A popular mountain pathway has been closed off to the public due to safety concerns after a landslip following Storm Dennis left rock and debris on site. As a result, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has advised the public of the dangers of using the pathway by erecting "no access" warning signs along the route.
Pen Pych mountain is in the Rhondda Fawr valley and is one of the area's most prominent landmarks, with pathways passing idyllic waterfalls., forests and breathtaking views. It is also one of Europe's two table-top mountains.
The path at Pen Pych, which goes from the waterfall viewing area up past the top waterfall and onto the summit of Pen Pych, is a popular route among locals and visitors from all over the world. However, this pathway is not a dedicated Public Right of Way (PRoW) or a part of NRW's walking trail network and is therefore not routinely managed or inspected by NRW or the Local Authority.
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This decision has left locals and users of the trail disappointed, as they say NRW could have repaired the "small area of path damaged" by the landslide three years ago instead of closing off the popular path. Scott Evans, 46, is an avid walker of Pyn Pych and thinks this decision is "unacceptable."
He said: "The path has been, as far as I am aware, open ever since without any sort of incident and it hasn't actually gotten worse. In fact, it's probably gotten better because the people walking on it have worn a new path on the trail."
Scott added that it is a popular tourist attraction and has met people from "all over the world" on the pathway. He said: "I see people from up there from America, South America, Australia, France, Spain, from all over the world." He said that the path has become more popular with other businesses opening up, like ZipWorld Tower, and bringing people who want to explore the area.
He believes people should have a choice as to whether or not to use the pathway. He said: "Locals will probably disregard the signs because they know how the path has been for the last three years but visitors will just turn around. So even if NRW weren't going to maintain the site, they could have put up signs saying they 'no longer maintain the path and don't have any liability from this point' or 'at your own risk,' so people could make their own choice. But to put up signs saying no access - quite a lot of people will be missing out."
James Roseblade, Senior Land Management Officer, NRW, said: “The path at Pen Pych, which goes from the waterfall viewing area up past the top waterfall and onto the summit of Pen Pych, is not a dedicated Public Right of Way (PRoW) nor does it form part of our waymarked walking trail network. It is therefore not routinely managed or inspected by NRW or the Local Authority.
“Since the landslip that occurred in February 2020, we have had safety concerns for this part of the route. An engineering geologist has assessed the path and provided options on how to make the path safe.
“Unfortunately, to make the path safe for public use, substantial engineering work would be required. Given the likely costs, other landslip priorities, and with this path not being a designated PRoW or an NRW promoted walking trail, this is not something we are in a position to undertake.
“The majority of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate is dedicated land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act and people are free to walk on foot wherever they want. However, as a land manager we have a duty of care to highlight any potential risks associated with access along this route to help minimise and prevent injury. We have recently erected warning signs along this route to warn of the risks associated with access along this route.
“Access to the top of Pen Pych and the top waterfall remains accessible along a PRoW from Pen Pych and Blaenrhondda.”
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