Fairbourne Spit

Fairbourne Spit (also known as Penrhyn Point) is a long spit of sand and shingle at the mouth of the River Mawddach where it reaches Cardigan Bay, on the west coast of Wales. The gravel probably originates from Llwyngwril to the south and from seabed glacial deposits,^[1] while the sand and dunes at the north end of the spit are deposited from wind blown marine sand and from the estuary, which is a long-term sink for sandy sediment.^[2]

Fairbourne Spit viewed from Barmouth panorama point

The narrow-gauge Fairbourne & Barmouth Railway (built in 1895) runs the length of the spit and, at the very end of the headland a ferry service makes the river crossing to Barmouth.^[3]

In the 2010s the spit was one of the locations around the coast of Wales that would no longer have its sea defences repaired, threatening Fairbourne and the surrounding area with regular flooding.^[4] In 2021 and 2022 local scientist Dr Graham Hall put forward papers that challenged the policy and suggested an alternative approach.^[5] A local campsite owner suggested creating an artificial reef.^[5]

See also

• List of spits of the United Kingdom

References

1. "Stability of the Ro Wen shingle spit, Fairbourne" (PDF).
2. Pye, Kenneth; Saye, Samantha; Blott, Simon (May 2007), "Mawddach Estuary - 86a Fairbourne spit" (PDF), Sand dune processes and management for flood plain and coastal defence - Part 3: The geomorphological and management status of coastal dunes in England and Wales, DEFRA/Environment Agency, p. 69
3. Atkinson, David; Wilson, Neil (2007), Wales, Lonely Planet, p. 240, ISBN 978-1-7422-0134-4
4. "Shoreline management plans". BBC. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
5. Forgrave, Andrew (29 January 2023). "Artificial reef and tidal barrage plan to save Fairbourne from being swallowed by the sea". Daily Post. North Wales.

External links

• Fairbourne Spit and Penrhyn Point photo

52.710°N 4.055°W / 52.710; -4.055