We live in a UK seaside resort that Butlin's abandoned before Hollywood moved in – it's a real-life paradise
BARRY Island is the Welsh seaside resort we all know and love thanks to the hit series, Gavin and Stacey.
But it's so much more than just a filming location to the locals whose exclusive homes, built on a headland at the resort made famous by the BBC show, offer panoramic sea views and spectacular sunrises.
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13
Barry Island is one of the most recognisable spots in Wales
Credit: Alamy
13
The seaside resort used to be home to an enormous Butlins resort
Credit: Wales News Service
On a clear day, residents living at Nell's Point on Barry Island in south Wales have uninterrupted views reaching as far as Somerset.
Some have rear gardens joining a grassy clifftop with a private pathway down to the sandy beach below.
There are incredible views of the coastline, and some people have seen dolphins and porpoises from Nell's Point.
Sightings are rare, but seals are regularly spotted in the area.
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The smart, executive-style homes on the Nell's Point estate are a world away from the rows of chalets that were put up at the same spot 60 years ago by William 'Billy' Butlin when he bought the site and turned it into one of his famous Butlin's Holiday Camps.
In those days, it was predominantly coal miners and their families trudging up and down the pathway as they revelled in their annual summer holiday leave from their jobs in the long since-closed South Wales collieries.
Now houses sit on the former Butlin's site, with some that have been turned into holiday homes rented out by individuals.
Some locals still remember the resort's heyday when thousands of excited holidaymakers made the journey to the island to stay in the more than 800 chalets at the attraction.
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Most read in Travel
At its peak in 1934, 400,000 people visited during the August bank holiday weekend.
Like any other Butlin's resort there was a plethora of activities to choose from, like paddling in the heated swimming pools.
The real life of Barry Island made famous by BBC's TV Series Gavin and Stacey
13
Mark described Barry as 'paradise' to holiday-goers
Credit: Nigel Iskander
13
Butlin's used to be one of the busiest places on Barry Island
Credit: WalesOnline/Media Wales
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Onsite, there was also funfair, cable car, miniature railway, restaurants, bars, and a fish and chip shop.
Mark Anthony, now 68, was a young boy when Butlin's opened and shared his memories of those booming summer months every year.
Mark, who runs a cafe and gift shop on the nearby seafront with his wife, Lisa, 60, said: 'Barry was bustling with people, many of them families who'd come down from the coal mining valleys for a well-earned summer holiday."
Mark continued: 'They loved coming here because there was so much to do, especially at Butlin's. There were the famous Butlin's Redcoats, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a ballroom, a boating lake, tennis courts and an amusement arcade. It was like paradise.
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'People used to come down here and spend a few hours crammed on the beach like sardines.
"Those that couldn't get a chalet at Butlin's up there used to stay in one of the numerous local boarding houses and B&Bs. Hardly anyone went abroad in those days because there was so much to do here.
'It's sad that nowadays so many people seem to want to spend their holidays overseas because, I guess, it's so cheap to get there and the sunshine is almost guaranteed.
'Even so, Barry has a lot to offer still. There are lots of lovely places to go out for a drink or a nice meal and there's the funfair and beautiful beaches which are just as good as anywhere in the world.
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'And there are several beautiful bays that are safe to swim in. I absolutely love living here. Barry Island should still be at the top of everyone's list of holiday destinations."
13
Barry Island has become more popular again thanks to Gavin & Stacey
Credit: Tom Jackson/BBC
Popular beach-side cafes in Barry Island include
On the front is also Bay 5 Coffee House which serves savoury snacks and sweet treats and 'pancake stacks' according to a Tripadvisor review.
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As for the top restaurants, the most highly-rated on Tripadvisor is Paletta Pizzeria which lots of customers say to book early as it gets very busy.
It was also Barry's first wood-fired Pizzeria, serving up tasty pizzas, pasta dishes and gnocchi.
As for ice cream shops, they are around most corners with John's Cafe being the most highly-rated.
