Abersoch`s nice for families, lovely beaches, and Criccieth is nice too, with a castle to see as well.

Hi there, just love North Wales..

have you considered Angelsey?

http://www.visitanglesey.co.uk/en-GB/home-1.aspx

ATB,J.

Personally, whilst I have many great memories as child of holidays in the Prestatyn/Rhyl/Abergele/Colwyn Bay area I would tend to steer clear of them now and go further round the coast. They probably still have lovely beaches but are increaingly rundown and/or more like suburbs of Merseyside these days.

So I would suggest that you have a look at from Llandudno westwards including Anglesey as Merseygull suggests and the Lleyn peninsula - as numberplease suggests Criccieth and nearby resorts would fit the bill. And whilst it's more mid- than north Wales I love the area from Barmouth down to Aberystwyth too.

SM

many thanks for your replies. i'll have a look at all those places now on the internet and see what looks good.

much appreciated.
natalie
x

Definatly agree about the area around Rhyl, was very disappointed with the actual town while the beach was lovely the whole area is very run down and lots of young Chavy party goes around! Anglesey is good and aberystwyth and newquay I love. While new quay is not north Wales it is worth the extra drive. Very friendly, family orientated, 2 lovely beaches small and based at the bottom of a hill but enough to do and within easy reach of aberiron and the bigger aberystwyth.

I agree about Colkwyn Bay. We were there for a holiday with the kids in the mid 70s, and it was lovely, went back in 2005 and it was terribly shabby and run down, such a shame. I`ve just remembered another couple of places along the Lleyn peninsula, they`re fairly quiet, but beautiful beaches, and they are Aberdaron and Morfa Nefyn, gorgeous scenery, but you`ll find that almost anywhere in the Snowdonia area.

I'd agree about the area between Chester and Colwyn Bay, not a place to linger. When I was a kid Colwyn Bay had a pebble beach but last time I went past it seemed to be sand and they still have the zoo for damp days http://www.welshmountainzoo.org . Llandudno is sandy (choice of beaches facing opposite directions depending on wind) and then the coast is a bit empty through to Anglesey. The beaches from the Llyn Peninsula down to Barmouth are sandy.

Much depends on where you are travelling from (and how) and how long a journey the toddlers can take.

I'm not familiar with any North Wales coastal resorts, but we love taking our little ones to the North West coastal town of Morecambe Bay.

Last year we stayed at a holiday park called Ocean Edge Leisure Park, South Lakeland Holidays - which was very child friendly! They have a soft childs play area where you can find the kids entertainer 'Billy the Beaver', an indoor heated pool, sauna, restaurant, park bar and they have regular entertainment in the family cabaret.The park itself is actually situated on the coast and overlooks Morecambe bay, so it's very close to sandy beaches the children can enjoy.

Morecambe has lots of family entertainment and attractions throughout the year including bowling, a cinema, lazer quest and music festivals.

Apologies if this is off your holiday radar, just thought I'd throw in a comment as my family enjoy our seaside holidays in this region every year!

I'm not familiar with any North Wales coastal resorts, but we love taking our little ones to the North West coastal town of Morecambe Bay.

Having spent my childhood in Liverpool where North Wales, the Fylde coast and Morecambe Bay were all within reach for days out and not just holidays I'd suggest that you do give North Wales a try. Even as a child I preferred North Wales and always voted against any suggestion we go up the coast from Liverpool (unless it was for the 'Lights') for the simple reason that I'd be able to go in the sea in Wales! All the way up the coast from Southport onwards the sea goes out for miles - the tide comes in very quickly when it does come in but it goes out just as quickly. And walking out to the sea edge was always strictly off limits because the incoming tide could be so treacherous as many venturing out on to the sands of Morecambe Bay have tragically found.

At a staff conference in a hotel in Lytham St Annes I can remember waking a colleague up at 5am so that she could see what the beach looked liked when the tide was in after she'd remarked in the course of long night in the bar the previous evening that based on childhood memories (she grew up in Rochdale) that she didn't belief that the sea ever came within paddling distance of the promenade!

SM

Many happy childhood holidays on the great beach at Harlech.

We also used to live in Rochdale, and although I`ve been to Southport many times on day trips, I`ve never, ever, seen the sea there!
Someone mentioned Anglesey? I`d forgotten about Anglesey when I first replied on this thread, there are some beautiful beaches there, Benlecch (sp) is a nice beach, with a few shops and cafes in the village up the hill, and there is a group of people (when we were there anyway) who organize games and activities on the beach for children daily. Red Wharf Bay has a gorgeous beach as well, as has Cemaes Bay. Then there`s the famous village of the 58 letter name, Llanfairpg, as it`s generally known, good for photos of the railway station with it`s nice long sign, and not far from there there`s a butterfly park that`s worthy of a visit.