Norbury Cottage

Since ‘Covid’ there has been much media attention about the sheer numbers of visitors that now head to the various ‘hot-spots’ in North Wales. It’s been reported that this influx is having an affect on the local environment and the people who live here. It has been suggested that many of these visitors are actually day-trippers – they fill the local roads with their parked cars, and they do not contribute to the local economy.

I believe that generality is to the contrary, judging by the number of people using the cafes and restaurants seen first-hand on a recent visit to Llanberis. But conversely, it is also true that the limited number of roads that exist in Snowdonia makes getting around the area, and then actually parking the car in the tourist ‘hot-spots’ a challenge, especially in the peak season and bank holidays.

The tourism industry is important for the Wales economy, but it also needs to be sustainable in the climate emergency we find ourselves in. Playing our part, we have already made Norbury Cottage more energy efficient: Cavity wall and roof insultation has been added; a more energy efficient gas boiler installed; and new double glazing and composite front door helps to keep the heat in better. Most of the lighting is now using LED bulbs. We have a compost bin at the end of the garden that guests are welcome to use. We also encourage guests to recycle as must waste as possible, using the trade waste collection bins.

There is more that needs to be done, This year, to mark Wales Tourism Week, we are starting a section on our website that will hopefully encourage guests to use public transport more to get to various tourism locations, in and around North Wales.