Colwyn Bay Accommodation

  • Offa's Dyke National Trail - from Prestatyn down to ChepstowOffa's Dyke National Trail - from Prestatyn down to Chepstow
  • Prestatyn near Ffrith BeachPrestatyn near Ffrith Beach
  • Pontins Prestatyn Sands, Where Holiday on the Buses was filmed!Pontins Prestatyn Sands, Where Holiday on the Buses was filmed!
  • Outdoor Activities at Pontin's Prestatyn SandsOutdoor Activities at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands

Prestatyn Tourist Information

A little less livelier than Rhyl which makes for a more laid back character, Prestatyn is the start or end (whichever way you look at it) of the Offa's Dyle National Trail running all the way down for 177 miles to Cheapstow in the Wye Valley/South Wales. Golf lovers, welcome to Prestatyn. There's two superb golf courses here in Prestatyn - Prestatyn Golf Course (a championship course situated right on the beach!) and St Melyd Golf Club.

Acclaimed for it's stunning rural surrounds and proximity to the Offa's Dyke national trail, Prestatyn also has plenty of attractions including the indoor entertainment centre - the Nova Centre (great indoor bowls and a health and fitness centre in here). Prestatyn's 3 glorious beaches are it's crowning glory. Barkby beach is particularly popular for watersports, especially jet bikes and speed boats. Oh, and there's some important Roman sites, including Roman Baths, here to be explored in Prestatyn.

Featured Wales Accommodation

Craig y Nos Castle - Penycae

Fantastic, romantic castle in the Swansea Valley, Brecon beacons. Ideal venue for parties and excellent conference, wedding and banqueting facilities.

£25 to £123 Per person B&B (2 sharing)

Prestatyn Nova Entertainment Centre - Gym, Swimming & Indoor Bowls

The big smoke attraction in Prestatyn is the Nova Centre, with on-site gym and leisure centre Bodyz Gym, the Windmill Restaurant, function rooms galore, and the Neptune Pool and Funzone for kids. The Nova Centre is also conveniently situated near Central Beach.

Indoor bowls lovers will want to head for the North Wales Bowls Centre behind Ffrith Beach. Inside discover a superb 8 rink indoor bowling greet up there with the best international bowls centres. The centre also has excellent disabled bowler facilities, plus a Bowls shop and catering on-site. Check out the North Wales Bowls Centre weblink right for more details. Advanced booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. North Wales Bowls Centre, Ffrith Beach, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, North Wales. LL19 7AR. Tel: (01745) 886100.

Prestatyn Nova Centre, Central Beach, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 7EY. Tel: 01745 888021.

Prestatyn Tourist Information Centre, The Offa's Dyke Interpretation Centre, Central Beach, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 7EY. Tel / Fax: 01745 889092.

Prestatyn Beaches & Watersports

Three fab golden sandy beaches are here at Prestatyn, all of which have seasonal lifeguard patrols. Ffrith Beach, Central Beach (Blue Flag beach) and Barkby Beach all have a unique style of their own.

Taken together these three Prestatyn sandy beaches stretch for about 4 miles, with a promenade running the full length. Perfect for cycling and gentle walking, Prestatyn's promenade offers spectacular views, with on clear days both Great Orme and Snowdonia coming into sight. Note the windfarms offshore in the sea.

Easterly Barkby Beach is backed on by the Gronant Sand Dunes, an official Nature Reserve. Listed in the Good Beach Guide, this beach has superb ater qaulity with adjacent car park, sailing club and nearby Prestatyn Golf Course. Historic Pontins Prestatyn Sands is also up this end.

Nearest to Prestatyn town centre is Central Beach which has good disabled access and adjacent large car park. Central Beach has an ENCAMS Seaside award for quality - it's a blue flag beach this one! Nearby is the Nova centre an a Crazy Golf Course, plus local town centre amenities.

