Llyn Gwynant, a beauty spot in North Wales, is being plagued by anti-social behaviour including littering, fires, and tree damage, conducted by illegal campers, it’s been claimed. Groups of visitors have caused disruption at one of the most photographed lakes in Eryri, located in the Nant Gwynant valley with views of Moel Hebog. The lake is bordered on one side by the A498, whose three small laybys and mini “beaches” are increasingly being used as illicit campsites.
Llyn Gwynant Campsite owns the lakeside area, which has traditionally welcomed visitors who stop in the laybys for photos, picnics, or a swim. But camp staff have been left feeling intimidated and unnerved by an emerging trend for large encampments, populated by “hostile” overnighters, North Wales Live reports.
Police called twice but no action taken
In recent weeks, police have been called twice but no action has been taken as illegal encampments are regarded as trespass, a civil matter. Llyn Gwynant Campsite has now taken the step of going public with its concerns in the hope of raising awareness of an issue it says is increasingly affecting Eryri campsites and farms.
Jamie Rhinds, a site manager, said: “Our staff are feeling increasingly alone when dealing with aggressive and potentially dangerous situations simply because they are trying to protect the area. As a site that cares deeply about the surrounding landscape and the protection of this special part of Eryri, it is becoming an increasingly depressing situation.”
He added: “It raises wider questions about the increasing pressure being placed on popular areas of Eryri, and how beautiful and environmentally sensitive places such as Nant Gwynant should be protected for everyone to enjoy.”
Surge in popularity since pandemic
Following the Covid pandemic, Nant Gwynant and Yr Wyddfa’s Watkin Path surged in popularity, posing challenges for Eryri National Park Authority. Sustainable tourism was heavily promoted: visitors were encouraged to respect the environment and use park-and-ride schemes.
However, this year’s long hot summer has seen a further increase in anti-social behaviour. “The disruption was bad last summer,” said Jamie. “But this year it’s rocketed.” This tallies with the experiences of other land managers in the National Park and beyond. What’s different this time are the attitudes of some visitors who, according to Jamie, display a blatant disregard for authority.
He said: “We leave these areas open so that the public can enjoy them, and most people who visit do so respectfully. Unfortunately, in recent months we have experienced a significant increase in people disrespecting both the land and those trying to manage and protect it. We patrol the lakeside to ensure it’s safe and free from litter. If we come across illegal campers, very seldom are we met with positive responses. The majority just carry on what they’re doing and refuse to co-operate. One solution is to close off the laybys but that’s something we’re reluctant to do.”
Fires and damage to trees alarm staff
Llyn Gwynant Campsite occupies an enviable site on fields next to the lake, half of which it owns. As well as catering for kayakers and wild swimmers, it’s popular with hikers as it offers direct access to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and other peaks. Not only does it have an on-site food outlet, a campsite micro-brewery supplies its own taproom. Wedding ceremonies can be arranged on surrounding hills.
As a back-to-nature site, linked to a farm focussed on conservation, damage to trees and vegetation has alarmed campsite staff. So too have fires, routinely lit along the A498 shoreline despite signs warning of no overnight camping or fires.
Jamie said: “On numerous occasions, people have refused to extinguish fires or BBQs when asked to do so. This is a particular concern in light of the crackdown on disposable BBQs and campfires in Wales, issued by the government. Those asked to leave have refused and, in some cases, have become hostile and aggressive towards our staff.”
Littering and traffic dangers
A major concern is littering: rubbish is regularly dumped by shoreline visitors and collecting it all has become a mammoth undertaking. Jamie said: “On Sunday evening, myself and a colleague spent 90 minutes clearing the layby areas. They had been cleared the previous evening but we still filled multiple bags. There was some pretty gruesome stuff, like used toilet tissue and food waste wrapped in blankets or left in Tupperware containers. We collected bottles, chairs and boxes of food. A tent had also been left behind. It baffles me... you’d think the kind of people who come here to enjoy the natural beauty would also be the sort of people who would respect it. It’s a real contradiction. Plenty of people enjoy the area responsibly – it’s such a shame some don’t.”
Another headache is traffic. Visiting vehicles regularly spill out from laybys onto narrow verges, presenting significant traffic dangers. “Parking on the roadside is horrendous,” said Jamie. “If there is no space in the small laybys, vehicles park half on the road and half on a narrow verge, which is basically a small footpath. Everyone has to walk on the road and, where there are blind bends, it’s quite dangerous. The shoreline is a great spot for swimmers and families having picnics and we don’t want to stop that. However the combination of drought, irresponsible fires, damaged trees and increasing numbers of roadside visitors creates a very real concern for the surrounding land and public safety.”
Partnership and new parking restrictions
Eryri National Park Authority was approached for a comment. Following post-pandemic tourism surges in Nant Gwynant, a multi-agency effort was launched to safeguard local communities and landscapes. Prompted by local Gwynedd councillor June Jones, a partnership was established between the National Park, North Wales Police, the National Trust, Cyngor Gwynedd and Natural Resources Wales. This aimed to enhance visitor management and environmental conservation: littering, anti-social behaviour and illegal parking were cited as prime concerns.
On July 27, three new Traffic Regulation Orders took effect on the A498, introducing parking bans in the Pont Bethania area, around 1km from Llyn Gwynant. These will be trialled for up to 18 months, after which Cyngor Gwynedd will consider whether they should become permanent.
