## **Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust** Annual Report For year ending 5 April 2025 Presented at the AGM held on 1[st] November 2025 **CONTENTS** Company Information .............................................................................................. 3 Aims of the Charity ................................................................................................... 3 Details of Trustees as at 5 April 2025 ......................................................................... 4 Details of Senior Wardens and Representatives as at 5 April 2025 ............................... 4 Structure, Governance and Management ................................................................... 4 Induction and Training .............................................................................................. 5 Risk Management .................................................................................................... 6 Marketing Report ..................................................................................................... 6 Financial Review ...................................................................................................... 6 Treasurer’s Report .................................................................................................... 7 Social Media ............................................................................................................ 7 Project Initiatives ................................................................................................... 11 Facilitation ............................................................................................................ 11 Senior Warden Report ............................................................................................ 11 Warden Engagement .............................................................................................. 12 Warden Reports ..................................................................................................... 13 Bangor to Bethesda Café Coed y Brenin ............................................................... 13 Bethesda Caffi Coed Y Brenin to Waunfawr Snowdonia Parc .................................. 14 Waunfawr Snowdonia Parc to Nantlle Glan Rhonwy .............................................. 14 Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert Section .......................................................................... 15 Croesor to TanyGrisiau ........................................................................................ 16 Tanygrisiau Café to Eagles Penmachno ................................................................ 17 Tanygrisiau Café to Eagles Penmachno ................................................................ 18 TanYGrisiau Cafe To Eagles Penmachno ............................................................... 19 Between Betws-y-Coed & Capel Curig. ................................................................ 20 Projects Report ...................................................................................................... 25 Acknowledgements................................................................................................ 28 Appendices ........................................................................................................... 29 Letter from Janet Finch-Saunders AM ................................................................... 29 Letter from Sian Gwellian AS ............................................................................... 29 Charity Commission Accounts ............................................................................ 29 Letter from Liz Saville Roberts MP ........................................................................ 29 SST Annual Report 2025 ## **COMPANY INFORMATION** Registered: 15 February 2019 Chair: Joan Cutting Charity Number: 1182188 Registered Office: 44a Stryd Fawr Llanberis LL55 4EU Independent Examiner: Alun Grifith Bankers: Bank of Scotland ## **AIMS OF THE CHARITY** 1. The advancement of education for the public benefit in the unique slate heritage and culture of Snowdonia. 2. The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the public at large in the interests of social welfare by monitoring, managing and enhancing the Snowdonia Slate Trail long distance footpath. SST Annual Report 2025 3 ## **DETAILS OF TRUSTEES AS AT 5 APRIL 2025** Joan Cutting - Chair Evelyn Storrie - Secretary Aled Owen -Treasurer Roger Greenhalgh Dorothy Howarth - Social Media Mieko Yamaguchi - Route Details Updates Lisa Wells – Lead Trustee, Wardens Paul Bridges ## **DETAILS OF SENIOR WARDENS AND REPRESENTATIVES AS AT 5 APRIL 2025** Graham Fitch representing The Ramblers Snowdonia Society – no current Representative David Jones – Senior Warden covering Bangor to Beddgelert & Ogwen to Bethesda Kate Retallick - Senior Warden covering Beddgelert to Ogwen ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The governing document of the Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust is the Constitution of the Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, (Foundation Structure) as amended on 7 February 2019. Copies of this document can be inspected on request. The Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust is managed by the Board of Trustees. At present, there are 8 Trustees. Other people who wish to assist with the Trust do so as Wardens or volunteers. SST Annual Report 2025 4 The Board of Trustees generally meets once a year, and occasionally at other times as necessary, and meetings are open to wardens and interested parties to attend. Otherwise, communication is via email or the WhatsApp group. ## **INDUCTION AND TRAINING** New Trustees are given the Charities Commission “How to be a Trustee” document. Trustees are encouraged to keep up to date with charity law by private learning. This year, there have been no training events. SST Annual Report 2025 5 ## **RISK MANAGEMENT** The Trustees carry out a continuous and ongoing review of policies designed to identify, manage and avert risk, both financial and operational. The Treasurer aims to report regularly on the state of the finances and reviews past performance and future needs. The Trustees act accordingly. ## **MARKETING REPORT** No marketing report has been produced. It will be discussed at the AGM whether the Trust requires a Trustee responsible for this. