£20 train journey takes you from Birmingham to ‘virgin’ sandy beach, but there’s a caveat

There’s a ‘rare’ and important beach a train ride from Birmingham, where the ever-changing sand dunes are home to incredible wildlife, wildflowers grow inland and the waters are shallow enough to paddle. Morfa Dyffryn is described as “unspoiled and beautiful” by visitors who love the wide stretches of clean, sun-drenched sand on a clear day.

Served by Talybont railway station, which you can reach from New Street without any changes, Morfa Dyffryn beach is a national nature reserve that offers views of the Llŷn Peninsula. There are picnic tables and a wide promenade suitable for wheelchairs and prams and plenty of space for families to picnic and play.

The landscape changes throughout the year, with beautiful orchids appearing in spring alongside rare wildflowers in the dune meadows. However, more colorful flowers appear in the summer, lively with butterflies such as the peacock and guards, and by autumn the mushroom “vistas” appear, featuring multi-colored wax caps, tongues of the earth and other wonderful mushrooms.

Read more: Small village a train journey from Birmingham with sandy beaches and an award winning restaurant

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Then, in the winter, you’ll see wild winter birds feeding on the salt marsh and sands. Wintering grebes and divers are also in the water at that time of year.

But while the beach sounds idyllic any time of year, there’s something you need to know—a one-mile stretch is a naturist beach where visitors strip off their kit and walk around naked. Everything is clearly signposted, but worth noting if you’re of a delicate disposition.

It’s handy if you come on the train from Birmingham and forget your swimming trunks. If you’d rather walk around the prom fully dressed, there’s a lovely train journey right along the coast that takes you to Barmouth.

Away from the beaches, Talybont is close to some truly fascinating historical sites including Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber and Cors y Gedol – Neolithic site. You can also travel to Harlech and it’s dramatic castle.