Beautiful seaside village that Northerners love but Londoners ‘missing out on’

With sunny weather finally nervously peaking its way around the high rises on London's skyline, some of us might be looking at that horizon and thinking what lies beyond. Quite often in a summery British mind, if you push past the beer gardens and the Euros, the dream of a sunny beach day in a coastal UK village is a perfect day out.

Abersoch in Gwynedd, Wales, could be the setting of that dream according to Northerners who flock there after it was named one of the best places to live in Wales in 2017. Sandy beaches, rolling country hills and white-washed country cottages dot the landscape - the idyllic UK seaside village.

Despite it being hidden away from any major urban setting there is still a surprising amount going on in the village and its surrounding areas. It is a hot spot for outdoor activities and water sports which you can take part in or watch from any of there beautiful sandy coves or beaches.

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Abersoch Beach has enjoyed blue flag status in the past and its easy to see why. With pristine sandy shores carpeting the foot of the rolling Welsh hills down to the shore it really is the perfect place to set up camp while the kids play and get stuck into a good book. The nearby Harbour Beach is also a beauty, the cove is dotted with moored sailing boats and lined with quaint white cottages overlooking the sea views.

But they're not just for lounging about on here in Abersoch. No, no the beach is a way of life there so there are all sorts of activities you can do like crabbing on the harbour wall. Dangling a piece of bacon for unsuspecting crabs is hilariously rewarding and fun for all the family, it's also free provided you've got a line, bacon and a bucket. In Abersoch they even have an annual crab catching competition, it's that serious there.

Surfing, sailing and paddleboarding is also another great thing to do while in Abersoch. In fact, they have loads of events like the Dragon Northerns sailing event on July 7 to 8, the Dragon Edinburgh Cup is another sailing event on Junl 9 to 13. Abersoch Dinghy Week runs from July 20 to 26. There are several other races and events to watch as the summer goes on too like the Seabird Open, the Squib Welsh Open, Abbersoch Mirror Week and Abersoch Keelboat Week. For more information about their events, click here.

But its not all about being active and outside in Abersoch either, they also have some fantastic eateries around too. The Potted Lobster is one of the top-rated restaurants in the village using delicious locally sourced fish from around the coastline. It's right at the heart of the village, a stone's throw from the sea where the fish on your plate were caught. You can enjoy the delicious food and a selection of cocktails on their sun terrace.

The Cove is another stunning restaurant right on the coastline with awe-inspiring uninterrupted sea views. It too has locally sourced fish and gourmet food prepared by executive chef Bruce Elsworth. You can chow down on some seafood while sipping a glass of wine and watching the sun go down across the eternal horizon of the sea. Fresh Cafe Bar is also a top spot in Abersoch with fresh fish dishes in the bar restaurant bistro affair with a good number of cocktails.

Abersoch is surrounded by Welsh beauty too. Near the village over, Plas Glyn y Weddw is a fabulous art gallery set inside a beautiful country manor. The Grand Summer Exhibition showcases a diverse portfolio of over 100 Talented Welsh artists with other solo and group shows throughout the year from traditional to cutting-edge contemporary, Abersoch Life said. There are art courses available here throughout the year as well as a magical open-air theatre where Shakespeare comes alive.

While in Plas Glyn y Weddw you can't miss the strikingly unique Iron Man sculpture, (AKA the Tin Man, though iron sounds much cooler). He stands at the summit of a nearby hill where a steady woodland climb leads you out to the heather-clad peak which he looks over. On a clear day you can gaze out across Llandbedrog beach and over the bay to majestic Snowdonia and if the wind picks up you may even hear him sing.

A little further afield is the incredible ZipWorld, home to Europe's longest zip line, stretching over a mile at 500ft where riders can reach up to 100mph. The park also is home to Bounce Below - the world’s largest underground trampoline in an enormous Snowdonia cavern twice the size of St Paul’s Cathedral - with a light show.

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