Traeth Bychan Beach, Quiet, Sheltered East Anglesey Beach
Down a narrow, winding lane off the A5025 north of Benllech is Traeth Bychan beach, a small, cosy, sheltered beach facing eastwards. From here you can enjoy panoramic views of the Great Orme and Liverpool Bay, Puffin Island, and behind the heights of Llanddona and on the mainland, the Carneddau peaks.
The edges of Traeth Bychan are rocky, while the middle area of the beach is sandy with a varying spread of small pebbles the length of the beach up to the dinghy park at the top. Given its sheltered position it’s no surprise that Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club have their clubhouse here, and can often see dinghies, powerboats and small day fishing boats queuing up to be towed up the beach on their trailers.
We saw some tired young sailors help guide a tractor down the beach from the slipway and to the water’s edge and align the boat onto the trailer. Given that this beach faces east and Anglesey’s south westerly prevailing winds, this is an ideal place to launch sailing boats and other craft. Here you will see Toppers, Lasers, GP14′s, Mirrors and other dinghy classes.
Around the back of the beach are some interesting rock formations and above these thick grassy steep slopes and from here emerges the Anglesey Coastal Path route running from Benllech in the south to Moelfre in the north. The coastal path is well signposted and there is a gate on the left as you approach the beach down the hill, next to a small cottage which is built just above the rocks and the high water mark.
If you want a cup of coffee, tea or an ice cream, don’t worry, as Traeth Bychan beach cafe is literally only about 25 metres up on the right from this small sandy cove. Next to the cafe is a public car park with space for about 25 cars. Opposite the cafe and also on the hill behind are static caravans, which could be a good vacation base for your island explorations.
Come and enjoy the fine sea views and coastline walks from this peaceful beach in the winter and autumn seasons, when there will be very little if any boating activity here. This beach at Traeth Bychan has a particular piece of maritime history attached to it not known to many people.
Built in Cammell Laird ship yard in 1938, the “T” class submarine HMS Thetis left the Mersey on 1 June 1939 with a crew of 103, sailing out to Liverpool Bay to carry out some tests. Some unusual and catastrophic events took place while she was submerged and 99 men lost their lives. A few months later, the Thetis was refloated and brought onto Traeth Bychan beach.
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.
