Andy Burnham has been admonished for his ‘blokeish’ obsession with pubs and football, but the reality is that his Government is packed with powerful women competing for his ear and influencing his policies.

The effect, according to one long-standing Burnham ally, has been to create ‘a bit of a Mean Girls atmosphere’ – a reference to the celebrated 2004 Hollywood film about cut-throat schoolgirl cliques. 

Playing Regina George – the queen bee of North Shore High in the movie – is Louise Haigh, who as First Secretary of State is the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in all but name.

Trailing in her wake are former DPM Angela Rayner and Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell, who were both forced to accept more junior positions in Mr Burnham’s Cabinet than they hoped for: Ms Rayner went back to her old job as Housing Secretary while Ms Powell was handed the job of Education Secretary.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper complete the impressive roster of senior positions held by women.

A source says: ‘Be in no doubt, Louise played a huge role in that process.’

Complicating the picture is the formidable presence of Antonia Romeo, the first-ever female Cabinet Secretary (CS). 

Described by colleagues in Civil Service parlance as ‘strong-willed’ – she has been investigated and exonerated over bullying claims – there are already understood to be tensions between her and Ms Haigh.

Louise Haigh as First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Andy Burnham pictured leaving Millbank studios after speaking on LBC’s Andrew Marr show 

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A Whitehall source said: ‘Haigh wants to be the only one who has Andy’s ear, and is now moving to block Antonia when she tries to circumvent her. She basically wants to kill anyone who gets in between her and Andy.’ 

Another source said: ‘We appear to have in the first female CS someone who doesn’t seem to like the women around her very much.’

Ms Haigh’s ascent – which has been accompanied by a ‘glow up’ makeover in which she ditched her trademark red hair – can be traced back to just four months into Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership when she was forced to resign over the revelation she had pleaded guilty to fraud in 2014.

She was enraged that she had been defenestrated despite informing No 10 about the false report of a stolen phone when she was appointed.

For Ms Haigh, revenge was a dish best served over the following 18 months.

In November, The Mail on Sunday reported how she had been overheard in an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden discussing how to remove Sir Keir. 

Ms Haigh denied plotting, but multiple sources said that she was using the Tribune group of Left-wing Labour MPs to machinate against the PM.

Then, on December 14, this newspaper splashed on its front page the exclusive revelation that Mr Burnham had struck a deal to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election to return to the Commons. 

Education Secretary Lucy Powell arriving in Downing Street in central London on July 28

Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo departs from the British Museum in London

Burnham’s cabinet has been likened to having a ‘mean girls’ atmosphere rather than being too blokeish

He was blocked by No 10, but the first blow had been struck, and Mr Burnham’s and Ms Haigh’s destinies started to dovetail.

Ms Powell, a long-standing friend of Mr Burnham, had been widely tipped to become DPM after she voted against the ruling NEC’s block on Mr Burnham’s attempt to stand in Gorton and Denton. 

But tensions grew in the aftermath of Labour’s disastrous results in the May 7 local elections – the Burnham camp were infuriated by Ms Powell’s warning against a leadership challenge.

‘We do not do hostile takeovers in the Labour Party, it’s not what we’re about,’ she said.

‘Unhelpful’, was the verdict of a member of Mr Burnham’s inner-circle. ‘She seemed to be keeping her options open for a run herself.’

Many Labour insiders had assumed that Mr Burnham would re-align the post of DPM with the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, with both positions previously held by Ms Rayner.

However, the popular Ms Powell ended up in the education berth, as third choice behind Rachel Reeves and former Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

One Labour source claimed: ‘Lucy doesn’t want to be there. She thought she was going to be DPM.’ Her allies dispute that, saying she preferred to have her own department to being a titular No 2.

Pictured: Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Britain’s Minister of State in the Cabinet Office Louise Haigh and Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service

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Ms Rayner’s star has also waned after months of speculation that she had formed a pact with Mr Burnham in advance of his coup.

As recently as March, he was encouraging the chatter by describing her in public as ‘Queen of the North’ – a direct reference to his own moniker of King of the North.

But Mr Burnham’s allies complained that darling of the Left Ms Rayner was ‘inscrutable’ during meetings to discuss how to seize power, and they ‘lost trust’ in her after a photographer was tipped off about a secret meeting between the pair in April.

The result was the return to housing rather than one of the Great Offices of State.

A source said: ‘Louise has played a blinder by making her ambitions clear from the start. Lucy and Angela in particular seemed to be hedging their bets and playing double games. 

It has led to a bit of Mean Girls paranoia in their camps about what Louise might have whispered in Andy’s ear.’