The classic sweet treats shop also serves candy floss, a stick of rock and of course, ice cream too.
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Barry Island has five notable beaches with
Whitmore Bay is also the spot where the Shipmans and the Wests go for their beach day in Gavin and Stacey in series three.
Jackson's Bay is a more secluded section of the coastline and is more popular with locals because it's lesser-known.
One visitor wrote on
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Another added: "What a nice walk and lovely scenery. A nice bay, small and hardly anybody there."
Cold Knap Beach, which has pebbles instead of sand, is also a quieter spot than Whitmore Bay.
13
Whitmore Bay on Barry Island is the most well-known and popular beach
Credit: Alamy
Helen, a grandmother strolling along the seafront with one of her grandsons, agreed: 'Barry is still a fantastic place to come for a holiday. Us locals are incredibly friendly and the fairground is great fun, whatever the weather.
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'In fact, I prefer it now to when we had Butlin's here. Sure, the holidaymakers brought in money, but it was mostly spent at the holiday camp, not in the rest of Barry.
'In those days, it was mainly miners coming here, but nowadays people come for the Gavin and Stacey experience and that means they go everywhere on the island.
"It's created plenty of trade for the whole of Barry and as a result, the place has been transformed. It's no longer just a cheapo holiday destination.'
There are plenty of locations to spot during a visit to Barry,
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On Barry Island itself there's the famous Marco's Cafe and the Arcade where Nessa worked the slots. We've listed a few more foilming locations at the bottom of the article.
Over the years, Barry Island has become increasingly popular and according to the
Gavin and Stacey fans coming from as far away as Australia, Hawaii and India. Visitors often take pictures in front of her house and when Glenda opens it up, have a tour too.
As for shopping on Barry Island,
there's been a new development called
Goodsheds
.
Advertisement
The site is home to
independent shops which are in repurposed shipping containers in an area called the Shipyard - there you'll find craft beers, records, home furnishings and fashion stores.
Nearby there's
The Tracks, where railway carriages have been repurposed, and there's even a cinema
.
The Wales Coast Path runs right around the coastline at Barry. It's about 4 miles along the coastline to Rhoose Point, the most southerly spot in Wales which offer incredible views over the coast.
13
The Pleasure Park is still a hit with tourists and locals alike
Credit: Alamy
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The most recognisable attraction is the giant Ferris wheel, but they also have three rollercoasters, a log flume and spooky ghost train.
The family-owned business' biggest ride is Aerospace. It's a giant, 32-seater space machine that swings riders up and down, reaching heights of 214 feet and speeds of up to 75mph.
During the summer months when Barry is bustling with visitors, the amusement park gets 400,000 ride goers.
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13
There was lots to do at Butlin's like swimming in the pools
Credit: WalesOnline/Media Wales
13
Coach driver Barry is more than happy to visit the Welsh coast
Credit: Nigel Iskander
Coach driver Barry Elms, 60, from Birmingham, was having a rest on the seafront when we caught up with him. 'I've just dropped 50 holidaymakers off and this is just what I need - fresh sea air and magnificent views,' he said.
'The lot I've just brought here from Brum have come for Gavin and Stacey. I think that show is what has made Barry Island famous again."
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Solicitor Jay Thomas, 42, was in Barry enjoying a day at the seaside. He said: 'It is just a beautiful spot to come to. It's very clean and the people are super-friendly. I've driven down from Solihull in the West Midlands and it has been well worth the time spent getting down here.
'You can get here and back home in a day, so it's perfect." I didn't know until today that there used to be a Butlin's here, but to be honest there still seems plenty to do."
Local Tony Rosser, 79, remembers the Butlin's era but says he prefers the resort as it is today.
He said: 'As a boy, we never really came to the sea front here in summer because it was so busy. We only used to come here in the
winter
, when it was a bit quieter and have lovely long walks.
Advertisement
'The local traders liked having Butlin's here, for sure, because they benefited from there being so many holidaymakers in town, but now they're enjoying the Gavin and Stacey effect instead, so they're happy again.
