The pair were just metres away when a large section of rock and soil collapsed at a Welsh beach renowned for its unstable cliffs
Terrifying Moment Cliffs Collapse On Popular Anglesey Beach – Video: Huwie John Morris
People enjoying a seaside walk fled in terror when a landslide tumbled down just metres from where they stood. A substantial portion of rock and earth gave way this week at an Anglesey beach famous for its unstable cliffs.
Rubble fell onto the sand as witnesses scattered. Within seconds, another sizeable gash appeared on cliffs that are steadily advancing towards the island’s coastal footpath. Remarkably, local resident Huwie John Morris, from Rhydwyn, managed to capture the incident on film.
He’d recently met up with a neighbour when, at approximately 11am on Wales, they saw a scattering of small pebbles tumbling from the cliffs. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
Huwie recorded the falling debris, unaware of the looming threat. His neighbour, who requested anonymity, explained: “We could hear small stones falling and that’s what alerted us to a potential slip.
“The actual slip was really loud and it was over very quickly. It happened in an instant. It was the biggest slip either of us have seen.”
Locals report that Wednesday’s landslide marked the fourth time it had happened in under two weeks. Rockfalls at Porth Swtan have been happening for decades, though it’s believed January’s storms and this winter’s persistent rainfall may be accelerating cliff deterioration, reports North Wales Live.
On Tuesday, January 27, a substantial sinkhole prompted a coastal pathway to give way on the Llŷn Peninsula.
Recent incidents have led specialists at GeoMôn, Anglesey’s UNESCO Global Geopark, to provide a cautionary explanation on social media.
They stated: “Church Bay’s cliffs are ‘tuffs’, ancient volcanic ashes lacking strength or coherence. Like many people have observed, they have been crumbling for decades. Be warned.”
Rockfall at Porth Swtan in 2022(Image: Mike Parker/Wiki)
Recognising the hazards, Anglesey Council has recently installed a replacement beach warning sign alerting visitors to the danger of falling rocks. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
After examining the most recent rockfalls, a local resident posted online: “I’d say that more rock has fallen at Church Bay in the last five years than in the previous 20 years.
“I know these cliffs have been crumbling for millennia but you should definitely keep an eye out and avoid hanging around near the cliffs, especially during long wet spells and freezes.”
A coastal management strategy for this section of coastline has designated a “do nothing” approach to Porth Swtan’s erosion as sea levels continue to rise. In the future, “managed realignment” may become necessary.
The strategy noted: “At Porth Swtan, the risk is from the slow erosion of the backshore cliffs. There has been little monitoring of this and there is significant uncertainty as to future erosion rates.
“However, any defence would not be seen as being sustainable, risking damage to the natural beach area. There would also be a need to further examine options for managing access to the beach.”
Following this morning’s landslip, the eroded cliffs are now encroaching on the coastal footpath above.(Image: Huwie John Morris)
More recently, Natural Resources Wales has evaluated erosion data for the nation’s coastlines. This information has been integrated into an online map displaying local susceptibilities to land loss.
For Porth Swtan, the statistics were concerning:
Short term (2005-2025): 9-18 metresMedium term (2005-2055): 30-45 metresLong term (2005-2105): 60-95 metres
Porth Swtan is a pristine sand and pebble beach bordered by rock pools in north Anglesey. Given its wave protection from Holy Island, it’s a favoured spot for families and couples.
During summer the cliffs become drier and less prone to erosion – yet recent incidents have underscored the risks.
A local resident commented online: “Every summer when I walk down and see the beach full of people having a lovely time parked right under the rocks, my heart starts to pump faster.
“There should be a photograph of a fresh landslide at the top of the slope to show how often it happens. I don’t think people read the danger sign, sadly.”
