Llandudno is well known as being a tourist resort so you would expect to find a beach here. In fact…read morethere are two, known as the North Shore and the West Shore. The North Shore is the main beach. It's next to the Promenade which is where most of the big hotels are located. It's also only a short walk from the main shopping area. As such it's the beach most people head for. Firstly the good stuff. Llandudno is a purpose built Victorian holiday resort and they chose the location well. The beach is sandy (when the tide goes out) and slopes away gently so it's ideal for paddling. Most importantly though it lies between two large headlands, the Great Orme and Little Orme, which means it's very sheltered so there are no dangerous currents. The beach also has a blue flag meaning that the water quality is good. In the summer you can still enjoy a donkey ride (when the tide's out!), take a boat ride around the bay or hire a deckchair and watch the world go by. Now for the bad stuff. Firstly because of this beach's location parking is very difficult. There are parking meters along most of the Prom and most of the inland parking is restircted to 90 minutes. Finding a space can be pot luck and you'll often need to be in the right place at the right time. Secondly there aren't any facilities. There are groups within the town who are vehemently opposed to any development on the promenade. They won't even allow the RNLI to build a lifeboat station there. If you need a demonstration just try cycling along here and you'll instantly be lynched by an angry mob of grannies! Needless to say there's no chance of finding an ice cream van nearby. If you need food or a toilet break you have two choices. There are food outlets on the pier, including Langtry's Bar which is part of the Grand Hotel (the big hotel next to the pier). The amusement arcade on the pier has some toilet facilities which are for customers only. Otherwise you'll need to head into town. There are no toilets close by, in fact the issue of public toilet facilities is a cause for concern in the town as a whole. If you want a snack or ice cream then you can head for Holmes Place (not too far away) or possibly Woolworths. A very nice beach but loses a star for lack of facilities.

The view is fantastic if it is sunny without wind. Coastline is long. There are some amusement…read morefacilities for children. A lot of hotels and B&B are surrounded to the beach.

"Another Place" is Antony Gormley's spectacular modern art piece at Crosby beach. It features 100…read morecast iron men, in replica of the artist's figure, set over 2 miles at the beach looking out into the sea. Some are cast far out into the water, and some of the sculptures are very close to the boardwalk. The sculptures are buried at various depths in the sand (or water), creating a vivid landscape. They were supposed to move to other cities like New York after their stint in Crosby, but it was decided that the iron men would remain in Crosby. As time has passed, nature has taken over and the men have become one with the sea and their environment as they have been engrossed with moss, algae and corrosion, making them ever more poignant in their location. Come at sunset for a stunning sky and see the iron men in perfect light! This is a great spot for photographers! The iron men look beautiful in various lights, but especially at sunset. It's a great spot to take your dogs for a run on the beach too. There is easy, free parking in the parking lot above the boardwalk too.

I have to say that I have always admired Antony's work, but he has really come into fashion in the…read morelast few years - since the Angel of the North in fact. This particular piece was installed on various beaches before being brought home to the NorthWest. As others have pointed out, there was initially local opposition to the figures, but these same people have now fully adopted them and fought to keep them on Formby beach. Representing the hundreds of thousands of emigrants who travelled from the port of Liverpool, they have a poignancy as well as a feeling of expectancy. See them as the tide comes in or goes out - both are equally rewarding. Don't forget your camera!

Ainsdale-on-Sea beach is a mile from the village of Ainsdale and is Southport's main bathing beach…read morewith lifeguards on duty during the summer season. The beach is one of the most popular on the coast and achieves the Seaside Award annually. The shoreline is now recognised as one of the premier beaches in the UK for extreme kite activities with permitted zones set aside on the beach for kite buggy and landboard use, with kitesurfing taking place on the sea. If you're a bit of an adrenaline junkie, then the freedom of the beach is yours. If not, it makes a great spectacle to view the professionals in action. Overall, Ainsdale-on-Sea is a relaxing destination for all ages and there is some fabulous scenery to be photographed.

The sand at Crosby beach isn't quite as soft and luxurious as that of Formby, which is slightly…read morefurther north. In parts you actually get the distinct feeling you may sink if you stand in one place too long and a sign actually warns beach goers not to stray too far from the promenade, and of "wet sand" - a slower version, I presume, of quick sand. That said it's still a great location. One hundred metal Antony Gormley's stare out over the water, his 'Another Place' exhibit, great for amateur photographers. Look to the left and you see cranes, ships and the odd pile of scrap metal. To the right a wind farm and on a clear day, the Blackpool Tower. Don't stare at the stunning vistas too long mind, make sure you beware of the jellyfish that sporadically pop up from time to time. On my last visit to Crosby's sands (31 August) the sun was beaming and warm, and a walk along this under-used beach was a real treat.

Crosby Beach is one of my favorite places in the Merseyside area. My boyfriend's family lives not…read moretoo far away, so whenever we're visiting, I ask to go and we always bring along the their dogs. The main attraction here is to see Antony Gormley's Another Place, a permanent installation of 100 cast iron men that spans the entire beach and into the sea as well. The sculptures are all made in the form of the artist's figure, and all face out looking at the sea. They're ever-evolving as nature erodes them away. They're all identical, but they've been placed as various heights. Some are buried into the sea or into the water. The beach itself is quite deserted; there's never very many people here, but when you arrive you think there's more people until you realized it's the statues masquerading as people in the distance. It's a great beach to take your dog too. However, it's quite windy here, so a nice stroll along the beach in the sand, or up on the boardwalk, that's all that's very nice. It's not the beach to sit out at. Come at sunset for a stunning sky and see the iron men in perfect light! This is a great spot for photographers! The iron men look beautiful in various lights, but especially at sunset. There is easy, free parking in the parking lot above the boardwalk too.

