PEAK SEASON
SNOWDON is being overwhelmed by the thousands of visitors climbing to its summit – making it “busier than Manchester’s Piccadilly station at rush hour” some weekends.
Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to spend as much on maintaining Wales’ highest mountain as was splashed on TV ads urging people to visit it.
The Snowdonia Society says the popularity of the mountain is having an adverse impact, particularly on footpaths, and wants to encourage walkers to explore other peaks in the national park.
More than 600,000 people are expected to make the trek to the top this year, and good weather since Easter has seen paths crowded with walkers, within some having to queue to pass at narrow points.
At the last bank holiday weekend in May walkers had to wait in line to touch the brass plate at the highest point. One walker who climed the peak that weekend told our sister paper the Daily Post: “It’s ridiculous. I come here from Manchester for a bit of peace and quiet and find this path busier than Piccadilly station at rush hour.”
Snowdonia Society director John Harold said the rise in visitors was also proving a challenge for parking and with litter. He said: “The growth seems to have accelerated in recent years. Obviously the mountain railway takes a lot of people to the top, but charity and challenge events have contributed a rapidly growing percentage too.
“However they get there, and whatever motivates them, a percentage of people find themselves on the mountain without adequate gear or preparation, or simply unfamiliar with the challenges of being in a mountain environment.”
Mr Harold said the issues on Snowdon “go beyond people in flipflops on the summit”, adding: “The levels of usage we are seeing now raise real questions about sustainability. There are challenges around footpaths, parking and transport, litter, dogs, bikes and safety.
“The impacts of dealing with these fall on the already stretched resources of the statutory and voluntary sector – Snowdonia National Park Authority, National Trust, Natural Resources Wales, and local charities such as mountain rescue and the Snowdonia Society.”
Footpaths now need to be repaired more frequently at a time when the resources to do it are being cut, he added.
“We see plenty of money spent on advertising campaigns encouraging people to go and ‘find your Epic’, but the national park authority funding has been slashed and mountain rescue charities are having to respond to a growing numbers of call-outs.
“The Snowdonia Society would love to see Welsh Government get the priorities straight on this. Yes the national park badge is a brilliant way to market Wales to the world, but we need to see proper long-term investment in the care and management of the parks themselves.
“Pressure at key parking sites and at peak times is growing. There are ongoing issues with parking tickets and the resulting bad PR for the area, especially at Peny-Gwryd.
“Sherpa buses do a great job but their funding is vulnerable to changing priorities in local authorities with declining budgets.
“Again we’d love to see Welsh Government show high-level commitment to the ‘wellbeing’ agenda through a well-funded public transport network in national parks.”
The Daily Post has approached the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the Welsh Government for a comment.
Mr Harold said a Snowdon Partnership Plan will go out to consultation in June to tackle some of the issues raised, and officials hope it will gain widespread support.