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The Trust maintains a healthy bank balance and continues to monitor expenditure such that it remains sustainable. The 2024-25 account was audited, and no issues were highlighted. A full Treasurer`s report is included below. ## Policy on Reserves The Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust needs reserves for the following reasons: - - To provide sufficient working capital for its day-to-day needs - To enable it to continue to operate in the event of a crisis. - To enable it to cope with any reduction in its income. - To finance and underpin growth in its activities. SST Annual Report 2025 6 ## **TREASURER’S REPORT** The financial report to be submitted to the Charities Commission appended to this document covers the financial year 2024-25. The full account spreadsheet can be made available to anyone who requests it. In that year, we raised a £960 grant for the project to carry out a survey of the route to identify what might be needed to bring it up to National Trail standard. A £9400 grant was achieved to carry out research on how the Trail is used and what might increase public awareness of it. £3200 was raised for our schools project and a further £2750 for the information boards. Finally, we received £16200 as part of our input into the £1M research project on sustainable tourism around the Trail. Book sales raised £390. Minor donations and sales of medal and badges raised £1280, over twice the previous year. This includes donations from Aled of £700 which he was paid for translating the National Trail survey, and £300 he received for managing our part of the £1M research project. That project will bring in about £100 per month for the next four years. Gift Aid brought in about £800. Main expenditure was on insurance (£164), website maintenance (£325), maintenance (£1381), postage (£364), passport stamps (£333), benches (£1902), Schools project (£1663), user research (£9483), the £1m research project (£8504) and the survey (£9700). This brought our available funds to £19616, of which £13545 was restricted, while the rest was allocated to the further improvements and the survey. Since the end of the last financial year and as at 20 September 2025, about £13100 has been received, of which £10800 is for the major research project and £1000 for the boards project. The recent major expenditure has been £14342 on the major research project and £3971 on the boards project. Sale of goods is slow. We have ample supplies of T-shirts, and metal and sew-on badges, as well as medals and car stickers, and would not recommend expanding our range of items for sale at present. Aled Owen Treasurer ## **SOCIAL MEDIA** From Dorothy Howarth Snowdonia Slate Trail has over 4500 followers on Facebook and 315 on Instagram SST Annual Report 2025 7 ## **THE PASSPORT SCHEME** Joan Cutting 18 September 2025 We’re into the 7th year of the Passport Scheme. Medals cost £3.50 and most people add a donation for path maintenance. Here’s how the income from medals and donations is looking to date: |**Date**|**Medals**|**Income £**| |---|---|---| |Aug 2018 to Nov 2019|13|105.50| |Nov 2019 to Sep 2020|7|72.00| |May 2021 to Oct 2021|19|340.50| |Oct 2021 to Oct 2022|24|184.00| |Oct 2022 to Oct 2023|40|308.10| |Nov 2023 to Sep 2024|12|117.00| |Oct 2024 to Oct 2025|19|164.50| |**TOTAL**|133|1,292.00| We now have 26 venues participating in the Passport Scheme (25 last year). - Caffi`r Pafiliwn, Blaenau Ffestiniog - closed - Caffi Blas a Waun, Antur Waunfawr – re-opened - Caffi Siabod – re-opened As for the total number of visits stamped per venue, recorded in the last three years when passports are sent to us with medal requests, the following 14 venues have had more than 20 (11 venues last year) - Caffi Coed y Brenin (23) - Amgueddfa National Slate Museum - Llanberis (30) - Canolfan Y Fron (40) - Beddgelert Tourist Information Centre (39) - Lakeside Café, Tanygrisiau (40) - Y Pengwern, Llan Ffestiniog (37) - Pen y Bryn Stores, Llan Ffestiniog (33) - Ty Uchaf - The Eagles (22) - Londis Penmachno (22) - Conwy Falls (33) - Betws Tourist Information Centre (35) - Ty Hyll (25) - Joe Brown Shop, Capel Curig (26) - Canolfan Ogwen - Kiosk (23) SST Annual Report 2025 8 The Passport Scheme seems to be healthy, judging by this slight increase in medals, income, venues and stamps. However, our records show that ten venues have had between zero and two visits stamped since January. The ten venues with the low number of stamps offer various reasons - Lodge Dinorwig: “We definitely have some guests who are not fussed about the passports (mainly when the weather forecast is damp and they are camping for the next leg of the trail) and some didn't even know about the stamps at all.” - Pitch and Hike Camping: “most are not interested in the passport despite us hugely and very enthusiastically promoting it! /…/ Maybe it’s our location along the route, not at the start, not at the end etc. We also think people might stop more at us when the weather is bad and they just want a break. At that point they seem quite knackered!!! We take them a thermos of hot water but by then they don’t have any interest in any admin!!!” - Caffi Croesor: “A frequent topic that arose from stamp collectors was that many of the venues advertised to collect stamps from were no longer trading or they were closed, so although folk made it to the destination they were unable to collect their stamps.” - Crib Goch Outdoor: “Could it be that people haven't then gone on to complete a passport and send it in?” - National Slate Museum: “we have found the visitor figures for the Quarry Hospital to be considerably less than the Museum” The number getting stamps is greater than the number applying for a medal - When I asked Pitch and Hike Camping why they’d stamped none: "We have stamped quite a few passports, mainly new ones we give out.” - When I asked National Slate Museum why they’d stamped none: “the staff in the Quarry Hospital have engaged with approx. 