One ofthe stone pillars that will be placed on Snowdon

A set of stone pillars will be installed on Wales’s highest mountain to keep walkers on the right track.

The decision to place the markers on Snowdon follows a series of incidents where walkers have taken the wrong path and got into difficulties.

Each stone slab will be inscribed with the name of the path. One will be placed at the start point of all six main paths leading up the 1,085m (3,560ft) mountain and at points where walkers are known to make navigational errors.

A Snowdonia National Park Authority spokesperson said: “In recent years, it has become evident from Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team’s reports that walkers tend to get into difficulties in the same places on Snowdon.

“As a result, and following detailed discussions with Snowdonia’s MountainSafe Partnership and with the full support of the Northern Snowdonia Local Access Forum, the authority has decided that setting stone pillars will be more sustainable and less obtrusive than ordinary signage.

“The initial phase of the project entails setting one stone pillar at the foot of each of the six main paths up Snowdon with the name of the path etched on its surface.

“This will then be followed by setting other stone pillars in places which have proven to be problematic for walkers in the past.

“Therefore, for safety reasons only, stone pillars will be placed to mark Bwlch y Moch and Crib Goch to encourage people not to go along these routes by mistake.

“Another stone pillar will be placed to identify the intersection of Llanberis Path and Snowdon Ranger Path as walkers often mix up the two paths. Also, a stone pillar will be placed on the summit to identify accurately where the Watkin Path begins and another stone pillar to identify Bwlch y Saethau as walkers often make the mistake of descending the mountain this dangerous way.”

The stones will be placed on the Llanberis, Rhyd-Ddu, Snowdon Ranger and Watkin Paths and on the Miners Track and the Pyg Track.

Mair Huws, head of the authority’s wardens and access said: “Obviously, we can’t ignore all the incidents that occur on Snowdon.

“Erecting signs all over Snowdon is not acceptable, therefore placing these stone pillars on the mountain is sustainable; it is a convenient way to keep people informed without being intrusive, and will not affect people’s enjoyment of the mountain.

“By placing them in this way, our hope is to create as little impact on the landscape and the atmosphere of the mountain as possible, encouraging walkers to be safe and responsible at the same time.”

The stone pillars are recycled from local disused buildings and the engraved is being carried out by a north Wales firm.