Sail from Traeth Bychan Beach, A Quiet, Sheltered East Anglesey Beach near Benllech

by David Phillips

Enjoy the small, sheltered and cosy delights of east facing Traeth Bychan beach near Benllech, down a narrow country lane off the A5025. If you want to really appreciate some fine sea and mountain views covering Llanddona, the Carneddau peaks above Bangor, Puffin Island and Liverpool Bay, you must come here.

Traeth Bychan is rocky on each side of the cove, giving way to a mixture of gravelly sand and small pebbles as the beach reaches up to the small stone and concrete boat park. This quiet location is the home of Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club, and when we arrived on this occasion there were a number of dinghies and motor craft being towed up from the water, while a fishing boat waited for its trailer to arrive.

At the dinghy park on this beach there are Lasers, Toppers, Mirrors, GP14's and other classes. The beach faces the east and so is ideal for launching boats, when the prevailing wind on Anglesey is from the south west. When we arrived here the sun was out and some keen, though tired, sailors were helping guide a vehicle with launch trailer into the water.

Above the Traeth Bychan beach are thick grassy slopes which cover some interesting looking rock formations. The Anglesey coastal path runs along here on its way between Moelfre in the north to Benllech. If you would like to enjoy some views from the coastal path, it is easy to join. As you approach this cove there is a gate just behind the beach cottage, built above the high water mark, which takes you onto the footpath.

Just 25 metres or so from the beach as you go up the lane is Traeth Bychan beach cafe which sells cold and hot drinks, ice creams and snacks, while next to this is a car park and toilets. Opposite the cafe is a static caravan park which are ideally placed for those wanting to enjoy watersports or walk the coastal path.

During the autumn and winter when boating activity is usually much reduced, this beach is a very peaceful and relaxing spot from which to appreciate the coastline and sea views. There is a piece of maritime history attached to Traeth Bychan beach which may be of interest to some visitors.

On 1 June 1939 HMS Thetis, a "T" Class submarine built at Cammell Laird ship yard in 1938, left her mooring in the Mersey with 103 crew aboard to carry out some trials in Liverpool Bay. Tragically, due to some unusual extreme events the sub never resurfaced and all crew bar four were lost. A few months after this tragedy, Thetis was brought to the surface and beached on Traeth Bychan beach, here on the east Anglesey coast.

Whether you come here on a fine, clear winter's day for a walk across the beach, or in the heat of a summer's day are launching your dinghy for coastal exploration, the memory of Thetis and her lost crew will remain.

About the Author:

David Phillips comes from beautiful Anglesey island off North Wales, and owns an informative website covering local information and resources. Enjoy wonderful sea views, or sail your dinghy from sheltered Traeth Bychan Beach near Benllech.