The picturesque Porth Iago, a gem on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, is struggling under the weight of its own beauty as swarms of visitors overwhelm the local campsite. With its reputation as one of the UK's most scenic beaches, the site is often forced to turn away campers and day-trippers when it hits capacity. The situation has become so dire that the campsite manager, who prefers to remain anonymous, is contemplating shutting down both the campsite and car park due to the chaos caused by the influx of visitors.
Access to the beach is only possible through private land, leaving many unaware if parking is available until they arrive. The manager urges visitors not to come without a booking, warning that they will be turned away. The recent accolade from last month's Sunday Times Best UK Beaches guide 2024, which ranked Porth Iago as Wales' third-best beach, has only intensified the problem, reports North Wales Live .
"People just think it's a free-for-all," the frustrated manager said. "They read articles in papers and online and they think they have a right to come here and go on the beach. But they haven't - the only access to the beach is across private land.
I've been attacked by people angry that they can't visit the beach. "We are on the verge of closing the gates and shutting a campsite that has been here since 1918. We're constantly being inundated with people and we cannot cope.
TikTokers are coming here, Instagram influencers are turning up, but we can't let every.