Cefn Sidan, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

This whopping eight-mile (12 km) beach has plenty of room for everyone, and young nature detectives can climb the dunes to track down grasshoppers and other mini beasts. It’s all part of Pembrey Country Park, which has play areas and an equestrian centre, dry ski slope and toboggan run.

Porthdinllaen, Snowdonia

Porth Dinllaen beach, Llyn Peninsula

Only locals are allowed to drive to this perfect little harbour hamlet. But never mind – it’s a lovely short walk along the beach, or through Nefyn’s famously beautiful golf course, to reach it. It’s an idyllic cove and natural harbour, with the added bonus of a cracking pub, theTŷ Coch Inn, which has just been voted one of the world’s best beach bars.

Rhossili Gower Peninsula

Rhossili Beach, Gower

Well, we had to mention our cover star, didn’t we? Rhossili’s three-mile (4.8 km) golden sands come with a genuine shipwreck, and if you time the tides right, there’s a fabulous walk out to the promontory known as Worm’s Head.

Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan

Traeth Mawr, Southerndown, Glamorgan Heritage Coast The Glamorgan Heritage Coast’s multi-layered cliffs occasionally drop down into sandy bays. Southerndown is a favourite with surfers and families, and there’s a great clifftop walk to the ruins of Dunraven Castle.

North Beach, Tenby in Pembrokeshire

We’re cheating a bit here, since there’s not one fantastic beach in Tenby, but three blue flag ones. The Rough Guide to Wales describes this pretty little town as ‘everything a seaside resort should be’ and it was recently voted one of the UK’s top five beach destinations by Tripadvisor.