UK town with beautiful lake devastated by ‘private property’ sign | UK | News
A steam running from Klondyke Mill, the largest largest lead mine building still standing in North Wales, enters Llyn Geirionydd, near Trfriw, Conwy (bottom left). A closer attraction at the lake’s southern end is the Taliesin Memorial (bottom right) (Image: Llywelyn2000/Wiki)
A family seeking a slice of paradise in North Wales have found themselves caught up in a furious access dispute with locals.
After purchasing an historic cottage, reportedly the birthplace of 6th century poet Taliesin, they discovered the picturesque lakeside spot was far from the peaceful retreat they had envisioned.
Whilst renovating the ancient stone cottage overlooking Llyn Geirionydd, a beloved lake in Conwy, Simon and Michelle Rothwell quickly realised their 42 acres were frequently overrun with visitors.
After becoming exasperated by illegal camping, parking and “abuse”, they put up a “Private Property” sign beside the lake, a third of which they now own.
A public footpath leads to the Taliesyn Memorial. It was commonly believed the bard lived on the shores of Llyn Geirionydd and was buried there. Scholars now believe he was more likely to have been born in Powys and buried in Ceredigion (Image: Terry Hughes/Wiki)
The sign sparked outrage amongst residents from nearby Trefriw and Llanrwst for whom access is regarded as a historic right following generations of use.
The sign was reportedly ripped down and the property vandalised.
Whilst some people sympathise with the family’s predicament, others do not.
Some expressed “shock” that they would no longer be able to bring their children to the area.
Amongst dozens of furious comments was one from a woman who said: “Are you honestly going to stand there with a pitchfork shouting get off my land or sit in a boat shouting get out of my water?”
A local woman remained undeterred, stating: “50 years of swimming there, as did my father before me, walking up from the village. Not going to stop now.”
She argued that the lake and its surrounding area had been cherished by visitors for centuries – “well before anyone could claim it was theirs.”
Michelle and Simon, a former police officer from Luton, purchased the property in October 2024. The Times newspaper later featured it in a list of the “weirdest homes sold in 2024.”
Their two-bedroom home was brimming with character but had been neglected: commuting from Warwick, renovations have been ongoing for eight months, and it will be some time before they can finally settle in.
One social media user suggested that the couple’s desire for privacy was futile in such a popular tourist spot.
She said: “Unfortunately, unless you’re planning on erecting 15ft steel fences or patrolling the shoreline 24/7, then maybe the best thing for your own mental health and happiness is to accept that it’s an area that’s going to have people in it.
“Otherwise, you’re just going to be miserable living here, and life is too short and the scenery too beautiful.”
Before purchasing the £675,000 property, they were fully aware that the lake served as a major tourist attraction, situated where Gwydyr Forest meets the lower slopes of the Carneddau mountains.
Part of the site falls under the management of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which runs a car park with toilet facilities at the lake’s southern end.
Some people have wrongly assumed the lakeside Private Property sign refers to the whole of Llyn Geirionydd (Image: Rothwell family)
It serves as a beloved picnic destination.
Nevertheless, it can become overcrowded – water sports prove extremely popular and Geirionydd stands as the sole lake within Eryri National Park where speedboats receive permission to operate.
Predictably, residents flock to the lake’s more tranquil, northern coastline where they can find refuge from the commotion and crowds.
The difficulties the Rothwells have encountered – fly-tipping, unauthorised camping and prohibited fires – represent ongoing challenges throughout the entire lake area.
A specialist task force was established to address these concerns – issues that will sound familiar to anyone residing near picturesque locations where masses of visitors frequently disturb locals and spark resident versus tourist friction.
The couple found themselves unprepared for the magnitude of these problems, amplified by this year’s favourable weather conditions.
Neither did they fully grasp how deeply local residents cherish the lake’s evocative northern region – a location that previously played host to the Gorsedd of Geirionyd, a “more Welsh” interpretation of the National Eisteddfod.
