The people who used to operate Abereiddy's slate quarry, which was closed in 1904 after being flooded by the encroaching sea, might be surprised to find it a hive of activity still, over one hundred years later. This delightful spot on the south-west coast of Wales is now a pool 100 metres across known as the Blue Lagoon, and is a favourite spot for a range of outdoor activities such as diving, kayaking and the curious sport of 'coasteering', which involves exploring the coast by a combination of climbing the cliffs and plunging into the sea. Another popular way to enjoy this stretch of coast - and the one favoured by us on our visit - is by walking the coastal path while marvelling at the antics of the coasteerers down below. In 2013 the lagoon hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The Blue Lagoon is owned by the National Trust, and the number of visitors flocking there has created some conflict between the operators of the activities and the conservationists, necessitating an agreement on limiting the number of people who can use the lagoon each day. The village itself consists of a number of colour-washed cottages backing onto a sand and shingle beach made a greyish-black by the slate. Many of the scenes from a 1961 film starring Peter Cushing were filmed in Abereiddy. The film, 'Fury at Smugglers' Bay', depicts the ravaging of a small seaside village by pirate wreckers.
Map of the area.
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| Abereiddy, the Blue Lagoon, with 'Coasteers' diving - geograph.org.uk - 1406824. Photo by Keith Salvesen, via Wikimedia Commons. |
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