Well if you're a dog walker, a rambler or a jogger than Hoylake Beach is definitely a great place…read morefor you to go! It's a lovely stretch of cast on which you can see most of Wales if it's a clear day! The tide comes right in so make sure you view the tide timetable before you walk too far out as there is some sinking sand around there that you probably wouldn't want to get stuck in! I would recommend West Kirby beach over Hoylake, as it seems to have more character and also because of the beautiful marine lake that also sits in West Kirby! But go for a job right along the two if you're feeling fit, and you're guaranteed to go home feeling great from the lush views and the sea air! AHOY!

Hoylake Beach is beautiful, especially when the tide is completely out on a sunny day, leaving a…read morevast expanse of sand dotted here and there with tufts of sea grass, and teaming with water birds. There's really not much else down there--no shops, cafes, etc., so it isn't really like a typical seaside promenade. But if you love long, peaceful walks, and you like nature, this is a lovely beach.

The West Shore is the less popular of the two beaches in Llandudno which is a bit of a shame. It is…read morelocated on the opposite side of town to most of the hotels and shops which means it tends to get overlooked. Unlike the North Shore (the other beach) this is an exposed and sometimes windswept place and being on the Conwy estuary there are strong tidal currents if you go too far out to sea. You should also be aware that when the tide goes out there are large expanses of sandbanks which can be quickly cut off when the tide turns. The liftboat is called out regularly to rescue people who get caught out by this. So if it's that bad why would anyone go there? Well firstly it's much easier to park here. The area is largely residential with a few hotels mixed in so there is quite a bit of free, unrestricted on-street parking. There is also a large pay and display car park right next to the beach. There are adequate facilities including the Beach Cafe which is a traditional seaside cafe selling snacks, ice creams, cups of tea etc or if you'd prefer something stronger then there's the bar of the Sandringham Hotel just over the road. There are a couple of convenience stores nearby for crisps, drinks, newspapers and so on. There are breakwaters along the beach which are part of the flood defence system but they create small, sheltered beaches which are great for sunbathing or paddling (just don't go too far out). On a hot, sunny day you can't go wrong so long as the tide's in. Because the beach is quite exposed it attracts wind surfers and kite surfers when the wind gets up. It's also a popular beach with locals and dog walkers as there is plenty of space. The views along the coast and of Anglesey and Puffin Island are also worth seeing. All in all a great beach to visit if the weather's good. STOP PRESS - The Sandringham Hotel is now called 'The Lilly' and is apparently a 'restaurant with rooms'. I'm not sure if there will still be a public bar.

I agree with other reviewers. Much easier to park, one of the hotels serves beer to non guests,…read morethere is a cafe too. So, yes - perhaps better left to those in the know and dog walkers. One visit I watched windsurfers struggling in very rough conditions, so be careful.

If you're in Liverpool or Chester visiting, it's a must that you get the train across to West Kirby…read moreto see some of the stunning scenery that it has to offer. Not only does it have the Wirral Way, an old railway track that is not a country walk the length of Wirral, but it has the marine lake, the beach and Hilbre Island. Great for a family walk and a day out, Hilbre island is the biggest of three islands that lie between West Kirby and Wales. There's, 'Little I', the smallest, 'Middle I', the next biggest, and the 'Hilbre Island', the biggest! When the tides out loads of people flock over to Hilbre Island, about 40 mins walk from the beach! Here you can climb up and see great views and even a small house in which people live. Be sure to check the tides though as it's not uncommon for people to get stranded on Hilbre Island and it gets bloody cold at night in the middle of the sea!

This has to be a must. I never thought that I would have to book to access Hilbre Island Nature…read moreReserve (the three tidal islands lying at the mouth of the Dee Estuary, Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre). It's totally free of charge but groups are restricted to 50 people and permits are required in advance for any group of 6 or more persons. The permits are allocated on a strictly first come basis, so you may find that your chosen day is already booked. This makes it all the more exciting when you do actually get a permit and manage to go! Permits are available from the Visitor Centre, Wirral Country Park. The islands are cut off from the mainland by the tide for up to four hours out of every twelve. So not get stuck! The views, birds and plants are amazing. I might apply for the Dee Estuary Ranger job as he is the only permanent resident on the islands and lives in Telegraph House.

What a gorgeous beach this is! Long stretches of flat sand, grassy dunes and a coastal pinewood…read moreforest (inhabited by a local population of red squirrels). A large group of us came here to participate in a beach clean-up day which they arrange most months. We were lucky that it turned out to be a gloriously sunny and warm day, but obviously the downside was that we were having to pick up all manner of litter that the lazy public neglected to take home with them. At least we were helping to keep this location as stunning as possible. It's looked after by the National Trust, so if you're not a member you'll have to pay a car park entry fee. There's a path from the first car park through the forest towards the dunes, or you can drive all the way down towards the dunes and walk to the beach from there (though this area gets full of cars very early). It was still the summer holidays so it was rather busy on the beach, with folks setting down blankets and camping chairs whilst their families messed about in the sand. A really lovely part of the coastline; how we'd never visited before whilst growing up is beyond me. Just remember to 'leave no trace' and take everything home with you!

This place has a nice combination of trails in the woods and beach. The beach is very beautiful a…read morefb is worth visiting alone. There's toilets and a ice cream van as well as a coffee/tea van but that's all in the way of amenities. It's always ram jam packed in the summer and that's if you can get into the car park to get a parking space but in the winter it's a great place to come and explore. There are quite a few dogs not on the leash but where isn't there in the uk! If you have national trust membership it's free to park and visit.