At a glance
Red-painted beach pub on National Trust Porth Dinllaen cove — accessible only on foot (25 min from Morfa Nefyn car park). One of Britain's most photographed seaside pubs, serving food and drinks on the sand with views across Caernarfon Bay. Seasonal hours. LL53 6DB.
About Tŷ Coch Inn
Tŷ Coch Inn stands at the end of a row of former fishermen's cottages on the beach at Porth Dinllaen — a small National Trust cove on the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula. The pub has occupied this spot since at least the 19th century, when it served the local fishing fleet and occasional vessels sheltering in the bay. Porth Dinllaen itself was, in the early 19th century, a serious candidate for the main packet-boat port to Ireland — a House of Commons vote in 1839 chose Holyhead instead by a narrow margin, and the cove was spared the development that would have followed.
The pub's fame today rests on its extraordinary combination of setting and atmosphere: a genuinely old seaside pub, painted red, sitting directly on a sandy beach accessible only on foot or by sea, with fishing boats pulled up on the sand in front and open water across to the Wicklow Hills of Ireland on clear days. It appears in countless lists of the finest seaside pubs in Britain and is one of the most photographed spots on the Llŷn Peninsula. In summer it is busy — outdoor benches fill quickly on fine afternoons — but it retains the feel of a proper working pub rather than a tourist trap.
The walk from the Morfa Nefyn car park takes around 25 minutes across the Nefyn and District Golf Club links — a public right of way crosses the course — and descends to the beach and the hamlet below. The beach at Porth Dinllaen is one of the finest on the Llŷn, sheltered and clean, and the walk alone is worth making even if the pub is not the primary destination. Check hours before visiting: the pub is seasonal and closed or limited in winter.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
Tŷ Coch Inn sits directly on the beach at Porth Dinllaen — a small horseshoe cove on the north coast of the <span lang="cy">Llŷn</span> Peninsula, owned by the National Trust. It is the red-painted building you can see in countless photographs with fishing boats on the sand in front and open sea beyond. The pub is not accessible by road: the only approaches are on foot across the golf course from Morfa Nefyn (approximately 1.5 miles, 25–30 minutes) or by sea.
Park at Morfa Nefyn (LL53 6BY) and walk across the Nefyn and District Golf Club links to reach the beach path descending to Porth Dinllaen. The route across the golf course is a public right of way — follow the waymarked path and give way to golfers. The walk takes around 25 minutes each way on uneven ground, so wear suitable footwear. The beach itself is sandy and the pub is at the far end of the small hamlet of fishermen's cottages. There is a small boat slip if you arrive by sea.
Tŷ Coch (pronounced tuh-coch, meaning "red house") serves real ales, lagers, wines, and soft drinks alongside a food menu that typically includes pub classics, seafood dishes, and snacks. The menu is seasonal — check the website before visiting. The pub is especially popular in summer for its outdoor benches directly on the beach. It can get busy on fine weekend afternoons; arriving early or on a weekday gives a better chance of a table. There is no booking — seating is first come, first served.
Opening hours are seasonal and vary year to year. The pub typically opens daily through the summer months (May to September) and may close or reduce hours in winter. It is advisable to check the current hours on the Tŷ Coch Inn website (tycoch.co.uk) before making the walk, as nothing is more disappointing than arriving to find it closed. The pub does not have a phone booking system and fills on a walk-in basis only.
Tŷ Coch ("Red House" in Welsh) has been listed among the top beach bars and seaside pubs in the world by a number of publications — its combination of an extraordinary location (directly on a National Trust beach accessible only on foot), a photogenic red exterior against the blue-green sea, and a genuine pub atmosphere has made it one of the most recognisable images of the <span lang="cy">Llŷn</span> Peninsula. The pub has existed in some form since the 19th century, originally serving the fishing community and occasional vessels calling at Porth Dinllaen — which was once seriously considered as the main Irish ferry port instead of Holyhead.