The Victorian village of Borth-y-Gest borders the Afon Glaslyn and looks out across Tremadoc Bay towards the Rhinog mountains. Backed by a sea wall and a crescent-shaped promenade, the upper shore is of sand graduating to mud lower down. Better, sandier coves can be found a short walk to the south-west. The slate cliffs which back these are much-indented with nooks and crannies providing shelter for sunbathing, but swimming is not advisable due to estuarial currents.
Facilities at Borth-y-Gest include a (free) car park and roadside parking, toilets, tea-rooms and a slipway. Dogs are allowed on the beaches at all times.
The town of Pothmadog is a short walk away along the coastal path, and has a wide range of shops, cafes, banks, a Tourist Information Centre and stations for the Cambrian Coast Line (BR) and the narrow (2' 0") gauge Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog railways.