Snowdon to be called Yr Wyddfa

Snowdonia National Park Authority said it took ‘decisive action’ after more than 5,000 people signed a petition calling for Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) and Eryri (Snowdonia) to be called by their Welsh names, rather than the English equivalent. The park’s head of cultural heritage, Naomi Jones, told BBC Wales that Welsh place names were part of Eryri’s ‘special qualities’.

Yr Wyddfa stands at 3,560ft (1,085m) and attracts around 400,000 walkers a year. It is Wales’ highest mountain and the highest point in the British Isles.

The mountain has been a cause for concern amongst conservationists in recent years, as over-tourism caused a marked increase in footpath erosion, littering and irresponsible wild camping. Mountain rescue teams also expressed concern about the rise in unprepared and ill-equipped walkers setting out on the peak. In 2021, the National Park Authority implemented measures to mitigate damage and manage visitor numbers, including shuttle buses and a booking system for carparks.

This year, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) also entered into talks with European federations about changing the team’s name to Cymru – the Welsh name for Wales. Cymru is already used by the Welsh FA in its internal and external communications, but the FAW is considering the merits of changing the country’s name in international competitions too.