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Enjoy the small, sheltered and cosy delights of east facing Traeth Bychan beach near Benllech, down a narrow country lane off the A5025. If you want to really appreciate some fine sea and mountain views covering Llanddona, the Carneddau peaks above Bangor, Puffin Island and Liverpool Bay, you must come here.

The edges of Traeth Bychan are rocky, while the middle area of the beach is sandy with a varying spread of small pebbles the length of the beach up to the dinghy park at the top. Given its sheltered position it's no surprise that Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club have their clubhouse here, and can often see dinghies, powerboats and small day fishing boats queuing up to be towed up the beach on their trailers.

We saw some tired young sailors help guide a tractor down the beach from the slipway and to the water's edge and align the boat onto the trailer. Given that this beach faces east and Anglesey's south westerly prevailing winds, this is an ideal place to launch sailing boats and other craft. Here you will see Toppers, Lasers, GP14's, Mirrors and other dinghy classes.

Around the back of the beach are some interesting rock formations and above these thick grassy steep slopes and from here emerges the Anglesey Coastal Path route running from Benllech in the south to Moelfre in the north. The coastal path is well signposted and there is a gate on the left as you approach the beach down the hill, next to a small cottage which is built just above the rocks and the high water mark.

Traeth Bychan cafe is about 25 or so metres up from the beach on your left and it sells ice cream, cold and hot drinks and snacks. You will also see the public car park adjacent while on the bank behind the cafe as well as on the opposite side of the lane are static caravans. These are a good spot for those wanting to walk the coast or get to the beach quickly.

A good time to come to this quiet, sheltered beach is autumn and winter, when you can really appreciate the fine sea views and coastal walks, with little if any boating activity taking place. Traeth Bychan has a historic angle which many are not aware of, relating to a maritime incident in Liverpool bay.

Built in Cammell Laird ship yard in 1938, the "T" class submarine HMS Thetis left the Mersey on 1 June 1939 with a crew of 103, sailing out to Liverpool Bay to carry out some tests. Some unusual and catastrophic events took place while she was submerged and 99 men lost their lives. A few months later, the Thetis was refloated and brought onto Traeth Bychan beach.

In summer sunshine this sheltered beach is bustling with energy as dinghies and power craft are launched and recovered from the sea, while on a crisp, fresh winter morning it holds a special tranquility. And all along, the memory of the Thetis and her crew remains.