Outcry as iconic river 'beach' vanishes from picturesque village

It was dubbed 'the Switzerland of north Wales', but experts say the alternative could have been disastrous for the community, as Andrew Forgrave reports

- Andrew Forgrave

FOR generations in a quaint Welsh village, a shingle river “beach” was a beloved local haunt.

It is a spot where treasured memories were made as toddlers splashed around taking their first dips and children eagerly fished with nets as their parents kept a watchful eye, enjoying picnics and barbecues on the riverbank.

However, a regular visitor, who often taken his dogs to this cherished part of Llanfairtalhaiarn, has told of his shock at seeing the sad transformation of this once-idyllic retreat.

The area used to have a serene riverside setting with tree lines gently meeting the broad shoal - a favourite launch spot for families with inflatable boats.

But now the scene is one of devastation, with the riverbank severely eroded and the beach vanished.

Distressed by the change, semi-retired tree surgeon Len Lloyd said: “I was gutted,” as he pointed out that even the 4ft drop that replaced the once-gentle slope deeply upset him.

“Instead of a gentle slope down to the shingle, there's now a sharp 4ft drop. The beach has gone - the riverbank has been damaged so much you can see tree roots instead of shingle.”

Mr Lloyd reminisced about the area being a top destination for family outings.

He shared memories of his own daughter paddling there and recalled its past glory, when it drew tourists in droves during the 1950s, hailing it as “the Switzerland of north Wales”.