????

    Questionable

    Chloe
    Jun 21st 2022

    Went here for a little paddle with a couple of friends. Shocked to find literal poop in and around the waters, also highly populated with crabs so if you’re there for crabbing it’s good but it’s no fun to be dodging tons of crabs and poop in the water. Lovely beach to walk along though especially at sunset.

    Sep 19th 2021

    Absolutely awful.If you want to get run over while digging a sand castle go to Black Rock Sands.

    Tina Turner - Simply the best

    Jun 03rd 2021

    I thought Port Einon & Llangennith were good. Thought Oxwich was awesome. Pendine also awesome. Blackrock is on another level. To the p£rat whom thought it was ruined by all the cars .. good luck !

    Good beach apart from the cars!

    Andy Scott
    Jan 21st 2022

    Been on this beach several times over the past few years, its a long sandy beach which is great but as many people have said cars are allowed to drive on it which spoils it somewhat. We did chuckle when we saw a car stuck in the sand one day!!

    Christine
    Oct 30th 2021

    I use to love this beach, I have grown up on it in a way as I use to go there every year as a child, even sleeped on there when we had a motor home, at that time dogs were allowed on all the beach, it all stop when my dad retired, then my mum passed away, it was years before I started going again I felt she was there by the rocks felt like I was home, and dogs were allowed on that bit, felt safe there as cars can’t go to fast there, but that has changed, we took our nephew but was told to go to the left as dogs not allowed on the right, when I ask when it changed he said it was always that way, I pointed out I got maps to say that they were allowed, he stated to argue when another said I was right, but now they not, we park up but didn’t enjoy it, cars were going more than the 5mph, didn’t feel safe I couldn’t relax, making sure everyone ok, plus we had a long walk for the toilets, we not been again it been spoiled for me others I talked to also said the same.

    Spoilt by the cars

    Hannah
    Jul 14th 2022

    Didn’t think I’d have to watch out for my 3 year old not to be run over by cars while playing in the sand - really disappointing that cars are not at least limited to a small area. Their fumes are stinky and the cars spoil the view completely.

    A beautiful beach ruined by cars parked all over it

    Dylan
    May 17th 2021

    We were here in the summer and there were cars everywhere, right up to the water, which ruined the experience for me. Totally unnecessary, polluting and somewhat dangerous. It’s a pity because otherwise it’s a beautiful sandy beach with lovely views.

    Great beach ruined by cars

    Jamie
    Jul 29th 2021

    This could be a lovely beach, but when we were there the hundreds of cars all over the place really spoilt our day. It just ruins the view and makes it feel a bit unsafe… I wish they were limited to only part of the beach…

    Possibly the worst beach I have ever been to.

    Manse
    Aug 26th 2019

    Maybe when it’s quieter it is ok.
    The beach on bank holiday weekend was a car park.
    The sea is full of jellyfish and dodging them is a skill, however they don’t seem to sting.
    Dodging the 1994 Ford Orion that was driving Into the sea was a little more tricky. Circling their 5-7 yr old child not particularly looking at anything else but their child demonstrated what doting parents they were.
    Quickly left whilst still time to find another dog friendly beach.

    Cars on a beach?

    Bee
    Jul 31st 2021

    Parking nearby should be allowed for anyone with mobility issues. Beyond that this beach car park is unnecessary. It spoils the landscape and is polluting. In a time when action to combat climate change is essential this beach car park is wrong. In addition, polluting jet skis also launch from this area into waters known for attracting dolphins and seals. This could be a beautiful beach.