Mountain leader’s solution to Snowdon chaos
Stiwart Breese (pictured), 49, originally from Guilsfield, packed up his day job six years ago to pursue his dream of working in the Welsh mountains by setting up Breese Adventures in the heart of Snowdonia.
He has first hand knowledge of the impact that the increased footfall is having on Wales’s favourite peak, and has come up with a new way of thinking after Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) reported unprecedented numbers following lockdown.
According to the Authority, almost four million people visit annually, with over 600,000 climbing Snowdon alone.
“Snowdon is a magnificent mountain, a real icon and it’s easy to understand why so many people climb it each year,” said Stiwart. “However, it became obvious to me very quickly that after lockdown was lifted, the increase in visitors to Snowdon was putting huge pressure on local communities, with congestion and parking issues.
"It also leads to higher footpath erosion on the main routes. This is why we have created a new range of walks for 2021 under the brand 'Authentic Snowdonia', which will take clients to other beautiful areas of the national park and relieve the pressure on Snowdon.”
Stiwart came up with the idea after a crucial Zoom meeting with SNPA who were discussing ways to encourage people to avoid busy and crowded areas, to find somewhere quieter and discover the lesser known gems.
“That is when the idea Authentic Snowdonia came to me,” he said. “I realised more than ever that this was an opportunity to create something different, a brand that would allow us to take people away from the busy footpaths of Snowdon and immersing ourselves in other areas.”
Helen Pye, Head of Engagement at Snowdonia National Park said: “We think there is a better way to do tourism in Snowdonia which has sustainability at its core, and it’s hugely exciting to see local businesses that are also part of the Eryri Ambassador scheme pioneering new ways of achieving this.
“There is so much to discover about the things that make Snowdonia special, from the language and culture of its communities to its ancient history and magically diverse landscapes.
"Of course, we must be very careful in managing the spread of visitor pressure around the National Park, but what this type of activities offers is the opportunity to explore and discover but in the most respectful and low impact way possible.”
The range of Authentic Snowdonia walks are currently available on the Breese Adventures website, such as the Carneddau Circular, Cadair Idris and Cnicht to name a few examples. Further new walks will also be added throughout 2021.
To see the current full range of Authentic Snowdonia walks, visit:
https://www.breeseadventures.co.uk/authentic-snowdonia/
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