7 people with either stamping their passports or giving passports out.” - When I asked Crib Goch Outdoor World why they thought they’d stamped only five: “We’ve definitely stamped more than 5” - When I asked Lodge Dinorwig why they thought they’d stamped only five: “We have had less stamping business since closing the Cafe but I can assure you, it's been a lot more than 5. I'd say I stamped about 15 passports alone this year.” - When I asked Joe Brown Shops Capel Curig why they thought they’d stamped only two: “We have definitely had more than two people stamp their passport this year - I’d estimate 30+” SST Annual Report 2025 9 The number walking the SST is greater than the number getting stamps - Pitch and Hike Camping: “We have had lots of Slate Trail users come through. /…/ We also follow the slate trail Facebook page. It seems the path is gaining popularity. /…/ We are very proud of the slate trail.” - Betws Tourist information Centre (35 stamps): “A fair number of Slate Trail Walkers have come through the TIC, we must receive at least 5 each week.” - Beddgelert Tourist information Centre (39 stamps): “The slate trail is certainly popular, more so this year. We have met a lot of people doing and enjoying the trail so it seems to have been a very successful year.” - Caffi Croesor (11 stamps): “We did meet quite a few passing along the trail.” - Poblado Coffi (10 stamps): “We've seen a decent amount of slate trail traffic come through after the summer busyness.” The Passport Scheme is having a positive effect - Pitch and Hike Camping: "The scheme is definitely helping us.” - Poblado Coffi: “It's great to be a stop off for walkers and the advertising and stamp incentive helps.” - Beddgelert Tourist information Centre: the SST “draws more people into Beddgelert and to our information centre so it’s a very welcome addition to the activities on offer in the area!” - Betws Tourist information Centre: “We feel the scheme likely does help our venue, and knowledge of the route is helpful to direct some walkers who are up for trying something new.” - Janet Finch-Saunders MS, in a letter pledging support to make the SST a national trail,: “I’ve been impressed by the positive impact the route is having on local businesses. For example, the passport project is to be commended for encouraging walkers to enter and spend in local cafes, pubs, and much more.” SST Annual Report 2025 10 ## **PROJECT INITIATIVES** Roger Greenhalgh - **Schools Resources** proofs-of-concept materials: production of a Teachers’ Guide, Activity Materials, and a small set of exploratory guides (app-based and with PDF-equivalents). These are currently awaiting minor revisions due to some on-going site-location and access changes, and for bi-lingual re-factoring. - **Bloomberg Connect** digital collections app: compilation of online slate heritage/culture interpretations for a variety of iconic locations throughout or adjacent to the Slate Trail. This is in response to an opportunity for broadening trail discoverability through the Bloomberg Connect initiative of Bloomberg Philanthropies, who provide the platform for creating digital app representations of many Museums and Heritage/Culture Trails internationally. ## **FACILITATION** Roger Greenhalgh - Investigation and creation of online document storage, sharing and archiving capability for use by trustees and wardens (awaiting release at November AGM) - Set-up of equipment store for Trail Maintenance tools, equipment and consumables at Beddgelert (using space provided by Lancashire Mountaineering Club) - Trail improvements (waymarking and some bracken clearance) undertaken at Cilgwyn/Pen-y-Orsedd in conjunction with volunteers from the Caru Eryri initiative of the Snowdonia Society. ## **SENIOR WARDEN REPORT** David Jones Gradually, over a three-month period, I undertook a systematic check of the spelling, grammar & general information in the Snowdonia Slate Trail website, in both the English & Welsh options. My report can be seen on the SST Google site, as are my trail reports. https://sites.google.com/view/snowdoniaslatetrail/home Cut a tree blocking the trail as you ascend from Waunfawr, as highlighted by Evelyn, plus the addition of roundels on the new ladder stiles, & some light pruning of gorse up to Ty’n y Graig ruin. Upkeep of the LIVE (trail furniture) & Passport Maps. Undertake trail visits for inspection, maintenance (where possible) & trail furniture data collection (Lodge Dinorwig to Waunfawr & Betws-y-Coed to Capel Curig). SST Annual Report 2025 11 ## **WARDEN ENGAGEMENT** Roger Greenhalgh Whilst acting in an independent capacity, (but demonstrating advocacy for the Snowdonia Slate Trail in the wider locality), Roger has been involved with the delivery of a number of slate-heritage-themed workshops and projects, which each raise the profile of both the Snowdonia Slate Trail and the broader World Heritage Site. For example: - **Community Map-making** workshop : participants undertook some simple survey techniques similar to those used by the Ordnance Survey mapping teams in the Victorian era, then through co-design and consensus contributed to the production of a digital map of Cwm Croesor. - **Lithophone making** workshop: participants constructed small xylophones using natural slate, and experimented with techniques to perfect their use. - **Hidden Histories** discovery walks: short local guided walks with heritage discovery themes. - Attendance at a variety of WHS community engagement events - Participation in the steering group of the Dolennu Partnership