Farmer says ‘I’m the good guy’ after ‘disrespectful tourists’ give him no choice

A hill farmer who dug up a car park near one of Snowdonia’s greatest historic treasures says he is “being made to look like the bad guy” in his fight to protect the area from overuse. Visitors can no longer fully explore Tomen y Mur, the most complete Roman military settlement in Wales, after landowner Meredydd Williams took action, NorthWalesLive reports.[1] He claimed some tourists were disrespecting the site’s archaeology by climbing on delicate structures.

Others were said to be parking up overnight and sneaking into the old fort with metal detectors in in search of ancient artefacts.

He was also angered by alleged damage caused by trucks passing the site, and accused heritage body Cadw[4], which manages the site with Eryri[5] National Park Authority (NPA), of failing to order remedial works. He said: “Serious damage has been done, these activities are scarring the landscape.

It’s a disgrace. I’m being made to look like the bad guy when really I’m the good guy.” Irked by a perceived lack of intervention, he closed the site’s layby parking and removed Tomen y Mur’s interpretation boards.

He then began creating a new, larger car park on his land, screened by trees and gated to prevent overnight use. Last year a voluntary access agreement between the landowner and Eryri NPA was not renewed. Neither party has returned to the table for talks, and Mr Williams claimed he had been left to improve site facilities out of his own pocket.

Responsibilities included cutting surrounding shrubs, building an access gate for disabled visitors, lowering fences to improve views, and equipping his tractor with extra-large tyres to prevent damaging the ground. The third-generation farmer said: “With help from my neighbours, I’ve been looking after the site for as long as I can remember. But it’s got to work both ways – they’ve got to work with me to stop the illegal activities.

99% of the visitors are great but 1% like to dig up the site and cause trouble.”

Tomen y Mur, a Roman camp near Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, that is said to be the most complete Roman military settlement in Wales. (Image: Jeff Buck/Wiki)

He said he plans to create a “Mabinogion garden” on the former layby car park, acknowledging the site’s place in Welsh mythology as Mur-y-Castell, the legendary palace of Ardudwy. A spokesman for Eryri NPA said: “As part of the access agreement, which has now lapsed, parking provision was formerly made available to visitors on a private roadside parcel of land. This is no longer available.

“Alternative or additional parking provision would require the necessary consents. The authority is unaware of any such proposals and therefore we cannot comment on these until we have received further details.” Tomen y Mur was a Roman military camp built in the late first century to subdue the Ordovices, a native Celtic tribe.

Initially, a large timber fort was erected to house around 1,000 cavalry. Later, as tensions eased, the fort was rebuilt in stone early in the 2nd century to accommodate a much smaller force of around 500 infantry. Only a few decades later, it was abandoned.

Subsequently, it may have been a llys (court) for the princes of Gwynedd[6]. The “tomen”, a great motte that dominates the site, was probably raised by Normans sent to counter a Welsh insurgency in 1095. It’s speculated some of the fort’s cut stone was later used to construct Harlech Castle[7].

As the site was occupied until the early 20th century, having been crossed by a slate quarry tramway, it gives a fascinating snapshot of life over almost 2,000 years. Under his access agreement, Mr Williams received GBP35-a-week. In return, he agreed to cut sheep numbers on the land by 75%, eating into farm income.

The money, he said, does little to make up for the unpaid work he and his fellow farmers do as unofficial custodians of Tomen y Mur. Furthermore, he fears his public liability insurance could be affected in case of an accident, adding: “If anything goes wrong, it will be me who answers for it.” Eryri NPA looked into claims of site damage but decided no action was needed.

They said: “We understand that these have been investigated and subsequently concluded by Cadw and North Wales Police[8], who are the relevant authorities on such matters.” Many features remain as earthworks outside the fort: a large parade ground, bathhouse, mansion, roads, bridge and burial mounds. Overlooking the parade ground was a possible temple complex and the fort had a small weapons training amphitheatre, a facility described as “unique in Britain” by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.

In the absence of an access agreement, the fort and associated features can currently only be viewed from public footpaths which run nearby. Closest parking is in laybys on the A470[9]. A Cadw spokesperson said: “We have worked in partnership with Eryri National Park and the private owner of Tomen y Mur for many years to support the conservation of this important historic site and make it accessible for visitors to enjoy.

While there is some limited public access still available along the pre-existing rights of way, Cadw would welcome the establishment of the new gated car park.”

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References

1. ^ NorthWalesLive reports. (www.dailypost.co.uk)
2. ^ Dad bought pub but ended up with a lot more than he bargained for (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ All the new Bank Holidays to be added to 2024 calendar (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Cadw (www.dailypost.co.uk)
5. ^ Eryri (www.dailypost.co.uk)
6. ^ Gwynedd (www.dailypost.co.uk)
7. ^ Harlech Castle (www.dailypost.co.uk)
8. ^ North Wales Police (www.dailypost.co.uk)
9. ^ A470 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
10. ^ Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)