by Around the village of Pontneddfechan on the southern edge of the Welsh Bannau Brychein National Park (formerly known as Brecon Beacons National Park), hear the noise and noise of the water before you start running. The surroundings, which is aptly known as the “waterfall land”, is a network of deep, dramatic gorges, which are crossed by six cascade -rich rivers and are crossed by hiking trails. Many refer to the area as the area with the greatest variety of waterfalls in the immediate vicinity of the entire United Kingdom.
Waterfall Country is already one of the most popular natural attractions in southern Wales. Now a 7 million pounding new project, which includes a parking space with 135 parking spaces, a children’s playground, tourist accommodation with eight rooms and a business with visitor information, further increasing car and pedestrian traffic- and also splitting the opinion on site.
When I went along the Elidir Trail – named after a monk in Welsh mythology that fled out of his monastery, strayed in this steep forest area and was finally led into a fairytale kingdom – the effects of the recent influx of visitors after Waterfall Country became clear. Even on a cloudy January day, the cars parked several hundred meters long on both sides of the road before the hike started, and on the way to the enchanting SGWD Gwladus waterfall there was more going on than on any other path that I was hiking in the national park, Apart from the famous Pen y fan.
They say that it was these rapidly flowing rivers – the Nedd Fechan, Pyrddin, Mellte, Hepste, Sychryd and Nant Gwrelych – with their steeply covered shores covered by dolphin, which were littered with caves and were overshadowed by cloudy overhangs that were originally Fantastic world represented which the monk Elidir led.
In the overcrowded lower section of the path it was difficult to indulge stories about hidden fairy tale worlds. But on the less committed upper path, the path meandled almost theatrically past several remote but also thundering waterfalls, and on both sides old Celtic rainforest rose, covered with moss and liver flowers. And here the landscape made it easier to accept such myths.
“There are is more isolated sections of these rivers and others who attract larger crowds,” said Mark Soanes, director of the Outdoor adventure company Adventure Britain, based in Neath, through Waterfall Country.
“After the Corona crisis, we noticed a strong increase in non-traditional visitors from further distant areas that came to the area. It has been shown that some visitors did not necessarily respect the landscape in the right way.
“I don’t mind modernizing a system, but the devil is in detail. The community must have the feeling that their needs are taken into account. Since we carry out activities in small groups, we can help reduce the pressure on the Pontneddfechan region, where there are no streets for a high volume of traffic. For example, we bring a minibus with us so that our customers do not all have to bring their own car. ”
In front of the Angel Inn, a historic tavern with bar beams at the beginning of the path to the waterfalls, I spoke to the hiker Rie Davies from Swansea.
“I’ve been here for years,” she said. “It is beautiful and there are so many ways on which I can take my dog with me. However, I noticed that it has always become fuller in recent years, often it is impossible to park. That frustrates me and I don’t even live here, so I’m for a system that regulates the search for a parking space. As far as the other development is concerned, there is currently an untouched village atmosphere in Pontneddfechan, so I hope that this will not be destroyed. “
“When the application for the government’s leveling-up fund was submitted, the idea was to improve the facilities for locals and people who come to the waterfalls anyway,” emphasized Simon Anthony Knoyle. “In the past, it always happened that visitors parked in the entrances of the residents and had problems with garbage. It is about managing this and not specifically attracting new visitors. Part of the proposal was a limited number of accommodations for families, as there are no accommodations geared towards tourists in the Glynneath area, in contrast to other regional centers for outdoor activities. Hopefully overnight guests can bring money back to the community. “
However, not everyone believes that the needs of the community are taken into account. “A condition of the LEVELLING-UP fund is that the community is consulted right from the start, and we didn’t do that,” said resident Annie Evans.
“They had already carried out all the plans without talking to anyone. And when they carried out a consultation, there were 28 objections and seven supporters. We all know that a new parking garage will not prevent people from parking in places where they should not park. [Visitors] will avoid the launched parking fee and park in the same arbitrary way and block driveway and driveway. We also have 100 rooms for tourists on site. We no longer need.
“The joke is that many residents have been applied for and rejected their own, far less intrusive building permit: I was rejected for a small winter garden on the front of my house. The community was not listened to at all. 90 % of us are against it. “
There are also concerns about the possible effects on the region’s wildlife. The Celtic rainforest, which covers the slopes here, is a rare and extremely species -rich habitat, and tourists who deviate from the designated ways or leave trash behind can endanger the sensitive environment.
“The creation of sustainable tourism is a balancing act,” explained the National Park Tourism Organization Brecon Beacons Tourism.
“It is about attracting visitors in a way that respects and protects the environment and at the same time ensures that the local community feels the advantages. The area of waterfalls is a place of exceptional natural beauty and it is our responsibility to protect and upgrade it.
“By supporting the communities living and working here, we can ensure that this special place now and in the coming years will remain an inviting travel destination for visitors. We believe that this initiative is an important step to achieve this goal. “
One seems safe. The development will continue to put a beautiful part of the Bannau Brycheiniog region into the spotlight, which has attracted far less attention in the past than other places in the park. This is a good thing – if it is done right.
