The Llŷn Peninsula (pronounced "Hlin") is a narrow arm of land extending 50 km westward from Snowdonia into the Irish Sea, one of Wales's most beautiful and least-spoiled coastal regions. It is narrow enough that you can drive from the north coast to the south in minutes, but the two coasts have quite different characters: the north is more exposed and dramatic, the south more sheltered.
The beaches are exceptional and many are National Trust property. Porth Oer (Whistling Sands) on the north coast is famous for the dry sand that squeaks underfoot — a result of the spherical quartz grains rubbing against each other. Porth Ysgo on the south coast is less visited and arguably more beautiful. Beyond Aberdaron at the tip of the peninsula, the headland above Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) offers magnificent views and a strong sense of the world's edge.
The peninsula is deeply Welsh-speaking — over 70% of the population use Welsh as their first language — and has a strong cultural identity. Abersoch on the south coast is a popular sailing resort. Criccieth, at the eastern end of the south coast, has an attractive castle and was the birthplace of David Lloyd George. The Italian-inspired village of Portmeirion nearby is a must-see architectural curiosity, and the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog is one of the finest narrow-gauge lines in Britain.