Disgruntled holidaymakers have vowed never to visit a 'smelly' beach again after it left children in tears.
A huge "seaweed barrier" on Weymouth coastline in Dorset has put tourists off the famous beauty spot, with many left "disappointed" by the "unsightly" algae, Dorset Live reports.
The mass of seaweed recently washed up on the golden sands near the pavilion, however the sunny weather has caused the kelp to dry out. The rotting piles emit a "disgusting smell", with swarms of flies circling the mounds.
The mass can be spotted from a significant distance away, including on the popular beach live stream, with many visitors being forced to steer clear of the area. As a result, many unimpressed tourists have left scathing reviews on the attraction’s Tripadvisor page, with several complaints about “smelly, slimy Weymouth beach” and the “unpleasant” seaweed.
In response to the criticism, Weymouth Town Council has said it is aware of the “unsightly” seaweed, however they have made a “conscious decision not to routinely remove any animals or plants” and will allow the kelp to be washed away. One tourist said he was "disappointed" during a recent trip to the beach, adding that he didn't understand why the seaweed has not been removed.
He said: “Our memories were shattered with just one look at the beach and the state the council have decided to leave it in.
“The vast quantities of wet and drying piles of seaweed which had to be walked over if you want to get to the sea. Saw children crying as they didn't like walking on it and the days of seeing clear blue clean water where, if you were lucky you could see shoals of baby fish, have gone.
“So left with these memories, we shall not be in a hurry to return.”
Another reviewers compared the seaweed to a "huge cowpat". They wrote: “The sea is brown because it is full of small pieces of seaweed that is washing ashore. When you go into the sea you are covered in it when you get out.
“To reach the sea you have to walk through a thick mat of rotting seaweed about 6ft wide and 6 inches deep (like a huge cowpat) along the beach. In the lovely warm weather we are having it is attracting lots of flies and is really smelly.
“It's really unpleasant and there is no alternative but to walk through it to get to the sea. I would avoid Weymouth beach, especially with young children.”
Another visitor, from Nottinghamshire, said he was left shocked by the state of the "wonderful sandy beach" on his sixth and most recent trip to Weymouth. He said: “This year, however, its appeal was somewhat diminished due to the state of the sand.
“Large quantities of seaweed have been washed ashore and, as opposed to previous years, this has been left to rot, resulting in a smelly and fly-infested carpet. Also when the tide comes in, the weed refloats and creates a wide area with the texture of vegetable soup. Many small children particularly were put off by this, partly because by the time they got beyond it, the water was too deep for them
The mounds of seaweed are thought to have been washed ashore by easterly winds. Tourists have been seen picking their way through the piles in a bid to avoid the kelp.
One person told Dorset Live: “Seaweed is very natural and I am sure it often washes up on the beach. But it smells, there are flies around it and people are avoiding it. I think it should be removed by workers before it gets worse and puts off people coming to Weymouth”.
Another said: “Weymouth beach is long and you can pick a space wherever. Therefore you can just avoid it.” One Dorset Live reader wrote: “It’s the sea! Water covers the sand, tide goes out and leaves seaweed. It’s nature. It’s good for plants.”
The sight of seaweed on Weymouth beach is not uncommon and often washes up onto the beach. This seaweed is often picked up by the tides and washed away back to sea.
A spokeswoman for Weymouth Town Council said: “We are aware of recent comments about seaweed on a small area of our award-winning beach. Occasionally north easterly winds result in seaweed being washed up on the southern section of the beach. We appreciate that the seaweed might be unsightly until it is washed back out into the bay but as caretakers of this beautiful and diverse coastal environment, we have made a conscious decision not to routinely remove any animals or plants.
“This decision supports our commitment to preserving the ecosystem’s integrity and avoiding any potential harm that may arise from interfering with its natural course. Seaweed is an important resource for marine invertebrates and a food source for many species.
“While we understand that our approach may not align with some personal preferences, it is important to note that we are not striving to provide a synthetic, controlled swimming pool experience. Instead, we invite visitors to embrace the raw beauty of nature in its unaltered form, which includes the presence of seaweed, along with other fascinating marine life such as crabs, seals, jellyfish, and dolphins.
“Weymouth Beach has been honoured with both the Seaside Award and the Blue Flag Award. These accolades underscore our dedication to maintaining cleanliness, safety, high-quality services, water quality, and environmental management. We take great pride in upholding these standards and continuously strive to provide an exceptional beach experience for our valued visitors.”
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