'However, I still think the council needs to do a lot more to encourage more people to come here because the show has finished now and we'll always need visitors to help the local economy.'
13
Tony prefers Barry Island without the Butlin's resort
Credit: Nigel Iskander
13
The seafront is far less busy during the winter months
Credit: Nigel Iskander
Advertisement
Barry Island no longer has any holiday parks on the island, but there are still a few nearby that mean visitors can easily access the island.
Porthkerry Leisure Park is a family-friendly located close to Barry Island and the scenic Vale of Glamorgan.
There's also Fontygary Touring Park
which has a spa, pool, and sea views
. But none of the holiday parks are on the scale that Butlin's was.
13
Lawrence's nickname is the 'karaoke king'
Credit: Nigel Iskander
Advertisement
Lawrence Hill, an 83-year-old retired painter and decorator, proclaims himself to be the 'karaoke king' of Barry Island.
He said: 'They should never have built those luxury homes on the old Butlin's site. It was a wonderful complex and I'm sure it could have been spruced up and used as some kind of holiday attraction again. It's such a good spot up there.
'I have such fond memories of Butlin's. I wish it was still here in Barry, I really do.'
The Top Locations For Fans of Gavin and Stacey
Gavin and Stacey came to an end with the finale episode over Christmas, but you can still keep the show's spirit alive with a trip to
Up the road is The Colcot Arms aka Smithy's local Essex hangout and of course the
There are organised tours of
Gavin and Stacey
locations, some onboard Dave's Coaches, but it's easy enough to go on your own adventure.
13
Barry Island used to be home to a bustling Butlin's resort
Credit: Getty
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The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
We live in a UK seaside resort that Butlin's abandoned before Hollywood moved in – it's a real-life paradise
BARRY Island is the Welsh seaside resort we all know and love thanks to the hit series, Gavin and Stacey. But it's so much more than just a filming location to the locals whose exclusive homes, built on a headland at the resort made famous by the BBC show, offer panoramic sea views and spectacular sunrises. Advertisement 13 Barry Island is one of the most recognisable spots in Wales Credit: Alamy 13 The seaside resort used to be home to an enormous Butlins resort Credit: Wales News Service On a clear day, residents living at Nell's Point on Barry Island in south Wales have uninterrupted views reaching as far as Somerset. Some have rear gardens joining a grassy clifftop with a private pathway down to the sandy beach below. There are incredible views of the coastline, and some people have seen dolphins and porpoises from Nell's Point. Sightings are rare, but seals are regularly spotted in the area. Advertisement Read More on Wales The smart, executive-style homes on the Nell's Point estate are a world away from the rows of chalets that were put up at the same spot 60 years ago by William 'Billy' Butlin when he bought the site and turned it into one of his famous Butlin's Holiday Camps. In those days, it was predominantly coal miners and their families trudging up and down the pathway as they revelled in their annual summer holiday leave from their jobs in the long since-closed South Wales collieries. Now houses sit on the former Butlin's site, with some that have been turned into holiday homes rented out by individuals. Some locals still remember the resort's heyday when thousands of excited holidaymakers made the journey to the island to stay in the more than 800 chalets at the attraction. Advertisement Most read in Travel At its peak in 1934, 400,000 people visited during the August bank holiday weekend. Like any other Butlin's resort there was a plethora of activities to choose from, like paddling in the heated swimming pools. The real life of Barry Island made famous by BBC's TV Series Gavin and Stacey 13 Mark described Barry as 'paradise' to holiday-goers Credit: Nigel Iskander 13 Butlin's used to be one of the busiest places on Barry Island Credit: WalesOnline/Media Wales Advertisement Onsite, there was also funfair, cable car, miniature railway, restaurants, bars, and a fish and chip shop. Mark Anthony, now 68, was a young boy when Butlin's opened and shared his memories of those booming summer months every year. Mark, who runs a cafe and gift shop on the nearby seafront with his wife, Lisa, 60, said: 'Barry was bustling with people, many of them families who'd come down from the coal mining valleys for a well-earned summer holiday." Mark continued: 'They loved coming here because there was so much to do, especially at Butlin's. There were the famous Butlin's Redcoats, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a ballroom, a boating lake, tennis courts and an amusement arcade. It was like paradise. Advertisement 'People used to come down here and spend a few hours crammed on the beach like sardines. "Those that couldn't get a chalet at Butlin's up there used to stay in one of the numerous local boarding houses and B&Bs. Hardly anyone went abroad in those days because there was so much to do here. 