Overlooking the Irish Sea, Prestatyn is a Welsh seaside resort known for its beaches and family-friendly promenade. It flourished with the arrival of holidaymakers in the 19th century when city dwellers flocked to the coast before its holiday camps were used to house British soldiers during World War II.
Things to do in Prestatyn
Stretching along the length of the town is Prestatyn Beach, a wide expanse of sand interspersed with groynes. It extends east to Barkby Beach and west to Ffirth Beach and is a popular setting for swimming, sailing and windsurfing. A breezy promenade joins the three beaches while the Beach Hut Cafe and Red Boat Ice Cream Parlour offer savoury and sweet treats.
Prestatyn Beach marks the start of the Offa’s Dyke National Trail, a long-distance footpath that connects 285 kilometres south to Chepstow. Part of the trail follows the remnants of a late-18th-century earthwork that was constructed by order of King Offa of Mercia. In Knighton, (roughly at the halfway point of the trail) is the Offa's Dyke Centre where you can see King Offa’s recreated throne.
Keen golfers can enjoy a round at Prestatyn Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course that dates back to 1905. It lies between a coastal railway line and the Irish Sea, with a canal known as the “Prestatyn Gutter” flowing through the links. In addition to enjoying the course, you can take advantage of the club’s practice facilities or mingle with the locals over a meal in the clubhouse.
Getting around Prestatyn
Prestatyn is around an hour’s drive from Liverpool and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Trains connect from towns and cities throughout Wales to the Prestatyn railway station and the town is small enough to explore on foot.