Ms Haigh’s ‘glow-up’ has coincided with the immaculate power-play. Francesca Cairns, a colour analysis expert, described her new hairstyle as ‘a warmer, less saturated auburn’ with sunglasses ‘adding a layer of deliberate authority’.

Ms Cairns said: ‘The wardrobe has followed the same logic, fewer competing hues, more flattering neutrals and soft structure, which reads as polished rather than performative.

‘I also think the change tracks the step-up in responsibility. First Secretary is a different level of visibility and expectation.

‘The earlier look was distinctive and memorable for a departmental secretary – this one projects calm competence and gravitas. It feels like a conscious recalibration towards being taken more seriously in the role.’

It was reported this weekend that Mr Burnham has been told by No 10 social media experts to be less ‘blokeish’ in his posts by cutting boorish references to football and the pub.

But according to a Labour source quoted by The Spectator magazine, Mr Burnham should instead be described as ‘Labour’s first female Prime Minister’ – because of his sheer number of female advisers, backers and senior ministers keen to push policy issues deemed to be particularly important to women, such as social care and family finances.

The most influential of those ‘advisers and backers’, of course, is his spouse Marie-France ‘Frankie’ van Heel – described as a ‘blunt wife’ because of her reaction to his announcement that he was going to run for leader: ‘What? Not again?’

A Burnham ally described their marriage to the MoS. ‘She definitely wears the trousers,’ they said. ‘She is the reason why he went on holiday last week despite his pressing workload.

‘She put her foot down and said that family time was sacrosanct. There was never any doubt that he would have to go.’

Last night a No 10 source strongly denied that there were any tensions between Ms Haigh and the Cabinet Secretary, saying: ‘This is simply not true.’

RACHAEL Maskell is blinded by her rigid political ideology when she calls for Bootham Park Hospital to remain in public hands irrespective of practical reality or financial limitations.

If a public body with the resources of the NHS is not able to fund the enormous cost of repair and maintenance of that Grade 1 listed structure how on earth does she expect some other public entity to find another beneficial use that doesn’t drain yet more taxpayers’ money at a time of serious budget deficits at both local and national level?

In calling for “a coalition of the willing” to come together to keep the property in public ownership, simply for the sake of it, the Labour MP for York Central is showing her blinkered political prejudice of “four legs good, two legs bad” as demonstrated by George Orwell in his allegorical story Animal Farm.

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayors Walk,

York

Recommended reading:

‘Scandal’ of £5.5m wasted on Bootham Park Hospital – ‘give it to people of York’

People must ‘urgently come together’ to keep ex-York hospital site for public – MP

Mayor ‘committed’ to working with MP to safeguard future of ex-York hospital site

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I was left with a mountain of cardboard boxes after moving into a new flat and had no idea how to dispose of them.

Recently, I tackled one of life’s most stressful undertakings. No, it wasn’t a divorce — but I did move house.

Relocating is consistently ranked among the top three most stressful life events, yet having moved four times in two years, I felt reasonably well prepared.

What I hadn’t anticipated, however, was that moving into a completely unfurnished flat would be an entirely different experience from my previous moves. One thing I simply hadn’t considered was the sheer volume of cardboard that accumulates — not only from transporting my own modest belongings, but from ordering an entirely new set of furniture.

Before long, it had consumed the bedroom, the lounge and the office.

Wherever I turned, there was cardboard, and it rapidly became apparent that I hadn’t the faintest idea what to do with it.

The council refused to collect it because it wouldn’t fit in a bin with a closed lid. Without a car to transport it to a recycling centre, and with an expired licence ruling out hiring one, I was well and truly stuck.

According to waste management specialists at Wheeldon Brothers, my predicament is far from unusual.

A spokesperson said: “After moving house, it’s completely normal to be left with dozens of cardboard boxes. The problem is that many people assume bin crews will take everything in one go, but that’s often not how collections work.

“Most councils have limits on how much recycling they’ll collect, and large amounts of cardboard can quickly exceed those limits.”

Having well and truly exceeded the limit, I did the only thing I could think of without access to a car — I threw money at the problem.

I ended up forking out £105 for a private contractor to collect my surplus cardboard, and that was the most competitive quote I could find.

Other firms were looking to charge as much as £150 for the removal, which was a touch beyond the pale even for someone in my predicament.

I did have to haul my boxes down four flights of stairs and leave them outside for collection — but by the afternoon, every last one had gone, and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

For those who haven’t quite accumulated the sheer mountain of cardboard I had, a spokesperson for Wheeldon Brothers told me there are several ways to increase the likelihood that the council will collect your recycling.

They advised that people should flatten all their cardboard boxes and ensure any polystyrene or soft plastics are removed beforehand.

