New visitor centre at Snowdon summit opened
New visitor centre at Snowdon summit opened
A new visitor centre has been opened at the summit of Mount Snowdon. The £8.4m Hafod Eryi centre was opened by Rhodri Morgan, the first minister for Wales.
Hafod Eryi has been three years in the making, reports The BBC. The granite building has been designed to blend in with the landscape and sits 3,560 feet above sea level.
Visitors renting
cottages in Snowdonia will be able to enjoy a cup of tea in the centre's cafe after walking or taking the train up Snowdon. There is also a shop area as well as toilets and an 'interpretation space'.
The building has been built to withstand severe weather conditions, since winds can reach 150mph, temperatures can fall to minus 20 degrees centigrade and the annual rainfall is more than 5m. Poor weather also slowed down construction of the centre: "More than once I've thought we'd never get here," said Tegwyn Williams from Carillion, the contractors used for the project.
Over half a million people made their way up Snowdon last year. It is hoped that those making the effort will be rewarded with an improved experience than previously - Prince Charles described the old cafe as "the highest slum" in Wales.
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