“When you complain, and ask them to stop, you hear things like, ‘well, sheep sh*t in fields, so why not us?” – said one local who is demanding action
Residents in Gwynedd are said to be at their wits’ end after being “besieged” by hordes of Easter visitors at a former slate quarry. A Dinorwig local captured dramatic car-cam footage showing an endless queue of double-parked cars stretching two miles to the neighbouring village of Deiniolen.
The once world-renowned Dinorwig Quarry, previously the second largest slate mine globally, has seen a surge in popularity attributed to social media exposure. Over the recent Easter weekend, visitor numbers at the site on the fringes of Eryri (Snowdonia) were described as “unbelievable.”
Communities nearby have raised concerns about over-tourism, highlighting the unsightly litter and human waste left behind in adjacent fields. Some residents admitted to feeling too intimidated to leave their homes during busy weekends when traffic jams plague the roads. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
There are now calls for a re-evaluation of parking regulations or perhaps the establishment of a new car park complete with toilet facilities on the mountain itself, , reports North Wales Live.
Local resident John Horrigan, whose home is adjacent to the quarry, expressed his dismay: “The traffic there at the weekend was the worst I’ve ever seen,” he remarked.
“The whole site was like a giant anthill with people crawling all over it. I spoke to several of them and they all said they’d seen the quarry on TikTok and they wanted to see it for themselves. There seems to be a view that just because a place has been on TikTok, people have a God forsaken right to go anywhere.”
Paid parking is available in Llanberis for those wishing to visit the quarry, a site often referred to as the “place where time stood still.”
The location offers a captivating look into the past with its old barracks, sheds, adits and cabins, all remnants of a time when the quarry was bustling with activity, providing a key insight into an industry that once roofed the world.
However, there’s also free parking up on the mountain at Allt Ddu bus terminus, which provides a more straightforward route to the quarry.
John, a local resident, said: “You look anywhere online and this is where people are advised to park,” adding that he counted over 30 campervans parked there on a Friday night, many lighting fires in the open.
It was so crowded that ‘vanlifers’ – individuals who live in campervans – struggled to find a spot.
John further warned about the dangers of the access road, which follows the line of the quarry’s old railway. He said: “The access road, on the line of the quarry’s old railway, is now extremely dangerous – especially on blind bends where people are parking even though the road narrows.
“The speed limit here is 20mph but there are no signs: under Welsh Government rules, repeater signs aren’t needed as every road with street lights is automatically 20mph. But people coming from Manchester and Birmingham don’t know this – they’re driving up and down at speed despite there being sheep on the roads and kids stepping out from behind cars.”
The quarry’s “secret waterfall” is a major draw for visitors, despite being cordoned off with warning signs following a tragedy a few years ago. However, concerns are growing over the damage being inflicted on historic structures by those straying from the footpaths.
Littering is another issue plaguing the area. “On Easter Monday, flocks of seagulls descended on the quarry and the bus stop area,” said local resident John.
The birds were seen tearing open bin bags and carrier bags left scattered across the site.
“I also saw men peeing in fields and woman squatting down in areas where children climb. It’s a major health hazard! When you complain, and ask them to stop, you hear things like, “well, sheep sh*t in fields, so why not us?”
He added: “It’s excellent that people want to visit this and other sites in Gwynedd, to learn about its history and marvel at what went on here. But Dinorwig is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and that means it needs proper managing. Local people feel like they’re under siege – some refuse to go outside whenever the sun shines because it’s become too dangerous. They feel their needs are being ignored.”
John, who has been campaigning for improved safety measures on the access road for some time, believes the first step should be to install 20mph signs and prohibit parking on bends. Another suggestion is to introduce double yellow lines – an idea previously rejected by Cyngor Gwynedd four years ago following a petition signed by 400 objectors.
John has expressed his concern that if the parking chaos near Allt Ddu isn’t addressed, it might be time to consider creating a new parking area. He suggests portaloos as an interim measure, but emphasises the need for proper toilet facilities in the future.
Reflecting on the recent Easter Sunday, John recounted: “On Easter Sunday, there were more than 1,000 people parked up on the side of the road on what are meant to be walkways,” and added: “It was unbelievable. Not so long ago a woman in the village had her walking stick knocked from her hand by a passing motorist. If it continues like this someone is going to get killed.”
He further explained the local dilemma: “We don’t want to stop people coming, we just need solutions. Although parking is available in Llanberis, it’s human nature for motorists to park as near as possible to the entrance, just like they do at supermarkets.
“So if they come here, they’ve got to park somewhere and at the moment it’s not illegal, so we can’t report them to the police or the council. And as trespass is a civil offence, we can’t involve the police over visitors breaking through fencing.”
John warned of the urgency of the situation: “But something needs to be done here before it’s too late. In two weeks time, if the sun shines on the next Bank Holiday weekend, we’ll be facing this madness all over again.”