project - Co-authoring of the Snowdonia Slate Trail business & visitor survey (October 2024) - Representation on the Education sub-group of the World Heritage Site - Professional accreditation by the Association for Heritage Interpretation - Participation in the Arfon/Dwyfor Local Access Forum SST Annual Report 2025 12 ## **WARDEN REPORTS** BANGOR TO BETHESDA CAFÉ COED Y BRENIN Rich Parry “Pnawn da Oll, Great day out on the LlLlE/ SST today. Me and my mate Mali, inspected the Bangor to Bethesda section covering 9.6 miles in distance (left her lead near Bangor rugby club, realised near Ffarm Cochwillan so had to trundle back ). The trail is in good condition, generally the signing is good, I’ll go back and replace a few of the roundels near Cochwillan. A couple of branches across the path: Bangor rugby - has been there for a while. I’ve cleared the first tree and removed a couple of limbs from the larger tree across the path. The remaining branch is quite big so would require a chainsaw to clear. Near KG01-011 Kissing gate near Ffarm Cochwillan. A large ash branch has fallen near the gate. It’s possible to negotiate the branch to get through the gate. On that point, I really like the new Kissing gates on the trail, far easier to pass through than the older & narrower old kissing gate!!! As I mentioned, I’ll go back out to replace missing or fadden roundels TR01-001 Port Penrhyn GA01-001 Giât Mynydd / gate near Rachub. I’ll report back when completed.” SST Annual Report 2025 13 BETHESDA CAFFI COED Y BRENIN TO WAUNFAWR SNOWDONIA PARC Matt Sharpe March 12th- Betws Garmon- Aberglaslyn and return . No issues to report today, path clear, signs in good order, small amount of litter removed. July 20th- Llanberis- Betws Garmon one way. Trail quite busy today, 2 roundels replaced toward peak of Moel Eilio. Usual litter removal, but path in good order and way markers clearly visible. September 20th- Beddgelert- Aberglaslyn. Some bracken removed, gate put back on hinges by train crossing. All parts of path clear. ## WAUNFAWR SNOWDONIA PARC TO NANTLLE GLAN RHONWY Evelyn Storrie I have walked the entire section once during the year and the earlier section towards Y Fron several times. On my first walk of the section, there was a tree blocking the path which David subsequently cleared. There is a signposting issue near the garden where the footpath goes left as the track veers right which has been discussed on the WhatsApp group and also a post that is due to be replaced in the next month. Most of my work on the trail has been to do with cutting back the vegetation on the first section after joining the path from the Rhosgadfan road. I have also noted that there is Himalayan balsam on this section which will need to be dealt with next spring. I have occasionally met a local on the trail and the feedback has been positive. SST Annual Report 2025 14 ## RHYD DDU TO BEDDGELERT SECTION Ken Latham The warm spring early summer of the year saw many walkers on my section from Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert and I have walked it about 15 times so far, (due to ongoing knee problems, still waiting for an op 3 years later! the Nantlle section on my patch has been put on the back burner slightly) I encountered a lot of foreign walkers this year, many from Canada but yet to meet anyone from the States, a crew from France who thought the trail was ‘Tres magnifique’ and Italians, Dutch, Latvia and a couple who had come over from Japan just to do the trail! Our reputation is far and wide it seems. A few of the signs and general trail furniture is looking a bit worn out and I think we will need to look at some of this in the next year, luckily the National Park have undertaken some much-needed bridge repairs. The wooden post (not ours) at the junction of the forest track as you drop down to the railway at Caer Gors seems to have lost its fingers for some inexplicable reason, souvenir hunters? And I’ve had to replace some of the roundels too; there must be garage walls or people’s kitchens with our roundels on display as a memento of being on the trail. The tree destruction is still causing the use of the diversion at The Forest Campsite but doesn’t seem to be causing much problem, although I have had to raise the fallen/moved barriers on virtually every trip. This is going to be a bit undertaking to clear the damage. I’ve noticed and spoke to a few people who have been going from the car park at the Train Station in Rhyd Ddu and taking the Yr Wyddfa path as far as Penlon and then dropping down to pick up the trail at Caer Gors as supposed to going round Llyn y Gader, not sure why as it’s off the official trail but is a nice diversion if you want to go a bit high, might be worth adding as an alternative choice in the next guidebook possibly. Summing up it’s been a busy year on my bit and it still proves very popular as a short day walk too, I spoke to lots of people who were just doing this section but taking in the Llyn Llywelyn circuit and then dropping down to Beddgelert, the dam here at the lake has now been landscaped and has some great picnic tables and is proving very popular, possibly another one for the book! One gripe I did get from a few folks was the lack of benches or just anywhere comfy to sit and have a break, not sure how we can tackle this though. SST Annual Report 2025 15 ## CROESOR TO TANYGRISIAU ## Roger Greenhalgh Regular wardening duties on the through-route of this section have been somewhat diminished by the temporary limitations of the current warden’s health. (Knee replacement revision surgery wassuccessfully achieved for him in September, and a further intervention is now scheduled for early2026.) In the meanwhile, regular wardening visits were still made to each of the lowland lengths ofthis section, i.e. Cwm Croesor and Cwmorthin. This section of the trail continues to be popular with hikers, although many of its casual visitors are observed to be favouring circular subsections which utilise the trail in