I visited the UK's 'most disappointing' beach and there's one thing it really needs

For more than 150 years, people have been coming on holiday to a glorious bay on the coast of north Wales where Victorian terraces look out over a curving crescent beach. Llandudno has long been one of the most famous names in Welsh tourism.

Yet it seems visitors today are finding themselves underwhelmed by this grand old dame of British holidaymaking. Instead of a sandy expanse, they find the town's famous North Shore, between the Great Orme and Little Orme's limestone cliff,s covered in stones as a result of a decision taken a decade ago to protect the area from sea flooding.

It led to the beach recently being named the UK's most disappointing. A Preply survey, which analysed Tripadvisor feedback, revealed that 29 per cent of comments on North Shore (65 out of 223) expressed disappointment.

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While climate change is causing global warming and sea levels to rise, which could explain the stony solution as a flood defence measure, the real question is what do visitors make of the lack of sand at North Shore?

Following the survey's findings, I took a trip to the beach to see for myself. On Thursday, the temperature hit 18.5C, and while the Promenade saw its fair share of walkers and those dodging seagulls, the beach itself was sparsely populated.

Amidst the stones, I encountered Andy Dawson, aged 50, who spent his childhood in Llandudno Junction. He recalls a flood from three decades past but questions whether it was significant enough to warrant the rocky intervention, reports North Wales Live.

"In 1993 the whole area flooded - Llandudno Junction, Deganwy, Llandudno... The water went up to the top of some telephone kiosks."

This local doesn't believe the current anti-flooding rocks on North Shore are needed, expressing his preference for sand from Colwyn Bay beach instead.

He explained: "I googled it. The number of annual holidaymakers in Colwyn Bay is 3.7 million. In Llandudno it's ten million. If you go to Colwyn Bay they have spent millions putting new sand down. It makes more sense for it to be here."

Down the seafront, some families were making the most of their day in the sun. Dayle Blythin, 37, and Lauren Mills, 35, from Chester, were enjoying a day out with their five year old daughter Sophia at Bluey's Big Play show at Venue Cymru.

On a calm Thursday afternoon, little Sophia was busy playing with her bucket and spade. Dayle mentioned: "I should imagine there would not have been as much (sandy) beach free if we'd come on a Saturday."

While heading back, I saw a mother and son happily tossing a frisbee on an uneven mix of rock and sand near St George's Hotel. Clearly, they were making the most of the situation.

"I think children like the sand but adults appreciate the variety you get with the rocks too," commented Louise, all the way from Manchester, as she played with her son George.

From where I stood, her point made sense. Pristine sandy beaches remind us of undisturbed Pacific Islands, somewhat similar to the setting of the Robinson Crusoe novel.

Still, theres no denying that rocks add a distinct charm to the shore. Although it seems a bit misplaced in spaces such as family-centred Llandudno.

This sentiment is echoed in the mixed reviews on Tripadvisor. After a challenging climb up a stony incline to reach the smooth promenade, my "trip advice" for Llandudno's pebbly beach would be: Watch your step.