Photo © Denny Muller
Why are you laughing? Itâs something we all do every day and usually with very little thought however when youâre half way up Snowdon and potentially several hours away from a toilet it suddenly becomes important. Perhaps more of a concern for women than it might be for men, who will typically go anywhere without a care, there are some rules and useful tips about going to the toilet on Snowdon.
You will likely be aware of the Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre known as Hafod Eryri which has a cafe, souvenir shops and toilets however it shouldn’t be relied on as the facilities aren’t always open. It typically opens from late Spring until the last weekend in October but will be closed on bad weather days.
The worst thing you can do is avoiding going to the toilet by not drinking. Taking on liquids during your mountain day is essential. OK you might be able to get away with a shorter walk but inevitably youâre going to be walking uphill, sweating away fluids and burning energy so itâs vital that you stay hydrated.
Anyone with young kids knows that you donât leave the house without making them go to the toilet and itâs no different for you! All of the main Snowdon summit paths have public toilets at the start points. They may not always be the best (youâre likely to have to fight off a spider or two) and might not be open out of season but theyâre better than nothing so be sure you go before you start your adventure. You can find more out more about public toilets in Snowdonia at snowdonia.gov.wales/visit/plan-your-visit/toilets-and-facilities/
However, thereâs really no avoiding it; youâre going to need a wee at some point during your day on Snowdon so itâs important to find the right place to go. For gentlemen it might just be walking a few metres off the path, waiting for others to walk out of sight and then do your stuff. Always get as far off the path as possible. Nobody wants to see a pool of wee as theyâre walking up the Llanberis Path. Avoid places where people might stop for a rest for the same reason. These are even more important for the busy paths such as the Pyg Track or Snowdon Ranger Path. Imagine the smell if hundreds of people did their business in the same spot every day. Never wee in or close to running water as you donât know who might be drinking that water further down stream.
For ladies youâre probably going to want a bit more privacy however this can be easier said than done particularly on the main paths during busy summer weekends. As for the men, move away from the path everyone is walking along and aim for that big rock and be quick! You must take any used toilet paper or tissues home with you preferably in a bag. On an overnight expedition you might dig a hole and burn the paper but this isnât really practical on a day out up Snowdon and nobody wants to see toilet paper littering the countryside.
If youâre walking as part of a group donât be shy. You donât need to explicitly say what youâre going to do. Saying something along the lines of âIâll catch you upâ is enough – people understand whatâs going on.
Number twos are a bit trickier. Most people can go out for a dayâs walk without needing to worry too much about this, but an upset tummy or that big curry that night before can play havoc with your insides. There really is no satisfactory solution here. Again, on multi-day trips, youâll carry a small plastic spade so you can dig a hole, do your stuff and bury it (after burning any toilet roll/tissues) but this isnât something Iâd suggest you need to carry with you routinely.
The same principles apply though. If you really have to go, move well off the path youâre walking on, find something for privacy, use whatever you can to dig the best hole possible, do your business then cover it up. If youâve used toilet paper or tissues you must burn and bury them or ideally take them away with you. Never simply leave them behind.
Donât neglect your personal hygiene either so remember to clean your hands using antibacterial hand sanitiser.
