We Are Turning Away Clients In North Wales

Yes, The Snowdonia National Park Authority and North Wales Tourism please take note! We will no longer be able to accept bookings for our small group hiking experiences in the Snowdonia National Park’s most visited locations at weekends during school holidays. Why? Because we cannot find parking space for either our guides or our clients.

This, most might say, is a good thing for North Wales. But wait a minute, let’s dig a little deeper…

Our guides live in North Wales, they regularly walk the summits and valleys. They not only know the area well but they spend and are engaged with the area. Our small groups of clients are usually accommodated within the national park and they also spend in the area. This is good for tourism in North Wales and for the long-term sustainability of the communities that are lucky enough to be placed in such a glorious landscape.

This summer we have been pushed out by large events being held at weekends, by groups of Three Peaks Challengers, cycling and mountain man events and charity hikes up Snowdon. These groups bring in sometimes hundreds of participants along with their support and friends. These large events are in opposition to the quiet enjoyment of the mountain environments and effectively stick two fingers up to the landscape and the other visitors to the area. Many also drive in, with leaders who do not live in the area, do their thing and leave, moving onto Scafell or heading home after a hard race.

There is little we can do about this apart from drawing this to the attention of the authorities and asking that these events be requested to not make use of the national park at weekends.

Car parks for Snowdon, even those that are usually quiet and not popular, are now full by 7am on a sunny Saturday and Sunday.

Wales Outdoors will continue to deliver our ever-popular walks in North Wales throughout the year but weekends in holiday periods or at bank holiday weekends? No, no longer, and that is such a shame, as our groups are small, respectful of the environment that we guide in and profitable for both the local community, those that live and work in North Wales.