Nestled on the northwest coats of the Llŷn Peninsula sits the pretty seaside spot Porthdinllaen near Morfa Nefyn. For walkers, this attractive coastal stop-off is an ideal base to pick up north coast path, but it also has another feature which draws many people there.
This section of coastline – and one of its most photographed assets – may have looked very different had early 19th-century plans to construct a new port had been realised. Porthdinllaen’s headland provides shelter for this natural harbour and in the 1800s, it saw over 600 ships docking annually.
The small, red-brick building in the sandy cove is known as The Ty Coch Inn and was originally built a vicarage in the 1820s, but was subsequently converted into a pub to cater to the shipbuilding workers on the beach. When Holyhead was chosen as the preferred location for the port, it meant this secluded corner could retain its seaside charm – and the pub has gained a reputation as world class.
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Once ranked as the world’s third-best beach bar, ahead of places in Australia and the Caribbean, The Ty Coch Inn pub has become a must-visit for those holidaying or having a day out in North Wales over the years. With views across the Irish Sea towards Yr Eifl, it can be reached via the gold course that sits above it, or from the sandy beach on its doorstep.
The small, red-brick building in the sandy cove is known as The Ty Coch Inn -Credit:Ian Cooper/North Wales Live
Full of history and charm, inside the tiny pub there’s a few seating nooks and a sturdy looking, timbre-fronted bar as soon as you step over the threshold. From the ceilings old beer steins and lamps hang above, while on the walls photos and maritime paraphrenia from over the years gives you a sense of its past.
The pub has over 800 ‘excellent’ and ‘very good’ reviews and an overall TripAdvisor rating of four out of five. And as well as views across the Irish Sea and the Snowdonia mountain range, the location has been described by reviewers as “world class”, “unrivalled” and “a bucket list for those seeking a quiet escape”.
To eat and drink, the pub offers a range of drinks, with a selection of local beers, wine and ciders along with light bites, snacks and snacks like loaded nachos, as well as sandwiches, which can be enjoyed inside the small bar or in the outdoor covered searing area.
Views of Porthdinllaen near Morfa Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, on an autumn day. Picture: Andrew Forgrave/North Wales Live -Credit:Andrew Forgrave/North Wales Live
The postcard-worthy beach itself was also named among the 10 best ‘secret’ sandy spots in the UK earlier this year. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1994, preserving its natural beauty.
The Independent, who drew up the list, wrote of Porthdinllaen: “Offering sandy, secluded space to play, this Welsh beach is tucked away from the old fishing village by sweeping hills. As the cove is sheltered, the water is usually calm, making it a great spot for swimming.
“Bring goggles and be sure to look down: the headland is a popular spot with the local grey seals, and one of the largest seagrass meadows in North Wales hides beneath the water, providing a habitat for many different types of fish.”
Ty Coch Inn, Porthdinllaen on the Llyn Peninsula. Perhaps the most famous pub in Wales has reopened after lockdown operating for a beach bar next to the famous inn. Photo by Ian Cooper -Credit:Ian Cooper/North Wales Live
Porthdinllaen is around a two-and-a-half hour drive from Manchester, so is best visited as part of a weekend away to the North Wales coastline. To access the pub it is a 20-minute walk from the nearest car park, making it one of the most remote pubs in the UK.
Access to the pub is via foot as vehicular access is for residents only. You can park in either the National Trust car park at the bottom of Lon Golff or in the Golf Club car park itself.
Parking at Morfa Nefyn, owned by the National Trust, visitors to the pub can either walk on a footpath through Nefyn Golf Club, or at low tide, can choose the route across the beach.
The Ty Coch Inn at Porthdinllaen, Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd -Credit:(Image: Getty)
Those who enjoy a longer walk can also follow the Porthdinllaen marine trail, a four-kilometre round trip which will take you from Morfa Nefyn, across the beach to Ty Coch and further along the coast to some rock pools where grey seals are sometimes spotted fishing along the coastline.
A few things to note if you’re planning a trip to visit the pub though. The Ty Coch Inn does not take reservations or bookings and it never open Sunday nights, and does not do food in the evenings.
The pub is about a 20 minute walk across the golf course. It is closed Monday to Thursday, but open Friday and Saturday, from 11am until 7pm, and one Sunday from 11am until 4pm. Food is served 12-2.30pm.