And you thought the climb was bad: Hundreds of people are seen QUEUING at the top of Snowdon after 3,560ft hike as tourists make most of good weather to take in the peak
- The number of people visiting Wales’ highest peak is up to 600,000 every year
- Pictures captured at the weekend showed countless people covering the incline
Hundreds of people have been seen queuing at the top of Mount Snowdon following the 3,560ft hike as tourists took advantage of the good weather.
The number of people visiting Wales’ highest mountain is up to 600,000 every year, and the summit can get very busy during the summer season.
At the weekend it seemed as though numbers really picked up as incredible pictures have shown hundreds of people queueing at the top of the peak in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd.
Even at a distance away from the top of the mountain, pictures captured on Sunday showed countless people covering the incline of the summit.
In August 2021, there was a huge surge in Snowdon climbers which led to a 45-minute queue at the summit.
Hundreds of people have been seen queuing at the top of Mount Snowdon following the 3,560ft hike as tourists took advantage of the good weather. The number of people visiting Wales’ highest mountain is up to 600,000 every year, and the summit can get very busy during the summer season
At the weekend it seemed as though numbers really picked up as incredible pictures have shown hundreds of people queueing at the top of the peak in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd
Many were believed to be staycationers looking for adventures at home after Covid travel rules ruined foreign holidays for families.
On parts of the eight-mile path up the mountain, authorities reported finding litter and belongings left behind.
Just last week, Eryri National Park launched the ‘Plastic Free Yr Wyddfa’ project to tackle growing concerns over plastic waste strewn across the landmark.
They are aiming to make Snowdon the first mountain in the world ‘plastic free’.
North Wales Live reported that recent soil samples revealed significant quantities of microplastic pollution in the environment.
Even during the middle of the winter where numbers are at their lowest, the publication noted that plastic bags, discarded drinks and other rubbish was seen by regular climbers.
The National Park Authority is hosting an event to set the wheels in motion for Snowdon to be Plastic Free’ on Monday 24 April.
Rob and Fiona Nicholson, from Plas Coch, Llanberis, told the outlet: ‘At our guest house on the foothills of Yr Wyddfa, we believe in the beauty and preservation of the natural world around us. That’s why we’re committed to reducing our use of single-use plastics.
‘By doing so, we can protect the stunning environment that our guests come to experience and help ensure its beauty lasts for future visitors to the area.’
Even at a distance away from the top of the mountain, pictures captured on Sunday showed countless people covering the incline of the summit
It comes after North Wales Police warned drivers to stop parking illegally after they were forced to tow up to 40 cars away from Snowdonia at the start of the Easter weekend.
Day-trippers who were looking to hike in the glorious Bank Holiday sun on 9 April were resorting to dumping their cars on the grass behind crumbling stone walls and along narrow mountain roads in the popular North Wales spot.
North Wales Police said 29 vehicles parked near Llyn Ogwen – and another nine in Pen y Pass at the bottom of Snowdon – were removed on Good Friday.
The Welsh police force, who show no sign of halting their crackdown on illegal parking, said that drivers were risking lives through ‘irresponsible and dangerous’ parking at Snowdonia – also known as Eryri – where emergency vehicles could be blocked from getting through.
Videos on social media captured the scale of the parking chaos, with dozens of vehicles slapped with fines.
Meanwhile, further images shared online appeared to show that motorists had found more space for parking by driving through gaps in the wall.
One user shared an image of a part-destroyed wall with several cars parked on grassland behind it.
Snowdonia is the largest National Park in Wales, attracting four million visitors every year, with hundreds flocking there for the Bank Holiday.
Earlier this month, police warned drivers to stop parking illegally at a popular north Wales beauty spot after they were forced to tow almost 40 cars away at the start of the Easter weekend
Images shared online appeared to show day-trippers driving through a crumbling wall to park on the grass behind
Traffic Wales said the A5 was closed near Ogwen Cottage outdoor pursuits centre on the same day due to the sheer number of cars that needed to be towed.
Parking in Snowdonia National Park will continue to be monitored over the Easter weekend and any vehicles found to be parked on the clearway, double yellows or causing an obstruction will be removed at the owner’s expense, North Wales Police said.
It added: ‘Whilst we appreciate people are visiting Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park to enjoy the weather and stunning scenery this bank holiday weekend, we are urging motorists to be responsible and think about where they park and to make full use of the park and ride facilities that are available.
‘We continue to work closely with our colleagues at Gwynedd Council and the Eryri National Park to help reduce the risk to walkers, cyclists and other road users.’
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