We are thinking of heading up to Snowdonia and the delights of Tryfan. Last time we wild camped there we got a lot of grief from the farmer on whose land we had happily camped the night before. Not wanting to upset him again can anyone recommend where to leave a car overnight nearby? Is the car park at Ogwen Cottage an option or is it no overnight parking there?
Thanks for all advice
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 I've just left mine on the A5; there's a stretch of the road on the south side with a load of parking, immediately past the turn-off for Gwern Gof Uchaf campsite. I tend to go for the 'leave in plain sight on busy road' approach to dumping the car when wildcamping.
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| Edited: 30/08/11 15:12 |
 Is this a serious question?  I can't think of another mountain in the UK with car parking in such close proximity to it's summit. There's a stretch measuring approx 600km of roadside parking and at least three walled carparks. There's also half a dozen spaces opposite the toilets/snack bar at Idwal Cottage. All free.
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| Edited: 30/08/11 16:22 |
 You can park at Gwern Gof Isaf campsite for a quid. I've stayed for a few nights and the elderly lady still only wanted £1. She even let me use the loo's and top up a platty. The parking is across a cattle grid, and next to the campsite so any would be thieves will immediately attract attention. The Ogwen Cottage carpark closes at dusk. There are numerous large lay bys on the A5 as well.
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It is a serious question! Car security has been bad on A5, not sure if still bad. Yes you can park at GGI, but not overnight. I did, last year, as I have done before, seeing the rather confused-sounding farmer's wife beforehand, farmer out, so I said I'd pay him in the morning after my son's and my short bivi trip on CL summit. I left a note about where we were going and my mobile number, too. When I saw him next morning, he was quite abusive, saying we should have asked the farmer (not him) about camping there and all the usual crap about how would I like it if someone camped in my garden. Yawn. I pointed out that I had been a farmer (in a national park, too) and it really was not the same thing - and no-one would know we'd been there, either. He wouldn't take my money and told me to eff off and never come back. Sad, as I have been a customer of his for many years and really don't want to upset people. I have since heard that others have had similar experiences there too. I have never been treated this way before, and I work with many farmers, too. So it'd be interesting to see what others have done here. I do wonder if the farmer's strange attitude to camping on the mountain is anything to do with the fact that this farmer has a campsite?
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When I saw him next morning, he was quite abusive, saying we should have asked the farmer (not him) about camping there and all the usual crap about how would I like it if someone camped in my garden.
Ah, just spotted your innocent error. 
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I posted a message about this here recently. Neither camp site will allow overnight parking. However, as Kate says there is plenty of space on the A5 near to the foot of Tryfan. You can also park in the car park behind Joe Browns in Capel Curig.
I just make sure that there is nothing valuable visible inside the car when I eave it. My main worry if I am away for a couple of days is someone thinking that I need rescuing and calling the MRT.
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Thats easy to deal with. Contact the local police (drop into a station or ring them on the non-emergency number - explain what you are planning and you dont want any false alarms...they will take your vehicle details and where you are planning to park so no false alarms.
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Thanks for all the advice. Sounds like some of you have met the same farmer I did. When I see the rubbish left at wild camp spots I use, I can understand why he was so angry. Shame we all get tarred with the same brush.
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if you`re worried about leaving your car by the road why not pay to camp and leave it on the site. maybe even take an old tent and stick it up next to the car . then no one will no you are wildcamping.
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Or try being creative when you talk to the farmer... though I fear that has been ruined by slack tongued dimwits!
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 Sounds like the same farmer who told me politely to clear off after I'd pitched the tent because of my dog (who was safely tethered on a length of cable to the car and sitting in the open boot), because they've had no end of trouble with dogs tearing up sheep). Strange since I ended up camping down the road and still took the dog up on the hills the next day...But he was quite polite and apologised for the trouble. If I was you I'd just pay the small amount for camping and stick up a cheapo tent as was said earlier. Best keep the farming folk happy.
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| Edited: 03/09/11 22:05 |
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Rocky: "... though I fear that has been ruined by slack tongued dimwits!". I wonder to what you refer? My view on my own encounter was that he seemed extremely strange in his attitude - and in no way was I slack-tongued! As an ex farmer myself (including in a National Park), I see things from both sides and certainly empathise with them - and I deal with farmers now in my own work all the time. He doesn't seem to see things in the more modern way, where we all share the use of wild country and learn to get along with each other. Much boils down to education, to promote understanding, both ways. I feel really sad about our encounter, especially as I have got on well with him in the past. I like to see all who enjoy such areas having mutual respect for each other. Wild areas generally need farmers to look after them and farmers rely heavily on the various payments given to keep such areas managed. A sort of symbiotic reationship.
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