Wild campers critcised for pitching tent next to railway tracks in Snowdonia

Visitors to a Snowdonia lakeside chose an unusual and potentially dangerous spot to set up camp.The unknown campers pitched their tent alongside the track of the Llanberis Lake Railway over the weekend.The popular tourist attraction runs regular services along the shores of Llyn Padarn from its base at Gilfach Ddu to the terminus at Pen Llyn nearly three miles from Llanberis.Photographs of the tent posted online show the large tent just yards from the track.

The unusual camping spot was criticised on social media

The unofficial site drew criticism from locals on local social media pages.Writing on the Llanberis Community Forum, Ian Hughes said: "(This) takes the meaning of railway sleepers to a whole new level."And Kyle Collins added in Welsh this takes "train spotting to a new level".Despite Luce Kanon not having a problem with camping as long as the area is left clean, he added: "Bit of a mad place to pitch up considering Fachwen is right there."Chris Rose-Thomas said simply: "Be nesa?" (whatever next?)Wild camping is illegal in Wales but has become widespread this summer as hotels, guesthouses, holiday parks and camping sites are often booked solid at weekends as people, prevented from venturing abroad by Covid-19 restrictions, holiday in Britain.