Sunday, July 13, 2025

Oxwich Bay, Barry Island and Tenby have all been a hive of activity as Wales swelters with a third day of scorching summer heat. Sweltering towns and cities across the country are making their sun-drenched shores all the more appealing to families and beachgoers. Since the early hours, crowds have been flocking to the coast in search of respite in the sea breeze and cool waters, as public services, lifeguards and health officials plead with people to stay cautious during what is anticipated to be one of the hottest weekends of the year.

It comes as the Met Office parts of Wales are currently experiencing “Amber Alert” temperatures more like those found in summer than winter. Daytime temperatures have been topping 30°C quite frequently, particularly in the South and in Coastal areas, such as Swansea and Gower Peninsula.

“For the rest of the week, we are still under the influence of a high pressure system that has been with us for quite a bit of time that has been bringing clear skies, light winds, and hot temperatures,” added meteorologist Gamal Ostafa. The extremity of the conditions has forced Public Health Wales (phw. nhs. wales) to advise people to:

Dr. Giri Shankar, of Public Health Wales, said: “Sustained periods of high temperatures can be dangerous. We are calling on the public to take heat-health warnings seriously and are advising them to keep in mind our recommendations.”

Oxwich Bay in the beautiful Gower Peninsula was among the worst-affected areas this weekend. All the car parks were full by late morning and some visitors spent up to three hours queuing to get into beachfront areas, according to reports.

The main car park (a privately run car park right next to the beach) costs around £7 for the whole day. But the popular practice comes with serious congestion and irritation for many during the current heatwave, with beaches now reaching full capacity.

“We got here by 10am and already queues were stretching back to the village. The beach was just packed — you could not find a place to sit.”

Officials recommend that anyone wanting to travel to Oxwich Bay should do so early and consider car-sharing or public transport, as there is likely to be “some delays”. Swansea Council has repeated that surplus parking is restricted and illegal or disruptive parking will be punished.

Meanwhile, the two seaside resorts Wales cherishes the most, Barry Island and Tenby, are packed in elsewhere. With families spreading towels and reaching for ice creams and fish and chips, local shopkeepers report a much-needed increase in footfall.

Transport for Wales (tfw. wales)Train and bus services have seen an increasing number of passengers, particularly from cities such as Cardiff and Newport. Extra services and additional staff has been added to cope with the increasing demand.

Beach lifeguards – following RNLI advice – are also in a heightened level of readiness. They still remind guests about water safety.

Stay within sight of lifeguards

Supervise children at all times

Yet packed beaches mean something different this year, amid newfound concerns about safety and environmental impact. Councillors across coastal Wales are calling for visitors to respect public places by taking drawings home, not having BBQs on dunes, and observing local signage and guidelines.

Pembrokeshire County Council issued a public statement, in response to the image, asking residents to act responsibly:

“Our beaches are for everyone. We request all visitors to have no impact and help us to protect the natural beauty of these special places.”

Meanwhile, Keep Wales Tidy (keepwalestidy. cymru) launched awareness campaigns urging holidaymakers to dispose of their litter in designated waste bins, and to stop bringing single-use plastics onto beaches.

For the most part, the opportunity to bask in the sunshine, the sea and the sand at destinations such as Oxwich Bay, Barry Island and Tenby provides some much-needed respite from domestic drudgery. But as climate change brings more heatwaves, the weekend provides an occasion to reflect on the virtues of planning, community care and environmental respect.

Whether you’re hitting the waves or catching some rays, the message from officials and residents is clear: have fun responsibly, travel wisely and look after each other.