part, but incorporate “loops”such as via Cnicht, or via the Moelwynion and the Stwlan Dam. Planning to hike the “through route” here remains dependant on some adept or inventive public transport planning, (hence the popularity of circular routes.) The Tanygrisiau car park at the foot of the ascent to Cwmorthin continues to have a litter problem, and is frequently busy with picnicking day visitors who take short strolls up Llyn Cwmorthin, but little further. Lakeside Café, Tanygrisiau, have made considerable improvements to their own car park and strongly encourage non-café visitors to make use of the upper public car parking facilities. The Croesor car park suffers much less of a litter problem. Oriel Café Croesor has now re-opened with the café under new management, after a lengthy period of dormancy. The adjacent gallery has been rejuvenated through a newly re-established community group, Hwb Croesor, and has begun to host an eclectic range of exhibits and events. Some of this impetus has been enabled through funding from the LlenNI Llechi community engagement initiative which has arisen as a result of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) listing of the North Wales slate heritage landscape. The opportunity to utilise volunteers from the Caru Eryri initiative of the Snowdonia Society to tackle the waterlogging of the newly installed pedestrian gate above Rhosydd has, unfortunately, been placed on hold as a result of staffing shortages with the Snowdonia Society. SST Annual Report 2025 16 ## TANYGRISIAU CAFÉ TO EAGLES PENMACHNO Rhian Roberts ## January Walked with Kate Reeves from Cwm Penmachno to sign leading off tarmac road in Cwm Teigl. There were a couple of signage issues which were sorted out that day either by ourselves or by Roger after our walk. ## August Checked the route from the scrapyard up to Bryn Mawr in Cwm Cynfal twice - once to check the route and second time to do path clearance in areas where it is permitted. Findings were: - Some large trees blocking the path in the woods near the waterfalls - they have been there for some time - Path very overgrown in areas where we don't have landowner permission to clear. This included Pengwern woods which is the responsibility of NRW - Path from scrap yard down to Blaenau very overgrown and some subsidence make it difficult to walk on in places. I think this is the same bit of path Kate Reeves reported on in the WhatsApp group back in January - Fallen trees in small bit of woodland near Bryn Mawr have now been cleared by NRW - No indication of where trail goes at garages at the end of Dorvil road if travelling clockwise round the route. Photos and grid references of all issues were put on the WhatsApp Group for reference. SST Annual Report 2025 17 ## TANYGRISIAU CAFÉ TO EAGLES PENMACHNO Kate Retallick I did not replace posts or waymarkers on the high ground above Rhiw Bach following discussion at the previous AGM about landowners potentially removing waymarkers in this area. We need to engage with landowners for this section but I have been advised it would be best to approach in Welsh. I will need assistance with this as my Welsh is very limited. I distributed the remaining trail leaflets distributed to a local campsite and café. I undertook infrequent bracken bashing on an ad-hoc basis on the high ground above Rhiw Bach but did not exert any significant singular effort so as not to attract attention from landowners. This section of trail remains wild and exciting; a number of people I met on the trail enjoyed the unmaintained nature of this area! I replaced and repaired some trail signage around the Penmachno area (between Cwm Penmachno and Conwy Falls) on an opportunistic basis. I have a large number of photographs with geotags ready for the map but I still need to liaise with David in order to get access to the editing rights to help maintain the map. Off road motorcycle use of footpath approaching Penmachno village from the South has ceased after discussion with local riding groups. The steps immediately down from Conwy Falls Café car park down towards Betws-yCoed are very eroded now and need repair as they are getting challenging to negotiate. It is very steep and muddy here and the steps themselves are beginning to become obstructive. This is a permissive section of path I believe. The footpath further down is also more eroded towards the river side (not a problem yet) and tree obstructions are frequently removed. The concept of allowing wardens to work on any section of trail and share responsibilities remains good but, in reality, I have not been able to meet up and coordinate routine trail walks since I don’t plan my walks in advance and have different availability to others. I think we need to continue to allow wardens to conduct inspections, litter picking and roundel replacement alone if they are going to be out anyway but, alongside this, we need to have the option for teaming up to undertake larger tasks such as tree clearance and bracken bashing. SST Annual Report 2025 18 ## TANYGRISIAU CAFE TO EAGLES PENMACHNO Kate Reeves This year, the girls and I have walked several sections of the trail and still enjoy it every time. We’ve chopped our way through some overgrown sections and replaced roundels and added new ones where needed. We’ve reported small sections that need attention such as the small hill down into Blaenau, the wall at the Ugly House and fallen trees. SST Annual Report 2025 19 ## BETWEEN BETWS-Y-COED & CAPEL CURIG. David Jones Collecting Trail data, inspection & maintenance (where possible) Thursday 2[nd] October 2025 “Having parked in Capel Curig, I utilised Sherpa’s S1 bus service to take me to Betws-y-Coed where I alighted & walked the Trail back to Capel Curig. This mainly wooded section gave shelter from the stiff breeze on this cool day. No great problems along the Trail which would curtail one’s progress along it. Though there were instances of fallen branches, these could be negotiated by going around or under them. Also, there