Free buses proposed to tackle Eryri traffic chaos

Images of ‘severe congestion’ at Eryri, with thousands of cars stuck on narrow mountain rounds, have become familiar, and a council meeting has heard things need to change quickly

Wales’ largest national park could provide free shuttle bus services to its attractions while increasing the number of car parks, mirroring approaches taken by authorities managing the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Dolomites, according to a concerned councillor.

During Conwy County Council’s May cabinet meeting members received an update from the Eryri National Park Authority through board representative Cllr Jo Nuttall. Cllr Nuttall delivered a slide presentation on Eryri, “one of the UK’s most significant areas for conservation”.

The Rhos on Sea councillor outlined how the national park was addressing the challenges posed by global warming, littering, and traffic problems while working to safeguard and improve its diverse natural habitats.

Cllr Nuttall detailed how Eryri ranked among the UK’s most popular parks and had implemented several initiatives to enhance conservation, biodiversity, and tourism management. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter

One scheme, for example, carried a £7m price tag and centred on restoring temperate “globally rare” rainforest environments, focusing on removing invasive species such as Rhododendron and protecting woodland.

However, she said 98% of visitors travelled by car, resulting in “thousands” of vehicles on narrow mountain roads and creating “severe congestion” with cars obstructing roads and verges.

Councillors also learnt how antisocial behaviour at overnight car parks had “prompted a ban at 11 car parks in April 2026”, while wild camping and unauthorised caravans had impacted sensitive locations.

Cllr Nuttall outlined how the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service employs a “network” of buses to help address the issue, connecting car parks, towns, villages, and trailheads, thereby minimising the need for driving.

The existing service provides “a day’s unlimited travel” across all buses in north Wales for £7.50 for adults, £16 for up to two adults and up to three children, and £5 for certain concessions.

Additional traffic management measures within the national park include smart parking technology, a transport strategy, and overnight parking restrictions, featuring “time-restricted” parking at 11 car park locations.

But speaking after the presentation, Cllr Paul Luckock asked Cllr Jo Nuttall to take back his traffic concerns to the board.

Cllr Luckock suggested a free bus service similar to those running in Europe, believing it would benefit visitors and residents as the area was becoming progressively busier.

“There are so many people now coming to walk, to climb, to mountain bike, to do all sorts of water sports, to do running and training events, and all sorts of things,” Cllr Luckock said.

“The numbers are just… I was in Nantmor on Saturday, and the people around Nant Gwynant and Beddgelert… It was heaving with people, which is wonderful.

“But when I go to the Alps or the Pyrenees they seem to have a much better system. For example, wherever you are staying, whether it is in a hotel or an apartment or whatever it is, a campsite, they give you free bus passes, and the buses go up and down the valleys. Most recently I was in the Dolomites and they’re run every 10 minutes.

“So you can go from wherever you are staying. Even in the evening you can go and have a meal and you know there will be a bus going back down the valley every 10 minutes.”

He continued: “The system just works, and likewise, even if you are in a car – and I’ve driven to the Alps many times – there are car parks near the attractions, and they are big car parks, and I know from talking to people in Eryri that there would definitely be farmers willing to rent their land for more car parks, and I just don’t think we’ve got that balance right.”

Cllr Luckock proposed that the board could arrange a “study visit” to the Dolomites to observe how their transport network operated.

“The transport systems just seem to work, whereas if you are at Nant Gwynant on Saturday – and this wasn’t a school holiday – there were cars everywhere, on every verge, because there was nowhere else for them to go.” He said the bus service serving the Ogwen Valley was seeing relatively low usage.

Council leader Cllr Julie Fallon said: “We’ve all seen it, haven’t we, where at times it’s absolutely crazy. You can’t get emergency vehicles through, to pass with the inconsiderate parking and just the numbers, so that would be good if they could look into it.”

Cllr Nuttall said she would take Cllr Luckock’s comments back to the board.

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