Pwllheli is
a town on the south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in
north Wales. It
is known as the capital of the Llyn and is also the main
market town with a weekly market each Wednesday. In the mid 20th Century
it was probably most famous as the home to a Butlin's Holiday Camp. Although
they are much derided these days the camps were very popular with British
holiday makers after the hardships of the post war years. Indeed Butlins
Pwllheli was not only a cheap and cheerful holiday
that offered many attractions for young families but it also had the
added attraction of being in a beautiful seaside location.(Yours truly
enjoyed several happy holidays with our
then young family in Butlins Pwllheli.)
Today with the option of cheap foreign holidays the "Holiday Camps"
of yester-year have lost their attraction but Pwllheli is fortunate to
be located in the heart of the beautiful Lleyn peninsula
and with it also being ideally placed on the Cardigan Bay coast it is now
enjoying a revival as a centre for sailing and people who like messing
about in boats.
Indeed today Pwllheli can boast one of the finest yachting venues
in Western Britain wih over 400 pontoon berths and excellent onshore
facilities. And with access at virtually all states of the tide, it provides
a gateway to some of the best sailing waters in the UK.
The Hafan Marina was among the first six marinas in the UK to be awarded
a European Blue Flag in recognition of it's high standards
of safety and water cleanliness.
For landlubbers
and beachcombers Pwllheli has two beaches, South Beach which is mainly
shingle and stretches from Carreg yr Imbill west towards
Llanbedrog, and Glan-y-mor Beach which is located at the rear
of the marina workshops. Glan-y-mor beach
is quite muddy at low tide near the harbour mouth but improves further
along the beach. The Glan-y-mor beach runs east for some 3 miles towards
Pen-y-chain headland where once stood the Butlins Holiday Camp.
With the revival of the traditional seaside holidays
and the continual growth in sailing the town of Pwllheli and it's
Marina can look forward to a bright future in the 21st Century and offers
a perfect location for a seaside holiday.