'It's sad that nowadays so many people seem to want to spend their holidays overseas because, I guess, it's so cheap to get there and the sunshine is almost guaranteed. 'Even so, Barry has a lot to offer still. There are lots of lovely places to go out for a drink or a nice meal and there's the funfair and beautiful beaches which are just as good as anywhere in the world. Advertisement 'And there are several beautiful bays that are safe to swim in. I absolutely love living here. Barry Island should still be at the top of everyone's list of holiday destinations." 13 Barry Island has become more popular again thanks to Gavin & Stacey Credit: Tom Jackson/BBC Popular beach-side cafes in Barry Island include On the front is also Bay 5 Coffee House which serves savoury snacks and sweet treats and 'pancake stacks' according to a Tripadvisor review. Advertisement As for the top restaurants, the most highly-rated on Tripadvisor is Paletta Pizzeria which lots of customers say to book early as it gets very busy. It was also Barry's first wood-fired Pizzeria, serving up tasty pizzas, pasta dishes and gnocchi. As for ice cream shops, they are around most corners with John's Cafe being the most highly-rated. The classic sweet treats shop also serves candy floss, a stick of rock and of course, ice cream too. Advertisement Barry Island has five notable beaches with Whitmore Bay is also the spot where the Shipmans and the Wests go for their beach day in Gavin and Stacey in series three. Jackson's Bay is a more secluded section of the coastline and is more popular with locals because it's lesser-known. One visitor wrote on Advertisement Another added: "What a nice walk and lovely scenery. A nice bay, small and hardly anybody there." Cold Knap Beach, which has pebbles instead of sand, is also a quieter spot than Whitmore Bay. 13 Whitmore Bay on Barry Island is the most well-known and popular beach Credit: Alamy Helen, a grandmother strolling along the seafront with one of her grandsons, agreed: 'Barry is still a fantastic place to come for a holiday. Us locals are incredibly friendly and the fairground is great fun, whatever the weather. Advertisement 'In fact, I prefer it now to when we had Butlin's here. Sure, the holidaymakers brought in money, but it was mostly spent at the holiday camp, not in the rest of Barry. 'In those days, it was mainly miners coming here, but nowadays people come for the Gavin and Stacey experience and that means they go everywhere on the island. "It's created plenty of trade for the whole of Barry and as a result, the place has been transformed. It's no longer just a cheapo holiday destination.' There are plenty of locations to spot during a visit to Barry, Advertisement On Barry Island itself there's the famous Marco's Cafe and the Arcade where Nessa worked the slots. We've listed a few more foilming locations at the bottom of the article. Over the years, Barry Island has become increasingly popular and according to the Gavin and Stacey fans coming from as far away as Australia, Hawaii and India. Visitors often take pictures in front of her house and when Glenda opens it up, have a tour too. As for shopping on Barry Island, there's been a new development called Goodsheds . Advertisement The site is home to independent shops which are in repurposed shipping containers in an area called the Shipyard - there you'll find craft beers, records, home furnishings and fashion stores. Nearby there's The Tracks, where railway carriages have been repurposed, and there's even a cinema . The Wales Coast Path runs right around the coastline at Barry. It's about 4 miles along the coastline to Rhoose Point, the most southerly spot in Wales which offer incredible views over the coast. 