28 January 2024 , 22:50
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One of the UK's stunning golden sandy beaches has suddenly been turned to stone.
Newborough beach in Wales, known for its clear sand, has transformed into a rocky area, with visitors have noticed large areas of sand have disappeared, leaving only stones and rocks behind.
Dog walkers were surprised by the beach's new look, but most believe the sand will return as this area is constantly changing due to natural processes. The beach is exposed to the forces of the Irish Sea and has been reshaped by sand storms over centuries.
Storms Isha and Jocelyn are believed to be responsible for the current state of Newborough beach. "If you're looking for the sand, it's in the car park," visitors were told this week.
The sand dunes and adjacent forest of Newborough Warren are managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which works with nature rather than against it. A new public walkway to the shoreline was opened earlier this month after the old one was covered by sand.
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Moveable sand ladders have been put on dune fronts to protect the path from erosion, but there's a quiet understanding that its days are already numbered. An NRW spokesperson said: "We regularly monitor the accumulation of sand within the car park and remove it as it builds up. We cleared sand just before Christmas but unfortunately following the recent storms the sand has now accumulated again and we plan to remove this early next week."
Mobile dunes have shifted, forming in new places in a coastscape that's constantly evolving (Philip Taylor)Evidence of the changing coastline can be found at Trwyn Du, a Bronze Age cairn perched on cliffs above Traeth Aberffraw beach. This was once a wooded area almost four miles from the sea.
In the 14th century, wind-blown sand covered this site and the same fate befell Llys Rhosyr on the outskirts of Newborough. This was one of the most powerful Royal courts of Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn The Great), prince of Gwynedd yet it was no match for nature.
In 1332, a sand storm covered Llys Rhosyr and it remained submerged for more than 600 years. It was partially excavated in the 1990s by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust but three-quarters of the vast site remains buried underground.
On Thursday (January 25), Newborough Beach became a hotspot for lovebirds of all ages. They flocked to Ynys Llanddwyn, a tidal island linked with St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of love.
But if you're after sand rather than romance, regular visitors are sure it'll come back. "I remember decades ago when, at Porth Swtan, loads of sand disappeared to reveal stones," one woman shared on social media. "It all came back again."
How Traeth Newborough Beach looks now it has lost its sand - for the time being (Philip Taylor)However, there are bigger threats to this coastline. The sand will always be there, but maybe in different spots: from 1994 to 2000, researchers at Bangor University found that Newborough's shoreline had moved inland by 50 metres. In just six weeks, the sea advanced six metres due to winter storms.
In 1947, Corsican and Scots pine were planted to create Newborough Forest to steady the shifting sands and protect the nearby village. Man-made dunes were also created. But with climate change and potential sea level rises, NRW's approach is now one of "natural and managed changes".
The environmental regulator shared their plan, saying: "We will manage the shoreline to allow the coast to adapt naturally wherever possible. This will include realigning the forest boundary in places to restore natural dunes which are better able to respond to a moving coastline."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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