The closest beach to Porthmadog is at the sleepy, seaside village of Borth y Gest. This small resort is older than its neighbour, and two hundred years ago it was the regular haunt of smugglers. Several boats were built here. The beach is usually rather muddy, and most people walk around the bay to a clifftop path which leads, in a few minutes, to small, sandy coves. Borth y Gest is a short walk from Porthmadog harbour, but it has a car park, where public toilets are located.