13 The Pleasure Park is still a hit with tourists and locals alike Credit: Alamy Advertisement The most recognisable attraction is the giant Ferris wheel, but they also have three rollercoasters, a log flume and spooky ghost train. The family-owned business' biggest ride is Aerospace. It's a giant, 32-seater space machine that swings riders up and down, reaching heights of 214 feet and speeds of up to 75mph. During the summer months when Barry is bustling with visitors, the amusement park gets 400,000 ride goers. Advertisement 13 There was lots to do at Butlin's like swimming in the pools Credit: WalesOnline/Media Wales 13 Coach driver Barry is more than happy to visit the Welsh coast Credit: Nigel Iskander Coach driver Barry Elms, 60, from Birmingham, was having a rest on the seafront when we caught up with him. 'I've just dropped 50 holidaymakers off and this is just what I need - fresh sea air and magnificent views,' he said. 'The lot I've just brought here from Brum have come for Gavin and Stacey. I think that show is what has made Barry Island famous again." Advertisement Solicitor Jay Thomas, 42, was in Barry enjoying a day at the seaside. He said: 'It is just a beautiful spot to come to. It's very clean and the people are super-friendly. I've driven down from Solihull in the West Midlands and it has been well worth the time spent getting down here. 'You can get here and back home in a day, so it's perfect." I didn't know until today that there used to be a Butlin's here, but to be honest there still seems plenty to do." Local Tony Rosser, 79, remembers the Butlin's era but says he prefers the resort as it is today. He said: 'As a boy, we never really came to the sea front here in summer because it was so busy. We only used to come here in the winter , when it was a bit quieter and have lovely long walks. Advertisement 'The local traders liked having Butlin's here, for sure, because they benefited from there being so many holidaymakers in town, but now they're enjoying the Gavin and Stacey effect instead, so they're happy again. 'However, I still think the council needs to do a lot more to encourage more people to come here because the show has finished now and we'll always need visitors to help the local economy.' 13 Tony prefers Barry Island without the Butlin's resort Credit: Nigel Iskander 13 The seafront is far less busy during the winter months Credit: Nigel Iskander Advertisement Barry Island no longer has any holiday parks on the island, but there are still a few nearby that mean visitors can easily access the island. Porthkerry Leisure Park is a family-friendly located close to Barry Island and the scenic Vale of Glamorgan. There's also Fontygary Touring Park which has a spa, pool, and sea views . But none of the holiday parks are on the scale that Butlin's was. 13 Lawrence's nickname is the 'karaoke king' Credit: Nigel Iskander Advertisement Lawrence Hill, an 83-year-old retired painter and decorator, proclaims himself to be the 'karaoke king' of Barry Island. He said: 'They should never have built those luxury homes on the old Butlin's site. It was a wonderful complex and I'm sure it could have been spruced up and used as some kind of holiday attraction again. It's such a good spot up there. 'I have such fond memories of Butlin's. I wish it was still here in Barry, I really do.' The Top Locations For Fans of Gavin and Stacey Gavin and Stacey came to an end with the finale episode over Christmas, but you can still keep the show's spirit alive with a trip to Up the road is The Colcot Arms aka Smithy's local Essex hangout and of course the There are organised tours of Gavin and Stacey locations, some onboard Dave's Coaches, but it's easy enough to go on your own adventure. 13 Barry Island used to be home to a bustling Butlin's resort Credit: Getty Advertisement
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Nothing will ruin my camping trip… I hate couples having noisy sex & get revenge in a sly way, my grandkids cringe
GOING on holiday with grandparents is a treat many children look forward to, knowing they'll be spoiled rotten with ice creams and round-the-clock attention. But Emma Parsons-Reid isn't your typical sweet granny. Advertisement 5 Emma Parsons-Reid blasts campers for hanging their undies out to dry or having noisy sex when on a camping trip with her grandkids Credit: Supplied 5 Emma reveals her grandkids believe that if they survive a camping with their gran, that they'll survive anything Credit: Supplied 5 She brings M&S food for her family to cook at home most of the time, but they might enjoy one meal out Credit: Supplied 'The children always say going camping with me is a rite of passage,' says 58-year-old Emma, from Cardiff. ''If you survive this, you'll survive anything,' is how they look at it.' Emma has exacting standards and has told off fellow campers for having sex within earshot of her grandkids. She even sees red if people hang their knickers outside to dry. 