Pen-y-pass car park users will have to pre-book weekend places. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Visitors wanting to use the Pen-y-pass car park in Snowdonia at weekends will have to pre-book a place.
Snowdonia National Park Authority has introduced the pilot scheme for the facility, which is a popular starting point for an ascent of Wales’s highest mountain.
Previously, national park bosses closed the car park over recent weekends except for use by park-and ride buses. The authority acted after encountering major problems on roads around the area as visitors flocked to ascend Snowdon as lockdown restrictions were eased.
The new scheme will apply for the rest of the summer at weekends and bank holidays.
A national park spokesperson said: “This short term pilot, which has been agreed with Gwynedd Council and North Wales Police, will be implemented as a way to assess possible new management models which are aligned with the long-term plans for a new and innovative parking and transport system in the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Ogwen areas.”
All parking at Pen-y-pass car park will have to be pre-booked via a page on the Snowdonia national park website, which will go live at midnight on Wednesday. Booked visitors will be required to show their confirmation email on arrival to gain access to the car park. The authority said anyone without a pre-booked space will need to use the park-and-ride facilities at Nant Peris and Llanberis to access Pen-y- pass.
The spokesperson said: “It is important to note that we expect available parking slots to sell out extremely quickly.
“The pilot aligns with the innovative parking and transport review for the Yr Wyddfa and Ogwen areas, which is due to be presented to partners in September.
“Based on the findings of the consultation with communities and partners and the data analysis, it was clear that the momentum and the ambition was there to develop an integrated sustainable tourism offer.
“Their recommendations therefore include far-reaching, holistic and sustainable solutions using an Alpine-style model, which could transform how we approach travel in the region.”
Pen-y-pass is the most popular starting point for those walking up Snowdon via the Pyg Track, Crib Goch and the Miners’ Track.
A small number of parking places for blue badge holders will be available for booking free of charge under the pilot scheme.
The car-parking places, which cost £20 a day, can be booked on the Snowdonia national park website.
Wainwrightwalker
20 August 20202 errors in the above:
You state cost is £10 per day.
Tickets are sold in 12 hours blocks not 24 hour period
Cost, £20 per block
Blocks are 8am- 8pm then overnight 8pm - 8am
Bob
20 August 2020We've amended the story to include the correct £20 cost of the pre-booked parking
Dai Lampard
21 August 2020As a resident of Nant Peris I would be happy to see the Llanberis pass closed to vehicles at weekends ...... why we need a car park at Pen y Pass for walkers defies me? Everyone who walks the Tourist Path from Llanberis manages to cover the extra height difference without detriment to their health.
What we do need is an off road walkers path over the pass. At present there are two little known paths, one Sam's path is a great way up the pass but difficult to follow and is really more of a mountain path than a "close to the road" one. Another does actually exist close to the road to those in the know except for a very small section below Craig Ddu.
Anywhere else in the world would have sorted this issue out years ago as it is extremely dangerous for walkers on the road at present. Even the recently built path from the Pen y Gwyrd to Pen y pass has remained as a secret to most people because of inadequate signage at the Gwyrd and Pen y Pass. The Park really needs to get it's act together with the increase in visitor numbers and having a booking system for a roughly 75 cars at Pen y Pass is in my opinion a complete and utter waste of everyone's time. If the Pen y Pass car park is to remain open it should be for those who are unfortunate enough not to be able to walk there and for passing trade to the cafe.It certainly should not be used a short cut to Snowdon summit and the plethora of minibuses carting "three-peakers" that infest the car park at present.
Or ........ is this all just about making nearly a grand a day ?
Georgina Howson
03 September 2020I sat up until midnight last night to book a parking place at Pen Y Pass car park for Saturday 5th September as the spaces were not being released until midnight.
My son who lives 150 miles from us was also sitting up waiting to book a ticket.
We both successfully booked tickets, but:-
1. The time quoted for release of tickets was incorrect.
2. We have both booked a space from 8am to 8pm for £20 each
3. There did not appear to be any option to book a ticket extending later than 8pm.
There are flaws in this system.
From what I can see, there are around 80 spaces in this car park so if they all get booked, revenue total is £1600.00 for the day.
We will not be arriving in North Wales until after lunch that day, so we are overpaying for parking considerably, also leaving a space empty for much of the day which could be used by someone else.
Our son is completing the National 3 Peaks Challenge starting at Ben Nevis 03.30 Saturday, so unlikely to arrive Snowdon until around 6.30pm, possibly later, so further overpaying of car parking for him which could be used by someone else.
It's quite possible his challenge may take longer due to driving distances so we may need parking after 8pm. Just looking at the parking site again there are tickets for 8pm to 8am but another £20!
So if we were to play safe and buy the extra time for Saturday evening, that's a total of £80 parking for our 2 cars.
That really is daylight robbery.
Mac
30 April 2021What’s motorcycle cost ?
Macca
30 April 2021What’s parking cost for motorcycle
Nolongeravisitor
01 June 2021All about the cash. Not a practical scheme at all, I expect lots of overcharging and ineffective use of a scarce resource.
Poor show by all concerned parties.