A man has left a scathing review after travelling 120 miles to visit a Merseyside beach often billed as one of the best in the UK.
Formby Beach is one of the most popular destinations in the region thanks to its stretches of golden sand, rolling dunes and the sparkling Irish sea. But one visitor has called his journey to the Sefton coastline a "waste of petrol" and a "total disappointment".
Writing on Tripadvisor the man, who gave his name as Anthony, said: "Drove over 120 miles to get there and be told the car park was full!
READ MORE: Merseyside's golden beach so popular people are being turned away at 11am
"I asked the woman on the gate if there was anywhere else we could go and she just asked us to turn around as quickly as possible because we were causing a queue and she said we could always go back!"
The beach is part of the Formby National Trust site, which consists of pine forests, and coastal marshes.
The man's review continued: "We are National Trust members and I did expect a certain amount of courtesy. The website did not say the car park was full!"
Formby beach currently has a four star rating on Tripadvisor. One recent reviewer described it as "beautiful" and "great for dog walking", while another said it "doesn't get much better than this".
A National Trust spokesperson told the ECHO: “We’re here to welcome people who love to visit Formby, whilst caring for all the wonderful wildlife at this special nature haven.
"On busy days our car parks can fill up quickly. We close our car parks to visitors once they’re full to help make sure Formby is a safe environment for everyone who visits us. On these days we recommend that visitors to Formby beat the queues and travel by train, plan their visit for a quieter day or visit alternative costal locations, such as Ainsdale or Crosby.
"We appreciate that it can be frustrating arriving to find that the car park is full. We urge visitors to check our social media channels to find live parking updates prior to travelling.
"Together we can create an enjoyable experience for everyone and protect precious wildlife by being mindful of nature and the people around us."
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