Traeth Bychan Beach, Maritime History and Quiet, Sheltered Anglesey Beach, Great for Dinghy Launch

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.

As the 4×4 reversed down the small slipway onto the sand, a few keen but tired sailors waded into the water in wetsuit to help align the boat on the trolley. This is quite a good spot to launch a boat, except in a strong easterly gale, given its position relative to the prevailing winds on Anglesey. The dinghy park is home to Mirrors, GP14’s, Lasers, Toppers and others.

There are some interesting rock formations along the sides of Traeth Bychan beach, above which is a thick grassy slope. Here you will also find the Anglesey Coastal Path meandering its way between Benllech and Moelfre to the north, and its easy to access the path from near the beach. Go down the lane past the shop and car park to your right, on the corner to the left is the entrance to the path behind a white beach cottage.

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.

A good time to come to this quiet, sheltered beach is autumn and winter, when you can really appreciate the fine sea views and coastal walks, with little if any boating activity taking place. Traeth Bychan has a historic angle which many are not aware of, relating to a maritime incident in Liverpool bay.

The “T” class submarine HMS Thetis was built in Cammell Laird shipyard in 1938. On 1 June 1939 she slipped her mooring in the Mersey with 103 crew aboard and made out for Liverpool Bay to carry out some manoeuvres. While on these trials some unusual extreme event took place which proved catastrophic and all crewmen except four were lost. Some months later, after HMS Thetis was recovered from the sea bed she was beached on the Anglesey coast at 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.