Black Rock Sands Beach is known by many names; although we refer to it as Black Rock Sands, it is often referred to as Porthmadog Beach, Craig Du or Morfa Bychan Beach after the local village. The beach is excellent. It is a wide sandy beach with a rocky headland approximately 2 miles long with a sand dune system designated as a site of special scientific interest.
Don’t be worried about the Black Rock Sands name, as the sand is not black, but the name refers to the rocky headland.
The beach has a gentle gradient, making it a good family beach, and as the tide recedes, you have many rock pools to explore.
Black Rock Sands is one of the most popular beaches on the Llyn Peninsula in part because you can drive onto the beach, making this an ideal beach for those who have to take lots of equipment or have disabilities.
Facilities at the beach include beach parking, a nearby car park, disabled access, toilets, designated bathing and boat-launching areas, and ice-cream vans often positioned on the beach.
Seasonal dog restrictions are in place where dogs are not allowed on the northern end of the beach between the 1st of April and the 30th of September. As the beach is so large, you have a large area that is dog-friendly year-round.
The beach, due to its size and ability to park on the sand, is very popular with kite-buggies and kitesurfers. “on-beach” activities like power kites, land yachting and beach buggies are prohibited on the beach between March and November.
Want to stay close by? Camping at Black Rock Sands is available just behind the sand dunes, or you have some options at the Black Rock Sands caravan parks.