were some muddy bits; no surprise after so much rain recently, which were possible to skirt around. One bit of pruning around a hidden post & replacement of four pairs of weathered roundels were undertaken during my transit. We’re already aware of the damaged wall next to the bridge by Tŷ Hyll. Instances mentioned above are shown below in the sequence they were encountered along the Trail. _1. SH 785 566 – Fallen branches on the path can easily be walked around._ _2. SH 769 577 – Pruned around hidden post at fork in path …_ SST Annual Report 2025 20 _3. SH 769 577 – … & replaced both weathered roundels._ _4 . SH 762 577 – Replaced a pair of weathered roundels._ _5 . SH 758 575 - Replaced a pair of weathered roundels._ SST Annual Report 2025 21 _6. SH 756 575 - Damaged wall next to the bridge on the A5 by Tŷ Hyll._ _7. SH 752 578 – Removal of roundel from old stile dumped in stream. SH 752 578 – Removal of roundel from old stile dumped in stream._ _8. SH 749 579 - Replaced a pair of weathered roundels._ SST Annual Report 2025 22 _9. SH 749 579 – Muddy patch immediately after marker post off forest track._ _10 . SH 747 579 – Two muddy patches & fallen branches in quick succession (you can walk under the branches)._ SST Annual Report 2025 23 Other Trail Maintenance Support From Aled & Joan Although we're not wardens, while down in the area in August, Joan and I took the opportunity to cut back hedges and bracken at Llandegai and Dorothea. A rewarding couple of half days, and excellent exercise. Mieko Yamaguchi regularly walks various sections of the trail and reports back on issues found via the WhatsApp group. SST Annual Report 2025 24 ## **PROJECTS REPORT** ## _**End information boards**_ This is now complete with information boards installed at Porth Penrhyn and Bethesda. ## _**Repairs to Permissive Path at Conwy Falls**_ New steps have been installed by Conwy Council ## _**Permissive Path at Yr Ocar**_ The bid to categorise this as a Public Right of Way is still in the system and will take a few more years to process. ## _**Permissive Path at Grisiaucochion, Bethesda**_ Sorting out the paperwork for this informal but much used path has ground to a halt due to landownership issues. The link has been used for many, many years and there is a case for it to become a Public Right of Way. Aled has tried to gather evidence of its historic use but with little response. This could do with some local investigation. ## _**Access Improvements in Partnership with The Ramblers and Gwynedd Council**_ We and the Ramblers contributed to new gates and stile improvements South of Waunfawr. We have also undertaken to part fund better signing on the moors between Waunfawr and Y Fron, where we have received a number of comments saying the route isn`t clear here. We await details of a project to replace stiles with gates in the Tanygrisiau area. SST Annual Report 2025 25 ## _**Improvements to the Trail on the Migneint**_ We have received quite a lot of negative feedback regarding the state of the path in this area. Aled has recently written to NRW asking their advice on how to go about improvements. ## _**Closed Footpath at Ty Hyll**_ Although not a project of ours, Aled is trying to get Conwy Council to repair and reopen the riverside path at Ty Hyll. Both Betws y Coed and Capel Curig Community Councils have failed to get action, so a letter has been sent to Conwy Council legal department to try and find out what the situation is. ## _**Investigation of Trail User and Business Feedback**_ Roger and Tansy Rogerson carried out some extensive research on users of the Trail, how it is viewed by businesses around the Trail, and how to make the most of the Trail. A summary is included in the Appendix. ## _**The Dolennu Project**_ After an initial pilot project, a consortium of community groups and social enterprises in the Bethesda, Nantlle and Ffestiniog areas saw the Snowdonia Slate Trail as a major opportunity for sustainable tourism. Subsequently, they secured funding of £1M over five years to carry out further research. The Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust has been co-opted onto the group and manages, with Tansy Rogerson, a group of community researchers in the Conwy Valley area who are looking at the effects of tourism on communities, the concept of sustainable tourism, and the potential for maximising benefit around the Trail. Our budget is £2700 per month for the first year. There has been much training of the researchers, data gathering at community events and involvement in workshops. The initial findings will be presented at a conference in early 2026. Although the Snowdonia Slate Trail will not benefit from capital funding through this project, it certainly raises its profile. ## _**Schools Education Project**_ Schools Resources proofs-of-concept materials: production of a Teachers’ Guide, Activity Materials, and a small set of exploratory guides (app-based and with PDF-equivalents). These are currently awaiting minor revisions due to some on-going site-location and access changes, and for bi-lingual re-factoring. ## **Further news** In a recent poll by the outdoor specialist Blacks, the Snowdonia Slate Trail came equal second to West Highland Way with regard to customer satisfaction. CADW featured the Snowdonia Slate Trail in a lengthy article in their Spring 2025 magazine. SST Annual Report 2025 26 Walk magazine featured the Trail as one of 10 to walk in their Spring edition The Guardian is likely to feature the Snowdonia Slate Trail in a Spring 2026 edition, after being taken round the route by Walkers` Britain, who provide self-guided tours. International tour provider UTracks now included the Snowdonia Slate Trail in their offer, as does HF Holidays. Aled has been in contact with MPs and MSs suggesting they support our aims of becoming a National Trail. So far, Sian Gwenllian MP and Janet Finch-Saunders MS have responded positively, while Claire Hughes MP wants to talk to us. Aled continues to pursue the