Stranded VW campervan battered by rough sea on beach

FRUSTRATED beachgoers have demanded greater safeguards on a stretch of sand that repeatedly catches out the unwary.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor [e-mail]

Already this year, multiple cars have been swamped by the sea at the drive-on beach in Gwynedd.

The latest to fall victim to the tide at Traeth y Greigddu (Black Rock Sands) was an off-road VW campervan.

Horrified onlookers sounded the alarm, issuing a social media appeal for help hauling the vehicle back to dry land.

In rough seas, the van was battered by waves as its owners waited for help to arrive.

Luckily, it was a vehicle built to survive a degree of immersion, being equipped with an engine “snorkel” exhaust, also known as a raised air intake. As well as potentially improving performance, snorkels protect the engine from water ingress.

It’s believed the van was eventually hauled to safety, but it’s not known by whom.

Cyngor Gwynedd’s Maritime Service officers always attempt to recover stranded vehicles, but only during staffed hours: the van became marooned at around 9pm last Sunday.

The vast sandy beach at Morfa Bychan, near Porthmadog, is one of the few in North Wales on to which cars can drive.

For visiting families, its accessibility means there’s no need to haul sun-loungers and picnic boxes from distant car parks.

But this conveniences comes at a price: between April 1 and September 30, day tickets are £8 for a car and £16 for larger vehicles and campervans.