'I'm a nightmare nan 24/7 and that isn't going to change just because we are on holiday,' she warns. Advertisement READ MORE IN FABULOUS 'I don't like people draping underwear outside their tent or caravan. It's awful, so uncouth. 'Pack enough pants for your trip and wash them when you get home – or go to a launderette. 'You don't need pairs of pants hanging in a line like a ship's sail. No one needs to see that. It ruins the holiday photographs.' Advertisement Most read in Fabulous A whopping 42.2 per cent of Brits go camping at least once a year according to the latest statistics. But for camping fan Emma, standards are slipping – and nothing is guaranteed to rile her more than the sound of couples getting frisky under the stars. 'I'm a broken man, but memories made' says RTE's Donal Skehan after dreamy camping trip to Irish coast with family 'People get randy when they go camping,' she says. 'I'm not sure if it's the hot nights or the light evenings – coupled with a few drinks – but I get annoyed if I hear them. Advertisement 'The girls aren't silly. They know what it sounds like and it's mortifying. I get especially annoyed if the noise is keeping me awake at 2am and they're still going at it.' The next morning, Emma says she takes great pleasure in waking up couples she's heard bonking within earshot of her granddaughters – Elise, 17, Isabella, 15, Scarlett, 13, Lucy, 10, and Ivy, eight – during the night. 'Bang and clatter' 'On my way to the shower block, I'll bang and clatter and make lots of noise so they don't get a lie in. 'On one occasion, when the girls were small, I made them sing a few rounds of Row, Row, Row Your Boat really loudly, just to put a couple off.' Advertisement It's usually only her two youngest grandchildren that holiday with her now. 'The older ones don't come any more and I think that's a huge relief for them,' says retired civil servant Emma, who favours Welsh coastal resorts like Porthcawl. I get especially annoyed if the noise is keeping me awake at 2am and they're still going at it 'When they talk about camping with 'Nooney', which is what they all call me, it is like they are telling a survivor's story. 5 Emma, above with a head torch, has told off fellow campers Credit: Supplied Advertisement 'The two youngest get very embarrassed. You see their faces drop when I march off to tell someone off, or start complaining about the state of the site to the manager.' Emma reads fellow campers the riot act if they make noise after 10pm – and hates fire pits and barbecues. 'I don't care if they get annoyed. Looking after the grandchildren can be tiring and I just need a good night's sleep,' Emma, who holidays with her grandchildren and husband Kev 64, a retired engineer, to give her own daughter Hannah, 35, a break, says. 'And there is nothing worse than sitting downwind from someone's barbecue smoke. I don't want to get a whiff of other people's smelly sausages.' Advertisement Emma packs M&S food for her family, often enjoying French sticks, ham and salad. 'Why can't we go back to how it was in the 1970s, when everyone was polite and followed some camping etiquette?' says Emma, who refuses to spoil the children with ice creams or seaside souvenirs. 'They love going into the shops, but they're full of plastic tat and I won't allow it in my tent. 'Awful' 'If they want to buy something and I think it's decent enough, I'll allow it, but I'll make them do some chores first – maybe the washing up. I'm very tight and I work to a budget. Advertisement 'And they eat enough rubbish without me buying them ice creams every day. We might have one meal out, but I'll cook the rest of the time.' On one occasion, Emma suffered a slipped disc and carried a pink lilo with her everywhere, so she could lie down – much to the embarrassment of the grandkids. 'The pain was awful,' she recalls. 'We'd only just arrived and I didn't want to cut the holiday short, so I carried this everywhere we went so I could lie down on it. I couldn't sit down, I had to lie down – even in restaurants and at the arcades. Advertisement 'Everyone looked at me like I was insane and the kids were embarrassed. 'On one occasion, they made some friends who were asking them why their nan was always lying down on the lilo. They hated having to explain it every time.' Who the kids play with is another bone of contention whenever they're away. 'I don't let them play with just anybody,' Emma says. 