Snowdon ‘busier than rail station at rush hour’ – claim
WALES’ highest mountain is getting so busy and overwhelmed with visitors that it’s become busier than rush hour at a major UK railway station, it’s been claimed.
Concerns have been raised over the popularity of Snowdon potentially having an adverse impact on footpaths.
The Snowdonia Society wants to encourage walkers to explore other peaks in Snowdonia National Park, the Daily Post reports.
The campaign group has also challenged the Welsh Government to spend as much money in maintaining the mountain and funding public transport links to it as it did on last year’s ‘Epic’ UK-wide advertising campaign which encouraged tourists to visit Snowdonia.
More than 600,000 people are expected to make the trek to the summit this year and good weather since Easter has seen the paths to the summit crowded with walkers, with some having to queue to pass at narrow points.
At the last bank holiday weekend in May walkers had to queue to touch the brass plate at the top of the peak. One walker who climbed the peak that weekend said: “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.”
John Harold, director of the Snowdonia Society, said the rise in visitor numbers was also proving a challenge for parking and 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.
“But the issues on Snowdon go beyond people in flip-flops on the summit. The levels of usage we are seeing now raise real questions about sustainability, especially if the trends continue. There are challenges around footpaths, parking and transport, litter, dogs, mountain bikes and safety.
“The impacts of dealing with these fall on the already-stretched resources of statutory and voluntary sector – (Snowdonia) National Park Authority, National Trust, NRW (Natural Resources Wales), and local charities such as mountain rescue and the Snowdonia Society.”
As a result of the increase in use, footpaths needed 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 in recent years 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 national parks themselves,” he said.
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “Snowdon was used as one of the elements in the Year of Adventure campaign last year to inspire and showcase what Wales has to offer. As Wales and England’s highest peak, Snowdon is a site which has always attracted visitors regardless of whether it features in a Visit Wales campaign and the aim is to encourage more visitors to more parts of Wales throughout the year.”
Mair Huws, Snowdonia National Park Authority’s head of wardens and access service, said: “These are the challenges that we have been exploring with the Snowdon Partnership. It will address the current challenges facing Snowdon and how mountain and the communities that live and work here can benefit from it.”