North Wales is one of the sailing hot spots of the UK, with the region being rich in sailing clubs and facilities, plus offering challenging coastal waters and stunning scenery which will never get old no matter how many times you see it.

Irrespective of whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, there are plenty of great reasons to try sailing in North Wales. In addition to the scenery, you’ll also be able to take in the remarkable sea life in this region which includes friendly seals and even dolphins. 

To help you get started, we thought we’d put together a helpful guide showing the best places to go sailing in North Wales and the best facilities in the area to take advantage of. 

Sailing in North Wales for Beginners

Firstly, if you are looking to take up sailing for the first time, you will find that there are plenty of sailing schools in the region who can help to get you up to speed.

One of the closest to Tan Rallt Holiday Park can be found at Porth Eirias in Colwyn Bay. Here they offer state of the art facilities and tuition which provides you with all the essentials you will need to become a fully fledged professional. 

Another option is the Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre in the Menai Strait which offers RYA-certified courses for dinghies, keelboats and yachts. 

However, one of the most renowned sailing schools in North Wales can be found in Pwllheli in the form of the prestigious Welsh National Sailing Academy. Their HQ is ideally located right next to Pwllheli marina, providing students with direct access to the waters around Cardigan Bay. 

Best Locations for Sailing in North Wales

We’ve already mentioned some of the many virtues of sailing in North Wales, but which areas in particular are the best places to go sailing in the region? Here are some of our top picks:

Conwy Harbour

One of the closest to Tan Rallt Holiday Park is Conwy Harbour. Here the Conwy Yacht Club welcomes sailors of all abilities, in addition to providing training programmes and fun member events.

If you opt to base yourself here you will benefit from sheltered moorings and picturesque views of the impressive 13th century Conwy Castle at an historic harbour which affords you access to the Conwy River and open sea. From here you can go on to explore iconic landmarks such as the Great Orme and Puffin Island.

Bala Lake

If you are looking for a location which is perfect for beginners, then there is nowhere better to go sailing in North Wales than Bala Lake. This is the largest lake in the region and provides calm conditions for fresh water sailing with exceptional mountain views. 

The Bala Sailing Club is located on-site here and offers boat hire alongside training courses so that you can get yourself fully up to speed before heading onto the waters under your own steam. 

There are plenty of facilities to take advantage of on-site too, with ample parking opportunities and a number of excellent cafes where you can reward yourself for a job well done. This includes the nearby Loch Cafe which has been in operation for over 100 years. 

Pwllheli Marina

Earlier in this post we noted the Welsh National Sailing Academy as one of the best providers of training in the region for aspiring sailors. However, this is also a great place to base yourself if you are to take up sailing in North Wales.

Pwllheli marina and the Welsh National Sailing Academy are both located right across the bay from our sister resort, Gimblet Rock Holiday Park. If you are going to be sailing regularly during your time in the region, then you may be interested in becoming a holiday home owner at Gimblet Rock Holiday Park. You can see the full list of holiday homes for sale in Pwllheli at our sister resort here. 

Sailing Events in North Wales

Once you are fully qualified to go sailing, then you may want to take part in one of the many sailing events in North Wales. This includes the Pwllheli Regatta which is hosted by the Pwllheli Sailing Club in the waters around Cardigan Bay. 

Another popular event in the North Wales sailing calendar is the annual Menai Strait Regatta which aims to celebrate traditional sailing with a series of races along the Strait.