2015 Snowdon Visitor Survey Helen Pye & Bethan Wynne Jones Snowdonia National Park Authority Snowdon Visitor Survey 2015 – Snowdonia National Park Authority Acknowledgements The data presented in this report is a result of the visitor survey carried out by wardens, National Park staff and volunteers during the summer of 2015 and winter of 2015/16 on the six main Snowdon paths. Volunteer and wardens alike dedicated their time in frequently poor weather conditions to carrying out these surveys, so a huge thank you to: Anwen Gaffey Caroline Wilson Dewi Jones Dilwyn Williams Estelle Patrick Elen Huws Gari Fon Gethin Davies Iolo P Roberts Iwan PG Jones John Bowers John Roberts Judith Orritt Kate Worthington Meuryn Williams Mair Huws Mike Hendry Naomi Jones Rhian Williams Rhys Wheldon-Roberts 2 Snowdon Visitor Survey 2015 – Snowdonia National Park Authority Content: 1) Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 1.1 Demographics………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1.2 Equipment and preparedness…………………………………………………………………………………………… 1.3 Litter………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1.4 Visitor Experience…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2) Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7 3) Methodology………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8 3.1 Survey Locations………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3.2 Sample Size………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3.3 Date and Time………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3.4 Surveyors…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4) Analysis......................................................................................................................................12 4.1 Demographics....................................................................................................................... 4.2 Equipment and preparedness............................................................................................... 4.2.1 Equipment......................................................................................................... 4.2.2 Hill Walking Experience.................................................................................... 4.2.3 Pre Planning..................................................................................................... 4.2.4. Weather........................................................................................................... 4.3 Litter..................................................................................................................................... 4.4 Visitor Experience.................................................................................................................. 5) Recommendations.....................................................................................................................26 6) Appendices................................................................................................................................28 3 Snowdon Visitor Survey 2015 – Snowdonia National Park Authority 1) Executive Summary 1.1 Demographics • The majority of the surveys were completed in English: the questionnaires were offered bilingually with 95% of completed in English and 5% in Welsh. • Just over a third of those surveyed were in the 35-49 age bracket: 35% of the people surveyed were aged between 35 and 49, leaving 26 % in the 26-34 and 21% in the 50-64 age brackets. The fewest amount of respondents belonged to the 65+ and the <18 age brackets. • The majority of respondents were male: Overall, 69% of those surveyed were male and 31% were female. These figures are similar to those from 2013 (68% male and 32% female). • Half of those surveyed were walking in pairs: 50% walked in pairs whilst 26% were in groups of 3-5 people. Large groups of more than 15 people were the least popular among respondents (1%). Walking in pairs was more popular among respondents in 2015 compared to 2013 (38%), while walking in small groups of 3-5 was less popular than in 2013 (40%). • 9% of those interviewed were part of an organized group: Of those taking part in an organized event fewer than 20% of visitors interviewed were part of a charity challenge group, and just over 13% were taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge. Other organized groups included school trips (7%) and walking clubs (7%), but the majority were walking with family and friends (53%). These figures should be treated with a degree of caution due to the fact that organised groups may be less likely to want to stop to be surveyed. • Results indicate that Snowdon is most popular among those travelling from the North West: Most respondents were from England (74%) and Wales (17%), with a further 4% from Europe and 3% from elsewhere in the world. Results also show that 18% of those surveyed were from the North West of England, 16% were from South East and 12% from North Wales. Snowdon also appears to be a popular tourist destination for those travelling from the East of England (11%), London (8%), and the South West of England (8%). These figures have changed slightly from 2013, where North Wales had the second highest percentage of participants (16%) followed by the West Midlands (14%). Results indicate that visitors from the South East have increased in numbers by 6% from 2013. 1.2 Equipment and preparedness • Less people were observed as ‘well equipped’ in 2015 compared to 2013: 58% of respondents were observed as well equipped in 2015 and 65% in 2013. However there were more adequately equipped respondents in 2015 (34%) than 2013 (28%) but the number of ill equipped respondents was slightly higher by 1% in 2015, though it should be noted that as this part of the survey was observational there will be an element of bias/personal opinion involved. • Most of those surveyed were observed as ‘well-equipped’: Overall, 58% of respondents were described as well equipped by the interviewer. However, a further 34% were observed as only adequately equipped and 8% were ill-equipped for the conditions. Of those surveyed at each location, the Snowdon Ranger path had the highest proportion of walkers described as ill- 4 Snowdon Visitor Survey 2015 – Snowdonia National Park Authority equipped (18%), and the Llanberis having the second highest (13%) path. The Rhyd Ddu (79%) and the Watkin (78%) Path had the highest proportion of walkers observed as well equipped. • The majority of visitors had suitable footwear for the conditions: 81% of respondents were wearing suitable footwear (described as either boots or walking boots). However, the remaining 19% wore unsuitable footwear such as light shoe or trainers. Although most wore appropriate shoes, it’s important that we keep relaying the messages regarding the importance of suitable footwear on the mountain, particularly in places such as the Snowdon Ranger and Llanberis. • There were slightly fewer respondents with suitable footwear in 2015 than in 2013: 85% of respondents wore suitable in 2013 compared to 81% in 2015. Despite being a small change, it highlights the need to relay mountain safety messages, particularly with inexperienced walkers. • A fifth of respondents had no experience of hill walking prior to their visit: 20% of those surveyed had no previous hill walking experience and a further 38% had only been walking 1-5 times previously. 18% had been hill-walking more than 20 times, and 24% and been walking 5-20 times. It is worth noting that these figures have changed considerably since 2013 when 60% of respondents had been walking more than 20 times and only 9% of walkers had no previous experience. This highlights that Snowdon is becoming more more popular with inexperienced walkers. • For 60% of those surveyed, this was their first experience of walking up Snowdon: A further 32% had been 1-5 times before and 8% had been more than 5 times. Again, these figures have changed considerably since 2013. The number of first time visitors to Snowdon has increased from 34% in 2015 and the amount of returning visitors (more than 5 times) has fallen from 36% to 8%. • While 97% of people carried a mobile phone, percentages of people carrying other vital kit were comparatively low: Less than half of the respondents were carrying a compass, 38% of visitors did not have a map and 46% of people were not carrying a torch. Almost all respondents were carrying water (99%) and the large majority had food (93%). These figues are very similar to those from 2013. • 27% of respondents used the internet as a planning tool prior to the trip: 37% had been before and 16% had gained information through word of mouth. A further 5% had visited a Tourist Information Centre (TIC) for their information and 4% had used a guidebook or leaflet. • The majority of people had checked the weather forecast prior to their walk: 93% of people had checked the forecast beforehand, a slight decrease from 2013. The internet (either via computer, app or phone) was the most popular method of checking with 80% of respondents using this source. Others had checked via TV (7%) and notice boards (6%). The main forecasts used were the BBC and Met Office. 1.3 Litter • The majority of respondents felt like they noticed very little or no litter on Snowdon: When asked to rate from one to four the amount of litter seen on the mountain (one being no litter and four being a great deal) 49% of respondents gave a ranking of 1 and 42% gave a ranking of 2. 5 Snowdon Visitor Survey 2015 – Snowdonia National Park Authority Less than 10% of people felt like they had seen