Owners of viral TikTok blue lagoon warn people to stay away

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Owners of viral TikTok blue lagoon warn people to stay awayImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Visitors must now pay a £2 fee online before coming to the blue lagoonByAngharad ThomasBBC WalesPublished20 July 2026Updated 5 hours agoOwners of a "blue lagoon" that went viral on TikTok during the Covid pandemic have warned people not to enter the site, particularly during the current hot weather. Brombil Reservoir in Margam in Neath Port Talbot attracted thousands of visitors, which caused traffic problems and littering. To reach the 30m-deep (100ft) reservoir, visitors must walk up a steep 900m (2,953ft) public footpath.

Leisure Estate Investments Ltd, which bought the secluded site at auction for £20,000 in 2024, are now charging £2 a visit as "a temporary deterrent" and have installed barriers on its dam face. It is concerned about people swimming, paddleboarding, littering and damaging structures around the site. Although the reservoir can be accessed via public footpaths, the barriers were installed to stop people from walking on the dam face - but these have since been removed by trespassers.

The Details

The owners said the £2 levy was introduced in an effort to manage unauthorised visits and help fund clean-up operations, as part of its efforts to discourage public access because of "inherent safety risks". A spokesperson for the company said: "We have strictly banned from going there and walking on the face of the dam. "Our long-term vision has always been to build a sustainable public-private framework so the community can safely enjoy this asset.

"However, managing a critical piece of infrastructure presents immense structural, environmental, and financial challenges that cannot be indefinitely sustained by a private entity alone. "Image source, Watts and MorganImage caption, The reservoir has stunning blue waters and is surrounded by a hillside forestThe reservoir is a flooded 19th Century colliery that was repurposed to supply water to Port Talbot Docks, and is now famous for its striking turquoise colour. It plays a vital role in flood protection, helping shield downstream residential areas, and has a "unique aquatic ecosystem" that has faced "severe environmental degradation caused by fly-tipping and littering", Brombil Reservoir Ltd said.

After the landmark went viral on a TikTok video with more than one million views, nearby residents claimed they had been "suffering" because of the traffic and litter problems. To reach the 30m-deep (100ft) reservoir, visitors must walk up a steep 900m (2,953ft) public footpath, which is also the only way down. In an effort to combat vandalism, including the destruction of iron security gates on deep-water chambers and persistent littering, the company introduced the £2 charge.

It said it was to "manage unauthorised access and fund clean-up operations. It is not a commercial ticket".

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.