Why are visitors being told to avoid this viral Welsh reservoir?

The UK is full of beauty spots which have become chock-a-block thanks to TikTok. Durdle Door in Dorset is a favourite thanks to its picturesque shape and photo opportunities, while ruined church St Dunstan in the East in London is often overrun by influencers. 

South Wales’ Brombil Reservoir, nicknamed the ‘blue lagoon’, sits in a valley on Margam mountain and went viral on TikTok during the pandemic. It’s accessible via a steep 900m slope and has become a popular spot for a wide range of activities including wild swimming and camping. 

But its owners aren’t happy, and have banned anyone from accessing the site near Neath Port Talbot unless they're willing to pay a £2 ‘conservation fee’ and refrain from swimming, biking, filming and camping. The managers of Leisure Estate Investments Ltd, who bought the site for £20k in 2024, have erected barriers and warned prospective visitors that they ‘reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings against any individual or organisation acting without prior written consent’.

They say it’s because it costs a lot to protect the reservoir and prevent flooding, but trespassers have already removed the barriers and it seems that the crowds haven’t been deterred.

Eventually, the owners want to open the site up for ‘community health and well-being’, but for now it seems like visitors will either have to forgo their blue lagoon Instagram carousels, or risk getting slapped by the cold hand of the law. 

Craving a nature fix? An incredible 2,300-mile trek will soon link all 15 of the UK’s national parks.

And you can always check out our guide to the UK's most beautiful places.

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