Prestatyn Pontins Holiday Camp History, Holiday on the Buses at Pontins Prestatyn

For those interested in Pontins and Butlins holiday camp history you're in for a treat in Prestatyn. Pontins had two centres here at Prestatyn at one time - Tower Beach and Prestatyn Sands.

The famous Tower Beach Prestatyn Pontins with it's fascinating architecture which included an enormous white tower was considered one of the best holiday camps in Wales. Tower beach began life in 1939 and was bought by Pontins in 1971. Sadly the buildings including the big white tower were demolished in 2001, and replaced by a housing estate - a sign of the times. You can read all about the history of Pontins Tower beach on the Pontins weblink right, and see photos of how this renowned holiday camp looked in the 1960s.

Better news for holiday camp history fans is that Pontins Prestatyn Sands is still open, albeit as a holiday centre, modernised and offering what today's family holidaymakers expect including a choice of outdoor leisure facilities and kids clubs (see Today's Prestatyn Sands weblink right for details).

Pontins Prestatyn Sands was the location for the 1973 Holiday on the Buses film, and a tour round todays Prestatyn Sands reveal that many of the buildings in the film - including the chalets, main reception, swimming pool and kids boating lake still survive. A trip down holiday camp memory lane indeed, with a modern twist. Check the North Wales Film and Television Trail weblink right for more details on film and tv which have been filmed in the North Wales area - it's a great scheme involving putting up plaques to commemorate the location. Note the Holiday on the Buses plaque at the Front Gate of Pontins Prestatyn - magic!

Prestatyn Hillside, Offas Dyke National Trail and Local Walking

Prestatyn is uniquely sheltered by the backdrop of the Prestatyn Hillside which consists of a mix of woodland and limestone outcrops. The hillside behind Prestatyn is essentially the northern tip of the Clwydian Range, a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty (see Clwydian Range weblink right for details on walking, mountain biking and prehistoric sites in this area). The hillside is carpeted with stunning woodland and is prime walking territory. You can hook into the Offa's Dyke National Trail from the hillside too.

Onto the Offa's Dyke National Trail (see weblinks right) which is so closely associated with Prestatyn as it begins or ends here (whichever way you decide to walk it). Offa's Dyke is a particularly popular UK let alone Welsh walking trail, stretching 177 miles from Prestatyn down along the Welsh and English borders to Chepstow in the South.

Passing through 8 different counties and taking in various Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) including the Clwydian Hills, the Shropshire Hills and the Wye Valley, you don't have to walk it all in one go (although some do usually across around 2 weeks). Dipping into this stunning Welsh Trail is easy, especially from Prestatyn. The Bodfari to Prestatyn most northerly section of the trail is only around 12 miles and takes in the sublime Clwydian Hills.

Check the official Offa's Dyke Trail website right for a breakdown of sections of the trail. Pick up guides at Prestatyn's tourist information centre.

Prestatyn Golf Courses

Prestatyn's famous coastal golf course is a championship links course - the coastal views are superb. It dates from 1905 this golf course, and it's mostly flat with a par of 72. Expect fine greens, plus a Clubhouse, restaurant and lounge bar on-site.

Prestatyn Golf Club, Marine Road East, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 7HS. Tel: 01745 854320. (website right)

St Melyd Golf Club, also in Prestatyn, is a bit of a well kept secret as regards Welsh golf courses. It's an 18 hole golf course this one, and a testing course indeed set within pretty parkland. Expect views of the sea, the Great Orme nature reserve and even Snowdonia from this golf course. St Melyd Golf Club's website is listed right for details.

St Melyd Golf Club, The Paddock, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, North Wales, LL19 9BN. Tel: 01745 854405.

Featured Wales Accommodation

Craig y Nos Castle - Penycae

Fantastic, romantic castle in the Swansea Valley, Brecon beacons. Ideal venue for parties and excellent conference, wedding and banqueting facilities.

£25 to £123 Per person B&B (2 sharing)

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