A farmer has criticised the National Trust for forcing him to remove horses that have grazed a hilltop overlooking one of Britain’s best beaches for more than a century.

Nick Beynon’s family have kept ponies on the cliffs above the stunning sandy beach of Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula, in South Wales, for over 100 years but claims the organisation has made their lives ‘hell’.

Last year the National Trust questioned his right to keep the animals on the land, saying they were a health and safety risk.

Officials claimed the number of Gipsy Cob ponies exceeded ‘the agreed limit’ under ancient grazing rights and the herd needed to be reduced. It also claimed one of Mr Beynon’s stallions had escaped out of a gate and was a potential danger to visitors.

Despite proving his family had farmed the land for generations, Mr Beynon, 62, said the ‘constant pressure’ from the National Trust Cymru had left him with no option but to remove the horses altogether.

‘National Trust haven’t given us any support at all,’ he said in a video posted to Facebook. ‘In fact they’ve made our lives hell in the last 18 months.

‘Having to prove our rights when our family have owned land in this village for hundreds of years.

‘They’ve spoiled it for everyone who usually come down and watch those foals play in the evenings, but that’s the way it is.’ 

Nick Beynon with his horses on Rhossili headland, on the Gower Penninusular, South Wales  

The farmer’s family have kept horses on the cliffs for more than a century

The National Trust complained that the herd of Gypsy Cob ponies was too large and one of the male horses was a risk to the public 

Friend Rob Morgan, who runs a sunflower business nearby and also helps care for the horses, said: ‘It’s been very hard, we tried to reconcile (with the Natonal Trust) but it’s cost us a small fortune in solicitor’s letters.

‘Sadly a minority have spoilt the future of the horses and the wonderful sights you see with the animals at their home.

‘We just want to get on, but it seems empty already on these cliffs.’

Mr Beynon was originally contacted by the National Trust, via what he described as a ‘nasty’ letter last year.

The organisation asked him to remove the stallion and reduce the herd by December 1.

Mr Beynon also said there were questions raised about the horses’ welfare, but insisted his animals were ‘well cared for’ and checked ‘two or three times a day’.

A National Trust Cymru spokesman said ‘at no stage’ had they ordered Mr Beynon to remove the horses but they simply wanted him to reduce the herd ‘as they appeared to exceed the agreed limit we believe to be set out in those rights’. 

The spokesman said their priority was ‘visitor safety, animal welfare and the ecological health of Rhossili’.

Local florist farmer Rob Morgan helps look after the horses

The Rhossili coast where horses have been grazing for more than 100 years

‘We know how much the horses mean to people who visit Rhossili,’ he added.

‘They belong to a local farmer, who we understand holds traditional grazing rights and is responsible for their care and management.

‘If the owner has now chosen to remove all the horses, that decision is entirely his.’