They explained: “Flattening boxes isn’t just about saving space in your wheelie bin. It helps maximise space in the collection vehicle too.

“If cardboard is left in large, bulky pieces, crews may have to leave it behind because there simply isn’t enough room.”

Planning ahead as much as possible is also strongly recommended. They added: “Moving house inevitably creates more waste than normal, but planning ahead makes a big difference.

“Flatten boxes, remove packaging materials and check your council’s recycling guidance. If you’ve got far more cardboard than your bin can accommodate, a trip to the local recycling centre is often the quickest and easiest solution.”

He didn’t score many points in his brief stint in the pros — but an ex-NBA player running for Congress appears to be going to great lengths to make one.

Former NBA bust and current Republican Senate candidate Royce White has announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming he now identifies as transgender — for athletic purposes, anyway.

“I’m transgender. I’m a woman. I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball, professional basketball, so I’ll be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well,” White, 35, told Fox News Saturday.

White’s announcement comes one day after former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who is a man, said he also plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. Freedom’s statement followed comments from WNBA player Sophie Cunningham about transgender athletes that renewed a heated debate on the league’s policies for transgender players. It also comes as President Donald Trump has made barring transgender women from from competing in women’s sports.

White, a 6’8” forward who played just three games in the NBA, all in 2014, continued Saturday, “I think I’d be unstoppable. But I’m a team-first guy. I’m a pass-first kind of player. I do the little things. I led my team in all five major stat categories at Iowa State University, so I do a little bit of everything. I’ll do whatever the coach needs me to do. I’ll do whatever the girls need me to do.”

“I think it’s only fair,” he added.

Freedom said he reviewed the WNBA’s eligibility rules before announcing his plans to enter the league and believes he meets the requirements to play.

The WNBA’s 2026 collective bargaining agreement states in Article XIII that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” However, the 409-page agreement does not define what qualifies as a “woman” for eligibility purposes.

Following Freedom’s announcement, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association said in a statement: “We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion. Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.”

“Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations,” the group added in the Instagram post. “But we will not be used as political pawns.”

White said Saturday that the WNBA could end the controversy by clearly stating its policy on whether males are eligible to compete in women’s sports.

“I think the WNBA could come out and make a definitive statement about guys with a pair of balls playing in the Women’s Association,” he said, adding he will continue moving forward in his draft bid unless the league addresses the controversial issue.

In a memo obtained by the Associated Press, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told teams that a discussion about the inclusion of trans athletes “will continue to receive significant attention.”

“I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism,” she wrote Friday.

“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert continued. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”

White further claimed he could take legal action if he is not drafted or signed by a WNBA team.

“I have to file a discrimination lawsuit, right? I mean, that’s, that’s ridiculous,” he told Fox News. “We’re gonna have to have a huge legal battle about discrimination if I can’t play.”

White was selected 16th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Iowa State but never played for the team because of severe anxiety and a fear of flying.

Nowadays, he is running in Minnesota’s August 11 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. White previously ran as the Republican nominee against Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2024 but lost the general election.

The debate over transgender athletes in the WNBA intensified last month after Cunningham, a guard for the Indiana Fever, criticized trans participation in women’s sports.

“I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Cunningham told ESPN, later doubling down on her comments, claiming they were “common sense.”

The Independent has contacted the WNBA and WNBPA for comment.

British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as a rapidly spreading wildfire devastates communities, forcing over 20,000 residents to evacuate their homes along Okanagan Lake in western Canada.

Premier David Eby announced the emergency Saturday, with over 100 wildfires currently raging across the province. Nearly half of these blazes are out of control, fueled by hot, windy conditions and a prolonged drought.

The entire community of Summerland, home to approximately 12,000 people, received overnight evacuation orders, alongside 8,000 individuals in and around nearby Peachland. Officials have yet to determine how many homes were destroyed.

Eby confirmed some residents became trapped and required rescue, while search-and-rescue teams continue to comb areas behind fire lines for any others who may have been caught.

“I know many families are facing an unimaginable day today,” Eby said. “People have lost their homes. And many people have been displaced. Others are waiting for news about loved ones.”

Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations for the BC Wildfire Service, said firefighting helicopters were diverted to rescue people who could no longer escape by road. He said the outcome would have been significantly worse without cooperation among agencies responding to the fire.

The Bald Range wildfire was first reported on Friday evening but grew to about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) within hours, overwhelming the smaller community of Faulder and covering the roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) to Summerland at extraordinary speed.

Chapman described fire conditions across British Columbia as “explosive” and warned that other communities could face fires similar to the one that forced the evacuation of Summerland.

