The summer holidays are in full swing, and while many people will be jetting off to lands far away, travel expert Chelsea Dickenson praised a tiny little coastal village as one of the UK’s best hidden gems. More popularly known as the Cheap Holiday Expert, Chelsea shared her love for a location in North Wales, which is virtually untouched by swathes of tourists.
Chelsea partnered up with Boots at the beginning of the summer to curate ready-to-go bundles containing all the essentials for festivals, beach trips, and adventures so customers can get everything they need in one place, and without having to fork out a small fortune. But not everyone will be holidaying abroad this summer, but Chelsea believes the UK offers plenty for those staying closer to home.
The reality is that with costs rising, holidays are a luxury. Not everyone can afford to fork out to go abroad, so we asked Chelsea for some of her favourite hidden gems that the UK has to offer.
She drew attention to an area of North Wales, which Chelsea described as one of the “most peaceful” areas she’s come across.
The Llŷn Peninsula boasts almost 100 miles of coastline, made up of sweeping bays and cliffs, perfect for those who love the outdoors and being at one with nature, and cut off from the rest of the world.
Chelsea told the Express: “Parts of this area are very popular, and I am also very biased, because I am from North Wales, but we did a road trip along the North Wales coast a few years ago, and it’s so stunning, so beautiful.
“I’ve become very, very obsessed with the Llŷn Peninsula, which is almost underneath Anglesey.”
However, there’s a small coastal village with a beach along the peninsula that holds a very special place in the expert’s heart, Porthdinllaen. The old fishing village is accessible via a footpath along the beach or via the local golf club, Clwb Golff Nefyn.
The sheltered bay is the perfect place for anyone who has a penchant for water sports and activities, including boating, kayaking, swimming, and snorkelling. For animal lovers, the headland Porthdinllaen is a popular spot for getting a glimpse of some grey seals.
Chelsea gave a mention to the Tŷ Coch Inn, a pub which looks over the shores of the beach. But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean what you think, with the name translating to ‘Red House’ in English.
She joked: “Don’t worry, we’re not being rude. Coch in Welsh is red.”
Chelsea continued to praise Porthdinllaen for its solitude and peaceful surroundings. “That beach I absolutely fell in love with,” she said. “It’s honestly one of the most, the most peaceful vibes I’ve ever come across.
“You’ve got people chilling out of the beach, this tiny little fishing port beach. You’ve got the pub playing out tune. They actually do live music sets in the summer as well, as they don’t always announce it, so it feels like a bit of a secret if you have to be there at the right time.
“You just feel, it’s just really special. And I think it’s great that we have places like that in the UK.
“We often talk about and enthuse about going abroad, but we’ve got some incredible places in the UK, and that place is always top of my list of really special places I’m desperate to go back to.”
In terms of accommodation, Chelsea explained there are only a handful of cottages available to rent in the area, which you may have to locate through an archaic website. No Airbnb presence here.
She explained that the quintessential nature of the area makes the accommodation more affordable than other popular holiday spots.
Vehicular access to the area is only reserved for residents, so you’re more than likely to hear the sound of the crashing waves drowning out any echoes of the public.
“I just imagine staying in one of these little cottages on this tiny, little beach that you can’t really get to,” she said.
“You know, not many people are driving there or anything like that. That, to me, sounds like heaven.”
Prices are correct at the time of writing.
The ready-to-go bundles will be available on boots.com containing all the essentials for festivals, beach trips, and adventures. The three bundles are £20 each, consisting of five to seven products and with savings of over £10.