sustainable use of Snowdonia

Plan Ahead and Prepare before your visit

•  Know the access agreements regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit, check out latest access and conservation news
•  Prepare for the worst extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies that you may encounter be self reliant.
•  Wherever possible time your trip to avoid times of high use, our low season special offer pricing should encourage this.
•  Visit in small groups. Try to plit larger parties into groups of 4-6, we always attempt to do this where possible.
• Repackage food to minimize waste which you leave behind, dispose of your waste in a responsible manner.
•  Use a map and compass you may buy compasses from climb8 to eliminate the use of marking paint on routes, do not build new rock cairns or add to existing ones, do not get lost join one of our navigation courses.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Durable surfaces include established paths and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
• Protect relatively unspoilt areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary. If you do move rocks to secure you tent please put them back from where you took them when you strike camp !
• If out camping learn how to shit in the woods with care in the mountains and woods.

In popular areas

• Concentrate use on existing paths and campsites, if considering wild camping ask local advice before you go.
• Walk single file in the middle of the path, even when wet or muddy, do not be tempted by the grass on the side you will only make the work of the snowdonia foot  path partnership more difficult.
• If you do camp wild Keep campsites small. Focus activities in areas where vegetation is absent.

In pristine areas

•  Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and paths.
•  Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

Dispose of your Waste Properly

• You carry it in, carry it out again - If you brought it in with you take your litter home.
• IF you camp wild inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods.
• Carry out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
• Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. learn to shit in the woods
  
• Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

Leave Behind What You Find

leave only foot prints and only take memories and photographs.

• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light - you can buy them from climb8 online or in Barmouth.
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
•  Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand, do not cut down trees or branches.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes, purchase your greener fuels from climb8.

Respect Wildlife

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid disturbing wildlife and the woolly hill maggots 'sheep' during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience aswell.
• Be courteous. Give way to other users on the paths where you can.
• Step to the downhill side of the path when encountering many walkers with large rucksacks.
• Take breaks and camp away from paths and other visitors.
• Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and un natural party noises.

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