others! ## **APPENDIX** ## **Investigation Report - Summary/abstract** The Snowdonia Slate Trail is a long-distance hiking route passing through some of the less frequented but beautiful parts of Snowdonia, North Wales, traversing each of the major mountain ranges, and offering a range of experiences from mountain to forest, lake to river, from the valley to the sea. It was developed and launched in 2017, through the support of a wide range of community stakeholders, crossing different counties and lands owned by many different owners, by strategically linking and waymarking a series of pre-existing established Public Rights of Way. The route connects a significant series of communities whose culture and heritage has each been hugely influenced by and sometimes founded upon more than two centuries of slate industry, now much reduced and changed yet still with some production in evidence. For these communities the shift in the focus of local employment and the growth and diversification of tourism has brought its challenges, especially to Welsh culture and language. In preparing and planning for the economic and cultural shift towards sustainable tourism, the various stakeholder groups recognised the strategic value of the Snowdonia Slate Trail through links between the communities of the slate heritage landscape and its potential profile in the region. This research study set out to identify what economic benefits this and other comparable trails create. The study sought to estimate how many people use the trail (from which to derive further estimates of economic benefit). Through surveys and interviews the study elucidated how businesses may be benefitting now, and also what other facilities current and future trail users need. An element of the research which involved working with the community slate researchers to investigate how the SST could further nurture the Welsh language and culture, returned results suggesting actions from a number of interviewed organisations and businesses. This included bilingual interpretation and community content led information boards, a mix of digital and live immersive experiences, a sample1-day thematic itinerary, further stakeholder collaborations and developing and integrating strong Welsh language polices into the trail’s management. SST Annual Report 2025 27 ## **ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS** Heritage Lottery Fund Magnox CADW Blakemore Foundation Snowdonia National Park CAE Fund The Foyle Foundation The Garfield Weston Foundation The Oakdale Trust Community Fund in Wales HF Holidays Horizon First Dŵr Cymru The Laspen Trust Bethesda Town Council Ffestiniog Town Council Gwynedd Council Conwy County Borough Council Ashley Foundation Rehau Plastics, Blaenau Ffestiniog Red Nose Day Cambrian Railways PAVO Mantell Gwynedd Ninevah Trust Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust Menter Môn, Elusen Ogwen LleChi LleNi and thanks to our wardens. SST Annual Report 2025 28 ## **APPENDICES** LETTER FROM JANET FINCH-SAUNDERS AM LETTER FROM SIAN GWELLIAN AS CHARITY COMMISSION ACCOUNTS LETTER FROM LIZ SAVILLE ROBERTS MP SST Annual Report 2025 29 Llwybr Llechi Eryri / Snowdonia Slate Trail, _Dros Ebost / By Email_ 18 September 2025 Annwyl Sir/Madam, Mae'n bleser gen i ysgrifennu i fynegi fy nghefnogaeth i uchelgais eich Ymddiriedolaeth i'r llwybr ddod yn Llwybr Cenedlaethol / It is my pleasure to be writing to express my support of your Trust’s ambition for the route to become a National Trail. Er nad wyf wedi llwyddo i gerdded y llwybr cyfan, mwynheais y darn rhwng Llyn Ogwen a Chapel Curig yn fawr iawn. Mae'r tirwedd yn syfrdanol a'r llwybr wedi'i arwyddo'n dda. Yn fwy na hynny, rwy'n cofio meddwl pa mor wych oedd cael llwybr cymharol wastad yn Eryri, oherwydd nid yw pawb sy'n byw ac yn treulio gwyliau yma eisiau dringo mynyddoedd serth! Whilst I have not managed to walk the whole route, I thoroughly enjoyed the section between Llyn Ogwen and Capel Curig. The landscape is breathtaking and the route well signed. More so, I recall thinking how marvellous it was to have a relatively flat route in Eryri, because not all who live and holiday here wish to climb steep mountains! Mae pwysigrwydd y llwybr hyd yn oed yn fwy amlwg wrth ystyried bod y tirwedd y mae wedi’i hysbrydoli ganddi bellach wedi dod yn Safle Treftadaeth y Byd UNESCO. Yn ddiamau, mae hyn yn denu hyd yn oed mwy o bobl i fwynhau ein treftadaeth llechi, felly mae gwir angen i ni gefnogi cynlluniau sy’n hyrwyddo teithio yn gynaliadwy. Nid oes ffordd well o wneud hynny na chefnogi Llwybr Llechi Eryri / The importance of the route is even more apparent when considering that the very landscape it is inspired by has now become UNESCO World Heritage Site. Undoubtedly, this is attracting even more people to enjoy our slate heritage, so we really need to support schemes that champion travelling and sightseeing sustainably. There is no better way of doing that than backing the Slate Trail. Rwyf hefyd yn falch iawn o'r effaith gadarnhaol y mae'r llwybr yn ei chael ar fusnesau lleol. Er enghraifft, mae'r prosiect pasbort i'w ganmol am annog cerddwyr i fynd i mewn i a gwario yn caffis, tafarndai, a llawer mwy o leoliadau'n lleol / I have also been impressed by the positive impact the route is having on local businesses. For example, the passport project is to be commended for encouraging walkers to enter and spend in local cafes, pubs, and much more. [Parh/ Cont.. .] [Parh/Cont...] Y cyfan sydd ar ôl i mi yw mynegi pa mor ddiolchgar ydw i i'r holl dîm y tu ôl i'r fenter wirioneddol wych hon. Edrychaf ymlaen at ei gweld yn mynd o nerth i nerth / All that remains is for me to express how grateful I am to all the team behind this genuinely fantastic initiative. I look forward to seeing it going from strength to strength. Yn gywir, ## **Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS** SST Annual Report 2025 31 Slan Gwonlllan Aelod o r Senedd d￿5 Arfon 8 StylyCa￿a Caemth LL55 ISE Member of the Sènedd for Arfon W•lBh