British Columbia Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said the state of emergency gives the province additional powers, including the ability to restrict travel and secure accommodations for evacuees that might otherwise be unavailable.

Erick Thompson, an emergency official with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, called it one of the “quickest-moving, fastest-growing” wildfires the region had experienced.

Thompson eventually had to abandon the emergency operations center and evacuate his own family.

“I had to leave the EOC to come and get my family to leave this area. We’re heading south,” he said in a video posted early Saturday from his vehicle as traffic backed up around him.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show multiple homes burning as residents fled along roads with flames on both sides.

Homeowner Kerry Gold and her husband, Mike Elsinga, fled around 12:30 a.m. after watching flames spread beyond nearby mountains.

“It’s scary. It’s moving fast,” Gold said.

The couple, who recently moved from the city of Vancouver, had packed bags, prepared a carrier for their cat and planned to help a disabled friend evacuate.

“You want to stay here and protect your home, but you also don’t want to get caught in it,” Elsinga said.

Canada has endured increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, forcing mass evacuations and repeatedly sending smoke across large parts of Canada and the United States.

It’s not unusual for the soaps to switch around to accommodate the broadcaster’s football coverage, and this week viewers can expect exactly that.

Here is the TV schedule you’ll need to know about if you’re a fan of the soaps.

Emmerdale and Coronation Street fans can’t watch new episode on Wednesday

On Wednesday, August 12, ITV will air the Manchester United v Leeds United pre-season friendly from 7pm, with the kick-off at 7.30pm.

Coverage of the game will run until 10pm on ITV1, meaning the usual Emmerdale and Coronation Street slots are replaced by it.

While both soaps will run as usual otherwise next week, there is no Sunday (August 16) episode scheduled at the time of writing.

This means, as things stand, soap fans will be down a 30-minute episode of each show compared to their usual schedules of five episodes per week, but this could change.

Coleen Nolan reveals she auditioned for Emmerdale and Coronation Street

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan tried to secure acting gigs on both Emmerdale and Corrie, she has revealed.

Speaking on her Nolans Uncensored podcast, she said: “I can’t audition.

“I’m just really bad at auditions, my nerves get the better of me.

Corrie’s top 5 villains

“I’ve only done literally about two in my career because I walk in going, ‘I will do this rubbish,’ because that’s how nervous I am.

“I didn’t get them.

“[One was] Emmerdale, I auditioned.

“And I think Corrie was one of them.”

The 61-year-old, who was previously married to EastEnders actor Shane Richie, admitted that the thought of a full-time soap role was daunting.

She said: “It’s proper work.

“I don’t think I’ve got the mentality to do that.

“It’s a long, it’s really hard.

“I wanted to say to them that I couldn’t do this part [the audition] but give me the job, and I’ll be able to do it.”

Will you be watching Emmerdale and Coronation Street next week? Tell us in the comments below.

If you’ve managed to bag a babysitter, or just find yourself at a loose end this summer, and are looking for something to do here’s a hearty list of activities and events you might like

It’s the height of the summer holidays and while the kids are no doubt having a whale of a time, it’s not all about them.

Over the next month there’s events all across the country for adults to spend a day at, and plenty of places to go if you’ve got the day off and no one else to entertain.

From cracking boat trips to see the eclipse, to food festivals, secluded beach walks and fine dining from fine chefs for foodies, check out our list below. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here

Have a celestial evening boat trip

On August 12 a special boat trip will run to Caldey Island from Tenby, after normal visiting hours for the solar eclipse. This rare trip will see visitors remain on the island after normal visiting hours and gather at Caldey’s iconic lighthouse to watch the eclipse unfold.

This special event offers a rare chance to remain on Caldey Island after the last day visitors have departed. Tickets are £44.04 and can be booked, here.

A day at the races

Ffos Las Racecourse’s Ladies Day is back for summer 2026 and will fashion meet fast-paced racing with prices for the most stylish at the course.

Live music, cocktails and food make it a full fun day, with a little flutter, too, if you’re tempted.

Ffos Las is in Carmarthenshire, tickets start at £24. For more information, click here.

City fine-dining by the coast

For those who are interested in city fine dining on the Welsh coast Simmons by the Sea returns to Newport, Pembrokeshire this summer, taking over Tides Kitchen & Wine Bar on Market Street for four weeks throughout August. Launched on July 31, the seasonal pop-up will showcase Chef Tom Simmons’ signature approach to Welsh cooking through a five-course evening tasting menu, celebrating the finest produce from the coast and countryside. It will run through August, Thursday to Saturday. To book visit thomas-pontcanna.co.uk for more.

