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Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

Money well spent. The girls and boys who keep the paths sorted do a wonderful job and if the car park fees go toward helping in the work so be it.

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

THe **** (and National Parks)nseem to have erratic charging policies that all centre on just how much they can make. In some areas their car parks are free, in others they are extortionate. Still plenty of other hills in Wales without big parking fees attached.

Similar threads before show a split - some seeing it as reasonable, others as extortion. Extortion is often quoted as 'what the market can bear' (as much as we can get away with??)

I have XX amount to spend, the more that goes on car parks the less that is left for local businesses, Simples.

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

if the car park charges are anywhere near the same as it costs to park at ystradfellte waterfalls (dont know if its a National Trust Car Park) then i wont be parking at pen y pass, a couple of years ago we paid about £8 at ystradfellte for a few hours. No wonder they picked pen y fan as it has the largest footfall in the beacons. which i suppose creates more erosion than other parts of the beacons, although all the paths up pen y fan are in good condition, the worst eroded area is the walk down to the cwm between pen y fan and Cribyn.

I just see this charge as a money earner and nothing else.

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

they did not use car park fees 20 years ago
 

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

you can waffle cant you   just been reading your blog

I understand the "For" Argument, but then charge for every car park and get more money and do more good everywhere. not just the honey traps. No?

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

Me Cynical  

i fully understand the reasons why and i suppose i should not be that bothered as i dont use the tourist track up and down pen y fan, much prefer the cwm gwdi, Bryn Teg and Cwm Llwch routes to high bits of the beacons. although on occassion i'll get picked up at storey arms.

but the cynic in me just cant help itself.

p.s, i think that grouse fancied you

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

"Ramblers Cymru criticised the move, saying walking should be free and accessible for everyone" it is. Not everyone owns a car, this is a parking charge and not a walking charge and walking is still free and accessible.

As for charging, fair enough I say. Most W3P (Welsh3 Peaks) participants park in that particular car park and the grass verges are always full anyway in summer/bank hols as are several other parking areas within a mile or so.

I don't know if National Parks do levy a fee against charities using their land for all the fund raising they do on a regular basis but I would certainly have sympathy if they did start going cap in hand to these charities for donations to path upkeep etc owing to the extra footfall they cause versus the minal trade they bring to the area.

With so many options like coming from the West and crossing Fan Y Big, the North at Cwm Gwdi is a crackin free (for now) alternative but vertical for the last 30 meters, or coming from south at either Pontsticill or even closer at Neuadd.  Unless you're a tourist or first time visitor the charges will not affect you (well ok, me) all that much.

Re: Pen y Fan car park to be cash cow for National Trust

The man who was manning the stall explaining  the proposals told me it was for the Climbers and walkers  who use it the car park  So I asked him if Ramblers Assoc or BMC members would get discounted parking.

He said no.But I  could join the National Trust then parking would be free.

Nuff said