Abersoch

Abersoch
Caernarfonshire
Abersoch inner harbour
Location
Grid reference:	SH312281
Location:	52°49’26"N, 4°30’24"W
Data
Population:	910
Post town:	Pwllheli
Postcode:	LL53
Dialling code:	01758
Local Government
Council:	Gwynedd
Parliamentary constituency:	Dwyfor Meirionnydd

Abersoch is a large village in Caernarfonshire on the coast of the Lleyn peninsula. It is within the parish of Llanengan.

Abersoch is a popular coastal seaside resort of approximately 1,000 souls, on the east-facing south coast of Lleyn. It is also the southern terminus of the A499. Abersoch is about 7 miles south-west of Pwllheli and 27 miles south-west of the county town, Caernarfon.

The village’s name mean "Soch mouth" and takes its name from the River Soch, which reaches the sea in the village.

Central Abersoch has a variety of small shops as well as bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels. Boat trips around St Tudwal's Islands to see the seals and other wildlife are available from the village. It is also popular for its close proximity to Snowdonia; Snowdon itself is visible from Abersoch Bay on clear days.

Character of the village

Originally a fishing port, Abersoch is now a tourist centre specialising in dinghy sailing and other watersports such as windsurfing and jet-skiing. Over the last 60 years it has become one of Britain's most important sailing centres, leading to significant numbers of incomers from outside the area. Once the village was like many on Llŷn, a Welsh-speaking fishing community, but Abersoch has become far more cosmopolitan, as far as a village so small may do, and more English-speaking.

The village’s popularity as a resort and retirement destination has resulted in local property prices being significantly higher than the regional average. A small strip of beach at Abersoch, with planning permission for the construction of a beach hut, was sold for £63,000 in May 2005. In June 2007, a mobile home on the Warren holiday park was put on the market by the Haulfryn Group at £500,000.

In February 2008 a wooden shed, 18 feet by 15 feet, was advertised for sale at £150,000. It is 10 minutes' walk from the beach, had no countryside or sea view, and was described as being in a dilapidated condition.

Sport and leisure

Abersoch is one of Britain's most important sailing centres. Yachts moor in the harbour but it has a speciality in dinghy sailing. Other watersports are enjoyed here too, such as windsurfing and jet-skiing.

Nearby Porth Neigwl or Hell's Mouth, is also popular for surfing; it can hold large swells in the winter which can reach 5 feet, however south westerly prevailing winds can affect quality.

Each year since 2000 Abersoch has been host to Wakestock a wakeboarding event. The Big Air competition on the main beach is held in July.

There is an 18 hole golf course outside the village.

R S Thomas

R S Thomas, who served as vicar of Aberdaron in the west of Lleyn, wrote whistfully of Abersoch:

There was that headland, asleep on the sea,
The air full of thunder and the far air
Brittle with lightning; there was that girl
Riding her cycle, hair at half-mast,
And the men smoking, the dinghies at rest
On the calm tide.

Pictures

• 
  Abersoch harbour sunset
• 
  Abersoch Beach
• 
  Beach Huts on Abersoch Beach
• 
  that headland asleep on the sea

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Abersoch)

• Abersoch village website
• Abersoch Heads Forum about Abersoch]
• Llyn.info Online guide to Llŷn
• Abersoch guide
• ‘’Geograph.co.uk’’ photos of Abersoch and surrounding area
• Wakestock.co.uk
• Llanbedrog.info – for the nearby village of Llanbedrog