Pwllheli Holiday Cottages
Pwllheli, is the main market town and unofficial capital of the Llyn Peninsula. The town is full of character with its narrow streets which have many independent shops, traditional pubs, cafes and restaurants. Its award winning marina is host to a number of sailing events.
The unofficial ‘capital’ of Pen Llŷn (the Llŷn Peninsula), Pwllheli is a lovely seaside resort with a large marina and sailing community, and some great sandy beaches.
The local waters here are world-class, with gorgeous views across Tremadog Bay towards the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). There’s a popular water sports and sailing centre, as well as plenty of local art galleries, shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars. With plenty to do both in the town on the doorstep, it’s a very family-friendly place for your hols.
Pwllheli is a great base for exploring Pen Llŷn. With its exceptional and dramatic shoreline of coves, cliffs, and secret sandy beaches, the Llŷn is the perfect destination if you love the romance of rural landscapes with a stunning backdrop of mountains and sea.
Things to do in Pwllheli
Pwllheli boasts two beautiful beaches: Glan y Don Beach and South Beach. Glan y Don, a south-facing, three-mile stretch of sand, pebbles, and sand dunes, is a hidden gem of the Llŷn Peninsula. Perfect for a day of sandcastles and beach cricket.
Nearby Llanbedrog Beach is known for its golden sands, shallow waters, and vibrant beach huts, set against a stunning mountain backdrop. It’s also close to the Wales Coastal Path, which is a lovely 3-mile walk to Abersoch. Leave enough time to visit Llanbedrog’s Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw tea room and gallery.
The quiet B-roads leading out of Pwllheli make it ideal for cycling, with routes crisscrossing the Llŷn landscapes. Bike hire is available in town, and you can check Sustrans for local routes.
A short distance along the coast, Abersoch is a buzzing seaside town with golden sands, scenic cliffs, and great views of Cardigan Bay and Eryri. Originally a fishing port, it is now home to a great selection of bars, bistros, and boutiques. For an adventure to remember, take a RIB boat ride with Abersoch Land and Sea to explore the bay. If you’re lucky the resident dolphins and porpoises will come to say hello.
Other attractions close to Pwllheli include the medieval Criccieth Castle (8.5 miles), the quirky Portmeirion village (17 miles), and the Rhyd Ddu Path for Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon – 24 miles). You can jump on board the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Steam Heritage Railway at Porthmadog (14 miles).
Off the beaten track ideas:
Take on Yr Eifl – AKA The Rivals – there’s really only one way you’d want to be blown away on the top of a mountain, and Yr Eifl – also known as The Rivals – will not disappoint with its gorgeous far-reaching views. Essentially a series of three peaks which tower above the sea close to Pen Llŷn’s rugged north coast, Yr Eifl is the highest point at 564m, but arguably it is the Tre’r Ceiri Iron Age hill fort that is the highlight of this walk. On a clear day you can see as far as the Isle of Man, to the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland and over to the Cumbrian peaks of the Lake District. 9 miles from Pwllheli.
Enjoy a drink at the Ty Coch Inn – sitting right on the sands of a sheltered sandy bay at Porthdinllaen on the west coast of Pen Llŷn, and with stunning views over Yr Eifl to the mountains of Eryri, this wonderful North Wales pub is regularly name-checked as being one of the best beach bars in the world. 8 miles from Pwllheli.
Pwllheli is on the southeast-facing side of beautiful Pen Llŷn in North Wales. Nearby villages include Criccieth, Abersoch, and Aberdaron.
Pwllheli has a great selection of places to enjoy great food and drink. Some of our personal favourites include Y Madryn for great food, ales, wines, and regular live music nights, the fabulous Twnti Seafood is set in a converted barn just outside Pwllheli, and Dylan’s is worth the short drive to Criccieth for its excellent seafood, burgers, and pizza, all served up in a beautiful art deco restaurant on the seafront.
This is a great part of the world to hone your surf skills. Head to nearby Abersoch for a choice of expert surf schools, including Abersoch Watersports, Offaxis, and the Hell’s Mouth Surf School. 7 miles from Pwllheli.
