A SEASIDE town in the UK is said to be “bouncing back” as a holiday destination.
While beach resorts died off across the UK in the 1970s due to cheap package holidays abroad, they have seen a boom in tourists in recent years.
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Along with trending seaside towns such as Margate and Weymouth, National Geographic named Barmouth in Wales as an up-and-coming seaside destination.
They wrote: “It’s easy to miss little Barmouth, reclining on the edge of the Mawddach estuary.
“The generous, west-facing strand is a sunset hotspot, and the peaks provide an arresting backdrop landwards.
“This is the sort of town that’s full of visitors-turned-residents and it’s that sense of pride and community that’s powering its revival.”
Read more on seaside towns
On the west coast of Wales, Barmouth overlooks the southern part of Snowdonia.
Back in 2023, a £30million restoration of the Barmouth Viaduct was finished, which is now the UK’s longest wooden railway bridge.
It even which hosts an annual 10K race every summer.
People have raved about Barmouth Beach, saying it’s the best in the UK.
One went on further on Tripadvisor, writing:“I would say it’s the best place on Earth, love it here and highly recommend going.”
But the town also has a secret beach that only locals know about.
Hidden behind an railway tunnel, tourists have to go under the Cambrian Line railway.
The row of houses lining Porkington Terrace overlook the beach.
One local said: “Used to love visiting this beach as a child, there was a wrecked boat on the sand that added to the charm and the fact it is tucked away cove, always made it feel special.”
There is also the mini steam train that you can explore through the dunes, which stops at the town’s harbour.
Otherwise a trip to the beach is nothing without some fish and chips – and one in Barmouth was named one of the UK’s best.
The Mermaid ranked in the top 18 fish and chip shops by The Times last year.
The nearest major cities are Liverpool and Wolverhampton, both of which are around 2hr20 by car.
There are direct trains to and from Barmouth from Birmingham which take just over an hour, although these only run a few times a day.
For other ‘trending’ seaside towns, here’s everything you need to do in Margate.
And many might not realise that Scarborough is the UK’s ‘first’ seaside resort – here’s what to know.
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