‘Use loos, don’t poo on the paths’

SNOWDONIA National Park Authority has asked hikers to use the toilet facilities at the bottom of Snowdon after receiving reports of human faeces along the popular paths.

Hikers caught short have reportedly defecated in paper cups or along the path, then hidden the evidence under stones, leaving other climbers to watch their step.

Snowdonia National Park’s engagement officer, Helen Pye, told BBC Wales there was no need to add more toilets along the path, but instead, hikers should prepare more effectively before setting off along the walk.

She also rejected claims that the toilets were closed.

She said: “It’s a beautiful mountain environment. I think the most appropriate thing is to have toilets at the foot of the paths. This is unfortunately a small minority that perhaps aren’t as well prepared, let’s say, and get caught short, and most of the visitors are fantastic. They listen to the messages that we put out to kind of ‘go before you hike’ and use those facilities at the bottom of all the main paths.”

Her statement follows comments from Snowdon guide Gemma Davies, who claims she saw a man defecating on the mountain’s railway line. During her sunrise guide hike up the mountain on Saturday, she explained the issue was so bad she was warning her group to “mind the poo”.

“There was a lot of stool in paper cups, under stones, and as we were descending it was on the path,” she said. “I caught a guy going to the toilet on the railway line. He quickly pulled up his pants but I had already seen it.”