Enjoy Gwynedd's attractions safely this Easter

As the Easter weekend approaches, local organisations in Gwynedd are reminding anyone who is planning to visit the county's popular attractions to plan their visits in advance and to be considerate of local communities.

The Easter period marks the start of the main visitor season in Gwynedd, and we predict a significant increase in visitor numbers over the coming weeks and months.

Cyngor Gwynedd will continue to work closely with its partners – including Eryri National Park and North Wales Police – to encourage visitors to enjoy the area responsibly, while also protecting the natural environment and the county's attractions.

The authorities are keen to encourage anyone visiting to:

•            Plan ahead – make sure you arrange your visit and activities in advance, including checking tide times and the weather forecast.

•            Check your walking route before you set off – the poor weather affected the ground condition of some of Gwynedd's public footpaths over the winter (which resulted in having to close and divert some paths for the public's safety). Remember to avoid these areas and plan your walk in advance by checking the https://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk/?lang=en website for the latest information. Consider making use of the Recreational Routes network – a great resource suitable for all weathers. 

•            Responsible parking – check where the dedicated car parks are. Irresponsible parking and blocking roads can make it difficult for emergency services to pass – remember this when parking. Information about Cyngor Gwynedd's car parks can be found on the website www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/parking

•            Motor homes – please remember that the Council has dedicated 'Arosfan' sites for overnight motor home parking. There are more details on the website: www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/arosfan

•            Public transport – use public transport where possible to avoid congestion, and to respect the environment. Gwynedd bus timetables, including the Sherpa service for Yr Wyddfa, can be found on the Council's website: www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/bus

•            Respect our communities – be mindful of the environment and residents and follow any local regulations or warning signs. Please remember to take any rubbish home with you or dispose of it in a public bin. Dog owners should always pick up and dispose of their pet's mess.

 

Gerwyn Jones, Assistant Head of Cyngor Gwynedd's Environment (Transport) Department, said:

"With increasing numbers of people visiting popular places in Gwynedd it is important that anyone visiting these areas behaves respectfully and plans their visits in advance.

 "I urge anyone who is planning to walk the Coast Path to take care and to plan before setting off. The bad weather over the winter has affected the condition of a number of public footpaths in Gwynedd, meaning that some have had to be closed or diverted."

"The summer season timetable for the Wyddfa Sherpa bus service is now in place, which links the popular Wyddfa routes with the surrounding towns and villages, including a bus between Llanberis and Pen y Pass every half hour.

"As a Council we continue to work closely with North Wales Police and Eryri National Park to monitor parking trends and keep the public safe on the roads.

"It is extremely important that our roads are clear to allow the emergency services to be able to do their job and to ensure the flow of traffic. We ask motorists to park sensibly and respect the parking restrictions and keep the roads unobstructed and safe.

"If necessary, Police and Council officers will use their powers to take appropriate action to remove illegally parked vehicles, in the interests of public safety.

Angela Jones Head of Partnerships at Eryri National Park added:

"We really want everyone to enjoy all that Eryri has to offer over the Easter period, but it is important that people do so in safe and responsible ways. We have already seen more calls than ever to mountain rescue teams operating in Eryri this year, and some of the teams deal with several incidents on the same day.

“To reduce the pressure on these volunteers, people need to realise the nature of the landscapes, the mountains can be unsafe areas without planning in advance. Visitors should ensure that they are thoroughly prepared and that they have the right equipment for each landscape, enough food and water, as well as familiarising themselves with Mentra'n Gall messages from the Countryside Code."

More useful information about planning ahead can be found on the Eryri Mountains and Coast website: https://www.ymweldageryri.info/plan-your-visit and the Eryri National Park website: https://eryri.gov.wales/visit/plan-your-visit/