Simon said: “95% of the people who come here are lovely. But we have others who say they have a right to be there, they can do what they like.
“Often the driveway is blocked by parked cars, preventing tradespeople from reaching the house. Sometimes we can’t even access the house ourselves. And littering can be terrible. I’ve filled the car up many times with abandoned tents, discarded clothes and bottles of vodka.
“We have an agreement with a local farmer to graze his sheep – but they then get chased by dogs. Some people are so rude – a paddleboarder made our youngest son, aged six, cry when he was alone in the garden.”
Making matters worse is a public footpath that winds around the lake.
Others slice through their property, heading to the Taliesin Memorial and connecting Geirionydd with Llyn Crafant, a neighbouring lake famous for its fragrance of wild garlic.
Whilst the footpaths are positioned well away from the house, they draw visitors to the waterside – where the allure is to linger at what is undoubtedly a stunning location.
“We want to be reasonable, we really do,” said Simon.
“We understand people walk the area and want to stop to admire the lake. We have no problems with that. But if one person pitches up a tent, inevitably others will follow, and before long you have 20, 30, even 40 people camping on your land and having parties.
“It can also lead to awkward conversations. Recently we had people lighting a barbecue by the lake. When I spoke to them, they said they wouldn’t be long, so I let it be. Six hours later, they were still there.
“When you approach some people and say it’s private property, they say it’s ‘only a piece of paper’ and tell me I have no right to ask them to leave. We’ve even had people in the back garden!”.
The lakeside sign that riled many local people – even though it’s perfectly legitimate (Image: Rothwell family)
Having been pushed to her limit by “unpleasant incidents” and “aggressive and intimidating” confrontations this summer, Michelle turned to Facebook to explain how they were distressing a family that was “putting every penny we have into making our dream a reality”.
In a bid to foster understanding, she posted photographs of a gate and boundary wall beside another Private Property sign that had been “forcibly torn down”.
A £200 Private Property sign erected by the lake was “kicked down and stolen” within a day, she revealed.
Officers have been notified and the pair have been told to fit security cameras.
It’s a path they’re hesitant to pursue, but they may have little choice.
“Perhaps we didn’t appreciate just how long people have been coming up here,” said Simon. “But it doesn’t mean anyone can pitch up tents and light fires without permission.
“We want to be welcoming and we’re anxious to talk to people about the issues. We absolutely want people to enjoy the area and we want to find solutions if we can. Of course it’s reasonable that people can stop for a picnic near the footpath. However the feedback we’ve had so far suggests many people simply weren’t aware the property was private.”
In a peculiar turn of events, a public map of the lake published by NRW only displays two thirds of it, excluding the 14 acres of water now owned by the Rothwells. Simon claims that NRW informed him this was due to a previous owner’s concern about attracting more people further up the lake.
Picnic litter left on a table at Llyn Geirionydd with tents pitched illegally in the background (Image: undefined)
NRW does mention on its website that “the north end of the lake is privately owned”. However, this brief note may leave many lake-goers oblivious to the restrictions, particularly given the absence of boundary markers at the lakeside or on the water.
Many individuals prefer to escape the crowds and access the northern end of the lake from its small shingle beach. To provide clarity, some users have proposed marker buoys to outline the private area of the lake.
However, others argue that it will make little difference as people will disregard any signs. One man stated online: “People have used that little beach for years and years,” and “I can guarantee you that me and my mates will still be using the little beach.”
Some even question whether any boundary markers could be enforced. Another man addressed the family saying: “Unfortunately I don’t think you have a hope in hell of stopping people – rightly or wrongly – using your end of the lake.”
He added: “You will only drive yourself mad and cause yourselves more distress if you try and make a stand, it will be like trying to hold back the incoming tide.
“Your only hope is to accept the inconvenience and enjoy the majority of the year when you will have Geirionydd to yourselves. It’s a beautiful part of the world and you can’t really blame anyone for wanting to enjoy a few hours in your paradise.”
