A beautiful corner of the UK is being described as a 'densely crowded theme park' as overtourism grips north-west Wales. Residents like Andy McTaggart have learned to avoid driving on weekends, with major roads such as the A55 and A494 frequently congested for miles. Even weekday excursions can be a hassle during peak season, forcing locals to plan their outings carefully.
In Abergwyngregyn, car queues to Aber Falls disrupt daily life, while Newborough on Anglesey has doubled its beach parking fees to tackle the influx. Areas around Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Dyffryn Ogwen suffer from illegal parking, and even in spring, huge queues stretch down the mountain as walkers wait for summit photos.
Andy's hometown of Bala, a gateway to Eryri (Snowdonia), has seen visitor numbers soar since the Covid lockdowns. Parking data from 2021 showed a 70.5% increase compared to 2019. The lake, Llyn Tegid, now attracts hundreds of cars daily, leading to litter, vandalism, and illegal campervan dumping. 'Access for locals becomes almost impossible for part of the year,' Andy said.
Other destinations like Dolgellau and Barmouth are 'under siege' during summer, struggling with inadequate amenities. Northeast Wales is also affected, with a new national park planned for the Dee Valley and a 20% surge in visitors to Wrexham following Hollywood interest in its football club. Andy believes poor infrastructure lets down both residents and tourists, with limited parking, poor signage, and few public toilets.
