Brits flock to UK 'oasis' beach with £1 entry, dolphins and 'best sunset ever'
A beach with golden sands surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, not to mention views of dolphins and 'the best sunset ever'; it may sound like it's in the Caribbean, but this gorgeous stretch of sand is actually right here in the UK.
In fact, Brits have 'rediscovered' the small sheltered beach of Porth Iago on the wester tip of North Wales. In its heyday during the 1970s, it was truly bustling.
The nearby 30-acre campsite would be full of holidaymakers, and the beach was hailed as one of the best to be found, North Wales Live reports.
A death in the Ty Mawr farming family who owned the land surrounding the campsite saw pitching up on the stretch of land that leads to the beach all but come to a complete end. As a result, the beautiful cove became far quieter.
The beach became very popular during the pandemic (Porth Iago campsite WS)When the coronavirus pandemic struck and holidays abroad were off the cards, travel-starved Brits began rediscovering the beach and its popularity soared once more.
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The site has been "rediscovered" by beach goers who are enchanted by its natural beauty, wildlife, turquoise waters and sunset views.
While that has seen the now-eight acre campsite get back up and running, the beach's popularity has started to cause problems, with coach-loads of sunseekers having to be turned away from the site.
The entire 2023 camping season was booked up even before the last one ended, and many regulars return year after year. After all, there's a reason why Lonely Planet named Porth Iago as the best wild camping beach in Wales, not to mention the site also won the North Wales category of Channel 4's The Perfect Pitch series.
Visitors have been full of praise with one person describing it as a "little utopia". They added: "With no hint of hyperbole, this little sandy cove with crystal clear water is one of the best beaches In the world in my opinion."
Another said: "I had the experience of the best sunset ever from this location. This camping trip will be in my top 10 favourites ever."
Some people have been returning to the beach every summer for 60 years (Getty Images)The area's wildlife has also proven a hit. One couple who visited last summer wrote: "In this bay alone we saw sand eel, wrasse, crabs, baby jellyfish fish and small whiting. The next day we were spoilt by a display of dolphins."
However, Chris has opened up on the challenges the area is now facing as its fanbase grows on social media. “People have begun coming in coaches but we’re not a big site and there’s no way we can allow that,” he said.
“Last summer a coach party from Birmingham called to ask if they could come and we said that, unfortunately, they couldn’t. They came anyway, so we had to turn them back. They drove all the way back to Birmingham.”
For those who do it make to the beach, day visitors can pay a £5 parking charge to explore the headlands or clamber down to the sandy beach for a dip.
Passing walkers on the Wales Coast Path need only pay £1. While there are no facilities on the beach, the campsite has a toilet and shower block while a burger van offers a lifeline for guests in the form of bacon baps, sausage rolls and ice-cream, as well as freshly-made pizza.
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However, despite the clear demand in the area, and the potential to increase revenue, Chris has no plans to expand the campsite.
“There are no shops in heaven,” he said. “You can’t take your money with you.”
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