Residents of Dinorwig and surrounding villages in Gwynedd are reporting significant disruption and safety concerns as a surge of visitors descends on the historic Dinorwig Quarry over recent holidays. The quarry, once the world’s second largest slate mine, has become a popular destination largely due to exposure on social media platforms such as TikTok.
During the recent Easter weekend, the area experienced unprecedented visitor numbers, with car-cam footage capturing queues of double-parked vehicles stretching two miles along the roads to nearby Deiniolen. Locals describe the scene as resembling a "giant anthill" teeming with people, many of whom are drawn by viral clips showcasing the quarry’s dramatic landscape.
John Horrigan, a resident living adjacent to the quarry, shared his concerns with Wales Online, stating: "The traffic there at the weekend was the worst I've ever seen. The whole site was like a giant anthill with people crawling all over it." He noted that many visitors admitted their decision to come was influenced by the quarry’s popularity on TikTok. "There seems to be a view that just because a place has been on TikTok, people have a God forsaken right to go anywhere," he added.
The quarry offers a unique historical experience, with its abandoned barracks, sheds, adits, and cabins providing insight into the once-thriving slate industry. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains a significant cultural and industrial heritage location. Despite this, the influx of visitors has led to numerous problems, including traffic congestion, roadside parking on narrow and hazardous bends, littering, and human waste in nearby fields.
Vehicles, including campervans referred to as "vanlifers," struggle to find parking spaces. Some visitors are using the free parking area at the Allt Ddu bus terminus on the mountain, but this has contributed to overcrowding and safety hazards on the access road, which follows the line of the quarry’s old railway. John Horrigan warned: "The access road... is now extremely dangerous – especially on blind bends where people are parking even though the road narrows." He highlighted that the speed limit is 20mph under Welsh Government rules, but many drivers unfamiliar with local signage from outside regions like Manchester and Birmingham drive at excessive speeds despite the presence of pedestrians and livestock.
Litter and sanitation pose additional challenges. Local residents report flocks of seagulls scattering rubbish from bin bags left at the site. More troubling are instances of visitors urinating in fields and women relieving themselves near children's play areas. Horrigan stated: "I also saw men peeing in fields and women 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?’"
Calls from the community are growing for better management, including reconsideration of parking regulations, the installation of 20mph signage, restrictions on parking on bends, and possibly the construction of a new car park with toilet facilities closer to the quarry. Earlier efforts to implement double yellow lines to control parking were rejected by Cyngor Gwynedd after a petition with 400 objectors was submitted four years ago.
John Horrigan, who has been advocating for enhanced safety measures and facilities, emphasises the urgency of the problem. Reflecting on the recent Easter Sunday, he said: "There were more than 1,000 people parked up on the side of the road on what are meant to be walkways. It was unbelievable." He also recounted an incident where a local woman’s walking stick was knocked from her hand by a passing motorist, underscoring the risks posed by the congested roads. "If it continues like this someone is going to get killed," he warned.
Despite these issues, local residents express a desire to welcome visitors, saying: "We don't want to stop people coming, we just need solutions." Horrigan remarked on visitor behaviour, explaining that although there is paid parking available in Llanberis, many people prefer to park as close as possible to the quarry entrance, similar to parking habits in supermarkets. This has led to widespread parking in areas that are not illegal per se, making enforcement by police and council authorities difficult. Trespass concerns also remain a civil matter, adding complexity to managing visitor impact.
With warmer weather and bank holidays approaching, locals fear that without intervention, the chaos witnessed over Easter could rapidly return. John Horrigan concluded: "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."
Source: Noah Wire Services