P•rflnrn•rt 8CJst* sirev_C4eryrt¢n. C￿￿n￿dd. LL3515E 01286672076 an￿￿￿n1116n Pla￿ 12 A￿1 2025 Pirth•d: Uwybr U•¢hl Eryrf Deallaffod LI￿r Lknthi Eryil yn i ￿ryth ar y p￿￿11NYdd o qeoio ddynodiad Lwir Cemdlaethol a¢ I wnwl y mwyaf o'r mantgiwon K*Jsibl o'r dynodiad trfy¥nm¥. Credal ftsj ystod o (tyslKJlaalh wedfi dwsglu gan y gThgp i ddaThJos bod y I￿r ekn8 yn 1P￿dd￿nn￿ ￿wn 8¢ yn IWrdenk9￿ a phobl(¥aNJd. ac I dd8ngos yr athcé •(frfK)mah4d dros gael dync%liad LP*ybr Cenedlaelhoj. Iwn txedu Ixvj o waith wli'i I￿10￿J i gynngl a g*tlLg'r Wjr. ￿ r4ystal ag ad#iLgdu p8rtn?riaethau a rhandd¢ilwKI alwdol. a gellir af y gwaith hwn wrth weittiio W at y dynodwl Lwir Cene*JLqèlhol. Mv•m egwyddor. felty, cefncgfr nc4Y o gael y ¢tynDJkad LTr*ybr Cenedlaethol ond yn cydnabod bc#J ar*Jen gwreud Ilawer o waith. a chc*Js anan. èr mwyn Lyrr￿Id yr amcan 1Th￿nw. Fel YT Agbd o'r sor￿jd t1rt¢ Arfon. d￿l￿naf yn dda •Jdyftt gyda'r gwath ac edrydialyTnlaen at dderbyn drWethJar￿jaU ar y cynnydd. Yn (aio Si4n G*pnlian Ael)J o'r Senedd t1ica Arfon SST Annual Report 2025 32 HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON SWIA OA4 Hydref 2, 2025 I'r sawl sydd an8en gwybod LL￿￿YR CEFNOGAEfH AR GYFER CAIS AM GRAP￿ A STATWS LLWYBR CERDDED CENE0LA￿H0L - LLWYBR LLECHI ERYRI Yr W yn ysgrifennu fel Aelod Seneddol dros tklwyFor Meirionnydd i ￿nn1g fy nghefno8aeth lawn I'r caSs am 8rant i ddatblygu a chydnabod Llvrybr Uechi Eryri fel Ilvrybr cerdded ¢enedlaethol. Mae Llvrybr Llechi Eryri yn cynni8 cyfle unigryw i ddathlu treftadaeth ddiwydiannol. ddiwylliannol a chymdeitha501 Gwynedd. 8an 8ysylltu cymunedau hanesyddol a thirweddau elconl8 sVn adlewyrchu hanes v dlwydlant Ilechl. Dynodwyd ardaloedd Ilechl Gvrynedd yn safle Treftadaeth v Byd san UNESCO ac mae'r Ilwybr yn rhan annatod o weledigaeth ehan8ach I h¥￿dd0 twri5tiaeth gynaliadb￿ sy'n 8weithio 1 8ymunedau. 8yddal dynodl statws cenedlaethol I'r Ilwybr yn gam naturiol nesaf i sicrhau ei wynalladwyedd, el hy8Yrchedd, a'l 8yfranlad parhaol l economi a hunaniaeth y cymuned•u Ilechl. Bydd slcrhau grant yn 8alluo81 datblygu'r proslect. yMy￿Y1ItU a'r ¢yhoedd. 8•n slcrhau bod v Ilwybr yn adnodd byw I bobl leol ac ymwelwyr fel ei gilydd. Yn gywlr Llz Savllle Roberts ASIMP Dvryfor Meirionnydd Beechwood House. Heol v Bont. Dolgellau. Gwynedd. LL40 IAU liz.savilleroberts m arliament.uk 01341421 116 SST Annual Report 2025 33 ame ?r.d ![ jbjlities at the end of th,-: Receipts and paynYeRts'catCOLfftlg any CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES icted d4VyVI IV¥ e perlod funds to to nearest £ B1 Cash funds Section A Receipts anil Davments Unrestrlcted Restricted Endowmen Totsl ¢ nds 6.007 13.609 ioth¢ ne￿1 A1 Recelpts Bring forward Acbvitit5 lty genwaung fund¥ itradiwF medals 5.939 10.980 Unre$tricted Restricted Endowmgnt Detai15 164 bad Donations- medals Donalion5- Olher Refundgd po$iay8 T-shirt sa￿5 49 es 78 1,165 78 1.165 191 158 14 Amazon SMi￿￿3s 246 Donalk)n5- ￿lde￿0k sales Dolennu Research Pro 8¢1 Noliceboar 389 16.200 2.750 2,702 16.200 2,750 projec Cells Worshop Surve 329 Sub total(Gross incom8 for Net olreGeipt51(payme 8,8JO 43.490 S2,J20 1S,054 l$ee charlty's own use Total recelpts 8,830 43,490 52,320 15,054 A3Pa ments Insurance Tru91ee gxpens89 165 165 165 95 249 ainlenan W£bsile Path Improvement nlell Sub Postsge End loaiures Slalionery 703 678 325 2,500 14 14 nt 33J 489 101 Notiteboard proje¢1 Dolennu research projeGI S¢hDDls pr¢ie¢L Survey National Trail project Worker project 489 1,663 9.700 9.700 9,631 32,704 2,400 Sub total 1823 29.881 6,824 Signalu Print Name Date of roval CCXX FU accounts$* total 7109r2025 SST Annual Report 2025 34 CHARITY (OMMISSIOF+owdo FOR ENGLANO AND WAI StstsTTrilTrus1 1162148 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a F¢rthÈ kwiod from 01-Nts-24 31-Kts-25 Section A Receipts and payments uThreStn￿ed fund5 Re5tnrted funds Endowment fund5 Total funds A1 Re¢gipts Brlng f¢tward ArbviliE5 Iorgvr￿1ln￿[urth<￿￿￿ ed* Act*ilieaforgEnEr3IinglurrtYsitr￿￿gl- badgB5 DonBIIon5-m8&15 Don811￿-￿h Rthnd￿ Amazon 246 )no11(rt. ResearthP¢fj*d NobLebEwd SrhExJ- sPro8d I.7￿2 1630 ZT5G 1é3DO 2.750 329 SurveygTrn gEO Sub loisllGrossiFp¢¢n* for AR) $2.J20 1&0$4 A2 A55et and inw$trnEnisÈleS, (see tabkl. Sub total 52.32 15.054 ents 16$ m3Inten3￿ 7QY SZ5 PBih Imprrnm8nt an￿1 G￿￿￿￿Suts JE4 .%taDonery 333 N¢btsbtsard Dff4È¢1 SrhLyJ- sVOIq SuTheyN3knnaTnalFAU1&￿ 9.7UD 231 9.461 .tyJT Sub lotrl JZAJD 824 A4Assel and pur¢ha$w6. Iwetablel CCXXRI Iotyl 10912025 Tolalpayn7ents 3fjA￿7 32.830 6K Netolrecelpirfpaymenisl A5Transf8r5 bqiw••Trfunds A6¢a$h funds last year •Thd Cash funds thls yearend 19.490 5.93g 10.980 10.580 15. cCXXR2￿U￿tS ISSI 20109￿25 Section B Statement of assets and liabililie5 at the end of the period Resiri¢ied funds End¢wment funds Categorigs fvThds 1D tone4re&t£ B1 Cash funds G.OD7 13All3 Totalth￿h funds 6.007 11483 Endowm•Tht funds funds Details ¢LYr•ntwal B3 Invesknent assets Deta51$ l¢n B4 Assets retaIr￿ forthe charity's own use *Anountdue WhonduB D•tail 519DBd ?Ifofpll Ihetru*e Print Na￿ Date of roval cCXXR3￿U￿tS ed (￿n 712025 CCXXR4aLuunts ISS1 **:** Aled Owen ; aledocwm@btnternet.com **Subject:** Re: Llwybr Llechi Eryri Jyst rhag of bod y neges wedi mynd ar goll On Tue, 27 May 2025 at 12:37, Alun Griffiths wrote: Helo Aled, Wrthi yn cwblhau gwirio y cyfrifon. Pob dim yn edrych yn gret. Fe rwyt yn cadw petha yn daclus iawn. Fe roeddat wedi sylwi bod y £62.72 o'i le. Markel Internation yw hwn ar y mantolen banc ar 1/10/24. Fe rwyt wedi cofnodi hwn yn yn Ledger 24-25 fel Insurance £164.64 a Worker Project £62.72. Hyn yn iawn. Ond, wrth edrych ar y TAB Account 24-25 rwyt wedi cynnwys £62.72 o dan prosiect Dolennu (a heb tynnu y £62.72 o Worker Project). Felly rwyt wedi cofnodi dau £62.72 yn lle un. Hyn ddim yn broblem ogwbl ond gan ei fod yn wariant Restricted, well i ti gadarnhau y prosiect gorau i egluro y gwariant yma. Gobeithio bod hyn yn gwneud synnwyr (??/!!). Os wyt eisiau sgwrs sydyn i'w drafod, coreso i ti ffonio fi 07939029092 pam yn gyfleus. Cofion Alun