As the Easter weekend approaches, local organisations in Gwynedd are reminding visitors to the county to plan their trip in advance and to be considerate.

Easter marks the start of the main visitor season in Gwynedd, and a significant increase in visitor numbers are expected over the coming weeks and months.

Gwynedd Council will work closely with partners including Eryri National Park and North Wales Police to encourage visitors to enjoy the area responsibly, while also protecting the natural environment and the county's attractions.

Authorities are keen to encourage anyone visiting to plan ahead by arranging visits and activities in advance, checking tide times and the weather forecast.

Walking routes should be checked before setting off as poor weather affected the ground condition of some of Gwynedd's public footpaths over the winter (which resulted in some closures and diversions of some paths for the public's safety.

Avoid these areas and plan your walk in advance by checking the https://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk/?lang=en website for the latest information. Consider making use of the Recreational Routes network – a great resource suitable for all weathers.

Drivers are asked to park responsibly and to check where dedicated car parks are.

Irresponsible parking and blocking roads can make it difficult for emergency services to pass. Information about council car parks can be found at www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/parking

The council has dedicated 'Arosfan' sites for overnight motor home parking. Visit www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/arosfan

Visitors are asked to use public transport where possible to avoid congestion, and to respect the environment. Gwynedd bus timetables, including the Sherpa service for Yr Wyddfa, can be found at www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/bus

Being mindful of the environment and residents and following any local regulations or warning signs is important too.

Take rubbish home with you or dispose of it in a public bin. Dog owners should always pick up and dispose of their pet's mess.

Gerwyn Jones, Assistant Head of Gwynedd Council’s Environment (Transport) Department, said: “With increasing numbers of people visiting popular places in Gwynedd it is important that anyone visiting these areas behaves respectfully and plans their visits in advance.

“I urge anyone who is planning to walk the coast path to take care and to plan before setting off.

“The bad weather over the winter has affected the condition of a number of public footpaths in Gwynedd, meaning that some have had to be closed or diverted.

“The summer season timetable for the Wyddfa Sherpa bus service is now in place, which links the popular Wyddfa routes with the surrounding towns and villages, including a bus between Llanberis and Pen y Pass every half hour.

“As a council we continue to work closely with North Wales Police and Eryri National Park to monitor parking trends and keep the public safe on the roads.

“It is extremely important that our roads are clear to allow the emergency services to be able to do their job and to ensure the flow of traffic. We ask motorists to park sensibly and respect the parking restrictions and keep the roads unobstructed and safe.

“If necessary, police and council officers will use their powers to take appropriate action to remove illegally parked vehicles, in the interests of public safety.”

Angela Jones Head of Partnerships at Eryri National Park added: “We really want everyone to enjoy all that Eryri has to offer over the Easter period, but it is important that people do so in safe and responsible ways. We have already seen more calls than ever to mountain rescue teams operating in Eryri this year, and some of the teams deal with several incidents on the same day.

“To reduce the pressure on these volunteers, people need to realise the nature of the landscapes, the mountains can be unsafe areas without planning in advance. Visitors should ensure that they are thoroughly prepared and that they have the right equipment for each landscape, enough food and water, as well as familiarising themselves with Mentra'n Gall messages from the Countryside Code.”

More information about planning ahead can be found on the Eryri Mountains and Coast website: https://www.ymweldageryri.info/plan-your-visit and the Eryri National Park website: https://eryri.gov.wales/visit/plan-your-visit/