Rhyl's own four miles of sand is the obvious starting point, but the North Wales coast within easy reach offers several other beaches worth knowing about — each with a different character. Here's what's within a short journey.
Prestatyn (3 miles east)
Prestatyn's beach is the starting point of Offa's Dyke Path and is noticeably quieter than Rhyl's — fewer facilities, more space, a calmer atmosphere. The sand quality is comparable to Rhyl's and the beach is wide at low tide. Prestatyn's central beach has a car park directly behind it, making it convenient. If you want Rhyl's beach without quite so many people, Prestatyn is the answer.
Pensarn / Abergele (4 miles west)
Pensarn is the beach at Abergele — a long stretch of predominantly shingle with some sand, backed by a caravan park. It is not as attractive as Rhyl's beach but it is open and often uncrowded. The coastal path west along this stretch is good walking.
Kinmel Bay (adjoins Rhyl to the west)
Kinmel Bay's beach continues directly from Rhyl's Ffrith Beach and has much the same character — open, sandy, flat — but with fewer facilities and considerably fewer people. Walking from Rhyl's promenade into the Kinmel Bay stretch takes about 30 minutes and leaves the resort entirely behind.
Llandudno (12 miles west)
Llandudno has two beaches: the North Shore, a long Victorian promenade beach backed by the town's imposing seafront hotels, and the West Shore, a quieter bay on the other side of the Great Orme headland. The North Shore is more developed and more traditional; the West Shore has a wilder feel and is popular with dog walkers and windsurfers. Llandudno is a notably more prosperous resort than Rhyl and the visual contrast is marked — but both beaches are excellent on their merits.
Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay (8 miles west)
Colwyn Bay's seafront has been redeveloped in recent years and Porth Eirias now offers a surf/watersports centre alongside a beach that has improved significantly. It is a work in progress but worth knowing about for watersports enthusiasts.
Abersoch and the Llŷn Peninsula (60+ miles west)
For the genuinely spectacular — clear blue water, white sand, a beach that would not look out of place in the Mediterranean — the Llŷn Peninsula beaches (Abersoch, Aberdaron, Hell's Mouth) are in a different category entirely. They require a half-day drive from Rhyl but reward the journey. A natural extension of a longer North Wales holiday.