A tourist was so cross at litter being dumped at a Welsh beauty spot she picked it up herself. Claire Thomas, from south Wales, was cycling through Denbighshire and was eager to see Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen.
Thomas Telford’s 140-metre weir attracts over 150,000 visitors annually. The location has long grappled with over-tourism, and local volunteers help council staff in collecting dumped rubbish.
However, it’s frequently a losing battle. Upon Claire’s arrival, she said she was appalled by the condition of the site and started gathering the litter herself.
She said: “I was so excited to visit the beautiful and iconic falls but it was with great sadness that I found it had succumbed to the amazing weather and peoples’ laziness – there was litter everywhere. Such a very sad sight to see. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter
More rubbish bagged up by Claire(Image: Claire Thomas)
“Being a keen enthusiast of the outdoors I took the time to pick up all the litter and bag it up. As part of my journey I have been doing small litter-picks – but nothing on this scale.”, reports North Wales Live.
“To my shock there was no public bins in the area. It would be fantastic if the local authority took the time to examine the ongoing problem of litter at Horseshoe Falls.
“Provide both landfill and recycling bins in the area and keep the Falls in pristine condition as they should be.”
Denbighshire Council said litter bins are available at Llantysilio Green car park, which provides access to the falls.
The council said installing bins at the bottom of the slope beside the river itself was “not feasible due to access and resource issues”.
Another example of litter in the area(Image: Claire Thomas)
A council spokesperson explained: “Rangers will carry out litter picking when attending the site and one staff member recently removed five bags of litter from the area. When they are on site, they will try to check locations not managed by the council as well.
“We urge people visiting Horseshoe Falls and other countryside sites to be respectful and remind the public that littering is a form of anti-social of behaviour and is a criminal offence.”
Signage at the location makes clear that camping, fires and BBQs are also prohibited. The council confirmed that rangers routinely ask visitors to maintain cleanliness – a message also promoted via social media.
Horseshoe Falls represents a crucial entry point to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site and enjoys international recognition for its industrial and cultural significance. Littering in these locations has frequently led to tourists being blamed.
Denbighshire Council confirmed it would persist in championing responsible tourism at the falls and throughout the area.
A council spokesperson said: “We know that the site has become a key countryside attraction, attracting over 150,000 visitors a year.
“The national landscapes team which manages the site works hard to promote key messages around responsible behaviour, as well as looking at sustainable solutions for visitor management.
“We ask visitors to enjoy this beautiful area responsibly, take their litter home wherever possible or use the bins provided. There is no excuse for dumping litter anywhere in the county. We encourage the public to report any incidents of littering or also fly-tipping to the council.”