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 everyone in. The car park only has spaces for 30 or 40 vehicles." Porth Iago is a rectangular cove bordered by twin headlands that shelter its sandy beach and waters, making it a prime spot for sunbathing and swimming.
As it faces west, the sunsets can be spectacular. Stargazers love the dark skies offered by its relative remoteness, sea watchers are occasionally charmed by pods of dolphins. Visitors often describe it as their "little slice of heaven".
Access is via a track through Ty Mawr farmyard which leads to the campsite and car park, perched high above a steep grassy bank down to the beach. The place was a 1970s hotspot but numbers fell away in the ensuing decades. When the Covid pandemic brought a renewed focus on domestic tourism, Porth Iago was "rediscovered" and people haven't stopped coming ever since.
Over-tourism issues at Porth Iago might not match the scale of those at Snowdon or Venice, but for the site manager, besieged by demands for camping spots, they feel just as pressing. Burdened with the sole responsibility of managing both the campsite and car park, he's overwhelmed. "I've got 164 messages on my phone from people asking if they can camp here in the coming week," he laments.
"My phone is ringing constantly. To get some sleep I turn it off at 8pm but by the time I get up at 4.20am, it's full of new voicemails from people who have been ringing through the night.
People don't listen (when we say we are full). Sometimes we have to close the gates (at the end of the drive) but they open them up and come through anyway." Remarkably, over nine-tenths of his campers are regulars with recurring bookings, some returning for years, leaving scant room for newcomers.
Yet, hopeful campers still arrive unannounced, testing their luck for a vacancy, though the manager insists exceptions aren't an option, despite the weekend influx. While day-trippers flock to the beach, latecomers face being turned away. Some disgruntled visitors take to online review platforms to express their distress after their rejected beach plans, noting how their extended travel efforts had no bearing on the negative outcome.
In a particularly telling situation, a sizable family group found their ambitious plans rebuffed; fully briefed about size limitations, they nonetheless ventured from Birmingham by coach, only to be sent packing. A group of 15 who travelled from Bangor, Gwynedd, were turned away despite claiming they'd checked ahead. In 2022, a couple's request to book the entire site for their wedding was also denied.
The car park operates from 9am-5pm and is usually full by 11am, sometimes even earlier, resulting in some wasted trips. The site manager explained that evening arrivals are also not allowed entry. "Articles and blogs often mention the fantastic sunsets we have here," he said.
"So people are turning up at 6pm to watch the sun going down. But the car park closes at 5pm and unfortunately we can't let them in." Despite high demand, Porth Iago has kept its parking prices steady for several years at £5, plus £1 for dogs .
"We don't want to raise prices because we realise not everyone can afford expensive holidays abroad," he said. "It's not all about money and we can't cope as it is." He emphasised that camping is strictly by pre-booking only, and day visitors will be turned away if the car park is full.
Access via the Wales Coast Path is possible provided walkers pay £1 to reach the beach. Booking details can be found on the campsite's Facebook page. If you want ideas and inspiration to plan your next UK adventure plus selected offers and competitions, sign up for our 2Chill weekly newsletter here.
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