Beautiful village has been a 'nightmare' since lockdown

Beautiful Aber Falls in Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, has long been a magnet for artists, photographers and nature lovers - but the numbers heading there can be unmanageable at times. David Powell and Lucy John report

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THE awe-inspiring cascades of Rhaeadr Fawr, or Aber Falls in Abergwyngregyn, tumble 120 feet (36.5 metres) into the north Wales landscape.

This towering spectacle has long drawn artists, photographers and nature enthusiasts, leaving them both awestruck and calmed.

However, the influx of visitors can sometimes be overwhelming, fuelled by a renewed appreciation for nature following Covid-19 lockdowns, increased visibility on social media, and sizzling weather conditions.

We ventured to the village on a relatively peaceful Wednesday afternoon to gauge local sentiment. Everyone we encountered had something to say.

Tony Hume, 72, resides in a 19thcentury cottage near the falls. He admits he schedules his trips out of the village to avoid peak times during weekends.

“It's terrible. It has become an absolute nightmare. If it’s not raining, the two main car parks can be full by 10am,” he lamented.

“If you're going out you have to go out early or it can take half an hour to do a journey which normally takes a few minutes.”

Mr Hume clarifies that his issue is with vehicular traffic, not pedestrians, and ponders whether a traffic ban could be effective.