Quality time on a stroll

The options for escaping for the afternoon into nature are endless in Wales. Whether it’s a coastal walk or in the heart of the countryside – you’re spoilt. And don’t forget to stop at a pub along the way!

One great stop is Portmeirion Village in north Wales, which offers a magical, Italianate stop off featuring colourful Mediterranean-style buildings, sandy beaches, 70 acres of woodland gardens and a central piazza with a giant chessboard. For walking routes nearby see here.

An easy beach walk along the coast walk at Ynys Llanddwyn, Anglesey, takes you to a magical lovers’ island featuring picturesque lighthouses and stunning views. It’s home to the remains of St Dwynwen’s Church, named for the Celtic princess known as the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

On Gower Worms Head Walk is an incredibly scenic trail that starts near the National Trust Shop. This six-mile route allows you to take in the stunning views across Rhossili Bay and venture out to Worm’s Head – two small and pretty islands off the headland of Rhossili that are joined to the coast at low tide by a causeway.

This walk includes a gentle headland hike and a slightly more challenging tidal walk.

For more walks in Wales, click here and here.

Try food from London’s hottest Welsh cafe

Peckham’s popular Welsh cafe, Bara, has sold out most services since opening earlier this year, now you’ll be able to pick up their food at two home pop-ups this August. On August 15 they’ll be serving in Ammanford’s Coaltown coffee and a day later, August 16, they’re at the Wainwright’s Honey Festival in Aberystwyth.

Be ready to sample their signature Caerphilly cheese steak sandwich (above), honey butter pancakes and more. Follow Bara on Instagram for updates.

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Get a nostalgia hit

Cardiff’s Tiger Yard is hosting a Back to the ’90s Festival on August 8 from 3pm. Think Old Skool dance and house anthems and some trance and /hardcore. Get your trainers on, glitter on the face and dance to guests, N-trance, Phats and Small, Ultrabeat and more. Tickets, here.

Stuff your face at a food festival – or beer fest

Summer in Wales sees lush food and drink events left, right and centre. August sees the Swansea Food & Drink Festival from August 7 to 9 when Oxford Street, Princess Way and Portland Street will be transformed into a vibrant celebration of street food, artisan makers and small businesses, all set against the backdrop of this warm, friendly city by the sea.

Then on August 15 there’s the Wrexham sausage and cider festival on Penyllan Farm, the same day (August 15) also sees the Cardigan River and food festival along the Teifi River. August 16 sees the Aberdyfi Food Festival and August 21 to 23, Aberystwyth is the place for be for beer lovers with the annual festival in the town for its third year.

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Outdoor theatre at a castle

The historic surroundings of Oystermouth Castle provide a spectacular backdrop for a captivating programme of classic and contemporary performances, offering unforgettable entertainment for all ages. On August 25 it’s As You Like It and on August 26, The Pirates of Penzance. Click here for tickets.

Book a spa escape

Wowcher is running a great spa break deal right now for the classy Ruthin Castle spa and hotel a stone’s throw from Eryri and the Clwydian mountain range. Get an overnight spa escape for 2, including a stay in a standard or deluxe double room, full English breakfast, £30 per person dinner allowance, and twilight spa access for £149. Click here for more on this deal.

Walk to a quiet beach and spend the day

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You’re spoilt when it comes to beaches in Wales.

The gorgeous Skrinkle Haven, near Manorbier on the Pembrokeshire Coast, is a hidden gem that is being compared on social media to the Maldives and Sicily thanks to its golden sands and dramatic backdrop. It’s accessible by a steep staircase, so not ideal when you’re with the kids, but it’s ideal for adults who want to admire the natural beauty of the Welsh coast.

Also in Pembrokeshire, Barafundle Bay may not have it all in terms of practical facilities or a trendy cafe which will serve you oat milk flat whites but what it does have is the magic and beauty to not care about that for a day.

The beach, which is on the south coast of Pembrokeshire is semi-remote, an east-facing golden sandy cove shrouded by sand dunes and blocked in by cliffs. andy oasis of calm that you’ll find wedged between Stackpole Quay, a small pebble inlet and Stackpole Head. The trek across the cliffs from the car park discourages massive crowds.

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Or Porth Ceiriad is located on a remote stretch of coast towards the southern end of the Llŷn Peninsula and offers a crowd-free day by the sea – if you can find it.

It’s a gem of a beach owned by the National Trust and tucked away beneath towering cliffs. You’ll get sweeping views over Cardigan Bay all the way to the mountains of the Eryri National Park. It’s also less than three miles from the popular seaside village resort of Abersoch, where you’ll find plenty of cafes, shops, and facilities.