Natural Resources Wales revealed it has held talks with the Rothwells regarding their access concerns.
The environmental agency confirmed it has no intentions to install extra signage marking the lake’s private area.
Serene view from the lake’s northern shore in the fading light (Image: Andy Waddington/Wiki)
Whilst locals maintain they’ve enjoyed unrestricted access for generations, circumstances shifted during the coronavirus crisis.
Previously, Michelle explained the former proprietors “weren’t around much”.
However, during summer 2021, a regular visitor was told to vacate the vicinity.
The disappointed individual penned: “For people who enjoy the area responsibly, who pick up litter and notify authorities of any issues, being asked to leave is a kick in the teeth.”
Several weeks following this confrontation, the Macclesfield-based landowner contacted an outdoor education expert at Bangor University seeking assistance in withdrawing access rights previously extended to outdoor centres, schools and colleges.
She fumed about the “littering and wild defecation, wild fires and verbal abuse” plaguing the location during the domestic holiday boom. She wrote: “We are now inundated with visitors to the point where we cannot enjoy the land that we own. Whilst we wish to encourage humanity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings we are very worried about the destruction of natural habitat and general trespassing.”
Issues were said to have intensified. There were reported clashes according to a neighbour with confrontations between the previous owners and people accessing that section of the lake.
When the sun comes out at Llyn Geirionydd, so do the crowds, seen here at the lake’s southern end (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)
He also said it made scant difference. With tourist numbers continuing to surge, he suggested the new proprietors “will be fighting a losing battle”.
Collaborating with the community.
The damage to property, and the “disgusting” and “appalling” intimidation experienced by the family, has been widely condemned by residents and other lake users. Yet few have been surprised by the fury caused by the blocking of Geirionydd’s access.
The location, in the parish of Llanrhychwyn, is steeped in history. Close to the lake sits grade I-listed St Rhychwyn’s Church, frequently claimed as the oldest in Wales.
Locally it’s known as Llewelyn’s Church, a nod to Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Gwynedd, who maintained a hunting lodge in the vicinity.
It’s a captivating spot but, online, one woman suggested the family chose the wrong location for their countryside retreat. “You bought a house in one of the most popular beauty spots in the area. And now you are wondering why people are not happy that you are trying to restrict access to an area that local people have used as amenity land for generations.
“I agree that vandalism is not appropriate in any situation. However, you are really not going about this in a very diplomatic way, with signs effectively saying ‘get off my land’.
“No wonder people are upset. You will not win this battle, I doubt, without a lot of stress and expense.”
A field gate and a stone boundary wall next to another Private Property sign was ‘forcibly torn down’ (Image: Rothwell family)
Simon, who has since become a businessman, revealed that the family never intended to upset locals and are deeply saddened by the fallout. They hope to eventually integrate into the community while also finding solutions to the area’s over-tourism issue.
He explained that the Private Property sign was not meant to be inflammatory but rather a means of “drawing a line” to indicate that the family was no longer willing to tolerate the disruption and abuse they were facing.
Despite all the challenges, Simon and his wife don’t regret their decision to relocate from the West Midlands for a second. “We love it here,” he expressed.
“It’s a beautiful area and we’ve met some lovely people. It’s not nice to hear things like we should ‘go back to Warwick’. But, overall, the good far, far exceeds the bad.”
NRW stated that it only manages access for swimmers and paddlers at Llyn Geirionydd from the southern end. A spokesperson added: “The northern end of the lake is privately owned and we’ve been speaking with the property owner who’s put up signs on their own property as a result of people accessing the land and parking across their gate.
“Our signs at the southern end of the lake show the areas visitors can use, including the area for water skiing by permit only, which is managed by Llyn Geirionydd Water Skiing Club.
“We don’t currently have plans to change our signage or install a floating lake boundary to mark the private property at the northern end of the lake.”
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