Stay away from this 'world class' Welsh beach, National Trust tells holiday makers

The National Trust has urged sunseekers to stay away from a popular beach in order to preserve it.

Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, which is only accessible by walking half a mile from the closest car park, has seen visitors soar since it was listed as one of the best in the world last year.

In the past three years visitor numbers to the remote Barafundle increased by more than 30,000 to 120,000, which has caused the erosion of footpaths and disturbed wildlife in the sand dunes.

However the National Trust has asked people to refrain from going there and instead visit Broad Haven South beach which is less than two miles away and has only attracted 8,000 new visitors.

The trust, which looks after both beaches and the coastline in between, said: "Swapping Barafundle for Broad Haven South will help conserve the coast by spreading the people across the estate, reducing the erosion of footpaths, minimising the disturbance to wildlife in the dunes, and ensuring less litter is being washed out to sea."

The Trust has also launched a Sea Safari project which will promote a coastal trail around the Stackpole Estate and inform holiday makers where the other beaches are.

Passport magazine, which rated Barafundle one of the best beaches in the world, hailed it “a revelation-all the more so for the process of arriving there”.

It described the “sheer and craggy cliffs dropping precipitously to the sea” and said it was “a luxuriant curve of sand, topped by dunes and grasses on hills that make it feel immensely private”.

The Telegraph called it a “sight to behold”. “There’s nothing here except dunes and pine trees, golden sand and the occasional dolphin – that’s the point. Access is a pleasant half mile walk over cliffs from Stackpole Quay."