'If they meet someone, I'll go round to check out the family's tent and make sure they are appropriate. Advertisement 'If they are in a caravan or a campervan I'm usually OK with that, but I will have to walk past to assess the family. If they are drinking a lot, or if there are cans lying around or knickers hanging out, I'll pull the grandchildren away. You can't be too careful. I have complained a lot, but we've had some fun times 'I certainly wouldn't want them playing with rough kids, or rude children that answer back.' In fact, if Emma's granddaughters fail to find suitable playmates, Emma thinks nothing of recruiting some herself. 'I prefer to choose their friends for them,' she says. "You'll often see me approaching more palatable kids if I see a nice family. Advertisement 'I'll ask them their names and say they can play with my grandchildren if they like.' Emma often calls out slovenly campers and the state of site facilities. 'If I think someone is being too messy or leaving a lot of litter, I complain,' says Emma. 'I'm always on the phone to the owner. 'The shower blocks are often disgusting, so that is a common complaint. People often leave a mess all around the basin, but the worst is when they forget their pants and leave them hanging over a rail. Disgusting. That would definitely have me marching down to the site office. Advertisement 'And I can't stand men that go to the showers with their guts falling over the top of their towels, letting it all hang out. ''Morning love,' they go, but I blank them if they are disgusting.' Despite her never-ending complaining, Emma says she and the granddaughters cherish their shared camping trips. 'The kids have the best memories of those times,' she says. "We are planning to go back to Fontygary in the Vale of Glamorgan for three nights in August." Advertisement 'It's always the nightmares they remember. They'll say: 'Do you remember when Nooney did this or that?' and then fall apart laughing. 'They'll remember me telling someone off for having sex, or when the dog had diarrhoea in the campervan. 'We once parked under an acorn tree and all night the acorns dropped onto the roof keeping us all awake. 'I have complained a lot, but we've had some fun times. The kids ridicule me, but it makes me smile as I know they won't forget me when I'm dead and buried.' Advertisement 5 The gran takes great pleasure in waking up couples she's heard bonking on the site Credit: Supplied
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Dublin Live
Irish tourists told to 'cancel' Spain holidays as expert issues Greece and Turkey warning
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Irish people planning a sunny escape to Spain, Turkey, or Greece are being warned to think twice - as a UK expert has flagged up serious concerns. Speaking to BBC's Morning Live, travel journalist Ash Bhardwaj has raised the alarm about the heightened risk of wildfires. He warned holidaymakers: "We're entering wildfire season, which peaks in July and August, and some of these places are seeing temperatures that peak at over 50 degrees Celsius. "As a place gets drier and hotter, you're more likely to get wildfires. Over the last five years, 13 per cent of travel insurance claims have been evacuations or related to natural disasters, so this is something that can affect your travel." In the Canary Islands, both tourists and locals are keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of forest fires, with the authorities putting a pre-alert state into action. The combination of scorching heat, bone-dry conditions, and the recent battering from a calima – those dry, dusty winds from the Sahara – means the risk of a blaze breaking out is all too real, reports Galway Beo. An official statement on the local government's website said: "Given the current climatic, meteorological, and environmental circumstances, having passed the usual period of precipitation in the Canary Islands and, as established in section 2.10 of the INFOCA, it is estimated that the conditions are in place to declare a Pre-Alert Situation due to this being a period of medium to high risk of forest fires." Spain's key tourism sector is already bracing for impact over soaring anti-tourist sentiment with demonstrations in full swing before the peak holiday season kicks in. Last month saw protesters thronging the streets across Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Lanzarote, and La Palma, banding together under the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit). Activists have been vocal, demanding a cap on tourist numbers, a stop to new hotel projects and calling for tougher tourist taxes among several measures. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
