**Essex Walker’s Car Gets Stuck on Eryri’s Roads in Parking Mishap Near Yr Wyddfa**
An enthusiastic hiker’s visit to Wales took an unexpected turn, quite literally, when her vehicle slipped off a road close to Yr Wyddfa (commonly known as Snowdon), drawing attention both online and among the local walking community.
Jess, a visitor from Essex, had travelled to Eryri National Park for a bank holiday hiking adventure with a friend. Their aim was to conquer the challenging Crib Goch ridge, one of the most daunting and revered routes on Yr Wyddfa. However, before setting foot on the mountain, Jess found herself in a predicament that put her plans at risk.
Upon arrival, Jess sought to park her car alongside the A4086, a common spot for walkers looking to access the foothills of Eryri. With official parking areas reportedly full due to the bank holiday crowds, she opted for what seemed like a safe lay-by. Unfortunately, Jess underestimated the sharp gradient beside the road. A modest parking manoeuvre quickly became a memorable ordeal when her small white Citroën tipped forward, its nose dropping over the edge and the back wheels left perilously close to traffic.
Fortunately, the incident did not result in injury or damage beyond a few scrapes on the car’s undercarriage. Reacting swiftly and with impressive community spirit, a group of eight walkers and passers-by—both local residents and fellow tourists—rallied together. With their combined efforts, they managed to safely hoist the stranded vehicle back onto stable ground.
Reliving the misadventure on her TikTok channel, Jess drew widespread attention and empathy from viewers. While some questioned her decision not to use a paid parking facility, Jess clarified that she simply had no choice; the nearby official car park at Nant Peris was filled to capacity.
“It really didn’t look like such a steep drop from the road,” she explained in hindsight, conceding that she had misjudged the situation. “I genuinely underestimated how tricky it would be.”
Jess’s trip had initially been motivated by a desire to revisit Eryri after a less successful outing months earlier. A previous hike along the Watkin Path had proved too challenging without proper scrambling equipment, so this time she returned better prepared—only for her journey to be interrupted by the unique challenge of vehicle extraction.
Despite the initial setback, Jess and her companion still managed to complete their planned route up Crib Goch. “We got through the walk without any more drama,” she remarked, adding that their day included an unplanned nap as they had to wait for a safer opportunity to leave the lay-by.
The story has reignited discussions regarding parking and access for walkers in Eryri, especially during the busiest periods when car parks overflow and some visitors are tempted to improvise. Local commentators suggested that the Sherpa bus service, which operates throughout the National Park, might be a more convenient option for future visits. Jess was quick to agree with the advice, telling reporters, “If only I’d known about it earlier! It would have made things so much easier.”
While Jess’s experience has certainly provided valuable lessons for other would-be adventurers, it also highlighted the kindness and camaraderie that often flourishes in Wales’s most beloved walking destinations. Her tale, now recounted as much online as on the trail, serves as a lighthearted reminder to approach the mountains—and their roads—with both caution and a sense of humour.