Mum-of-two was left shocked and saddened by swearing on Wales' highest mountain
The former TV script writer climbed the popular Eryri peak with her husband and two children. She recalled exchanging looks with her husband with 'even 50-year-old women effing and blinding every five seconds'.
Disheartened by what she heard, she wrote an article for the Metro newspaper describing how 'constant, loud and impossible-to-ignore' swearing on the mountain was 'not funny, just inconsiderate'.
She added: 'While I know I can't shield my 10 and 12-year-old from swear words forever, I certainly didn't appreciate them being exposed to such profanity while completing a UNESCO-listed climb.'
When her claims were shared online, they attracted some support. 'I didn't grow up hearing profanities,' said one man. 'Then suddenly it's like almost everyone swears.'
Agreeing a woman added: 'It's got a whole lot worse – but it just makes people look ridiculous.' It was also claimed that the sort of people who swear loudly on Yr Wyddfa are those who leave it covered in litter. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Yet the mum's call for better social etiquette ('No shouting 'shagged it' within earshot of toddlers') also met widespread derision. Online users said it was commonplace and was an important facet of free speech and self-expression.
Some pointed out that, faced with an arduous slog up a mountain, it was inevitable. 'Swearing is proven to help you endure pain longer,' said a woman. 'Climbing a mountain is probably one place where I would find it acceptable for people to be swearing - and would explain so to children.'
A local woman said it wasn't just tourists. 'I live next to the Watkin Path,' she said. 'I swear on the way up and on the way down. My knees hate me with a passion!'
Others suggested swearing wasn't always caused by the uphill trudge. 'That's me just booking parking in Pen Y Pass car park,' quipped one man. The facility is notoriously expensive.
One man complained vulgar speech was 'everywhere' – he even heard it on Llandudno promenade this week, he said. Under-the-breath swearing has morphed into self-indulgent outbursts of individualism, he added.
Another woman agreed it was spoiling things for others: 'On a hike, folks are typically quiet, enjoying the sounds around them," she said. "Unfortunately, those sounds are bad language.'
Not all places, pointed out a man from Gloucester, who suggested Yr Wyddfa was uniquely different. 'Go walk, hike, climb, whatever, somewhere less popular,' he said. 'Even in the National Park there are hundreds of walks where you will only meet mature walkers, not swearing. Go to a tourist attraction and guess what.....
'As for the name, that's fine if the Welsh want to call it that, but the rest of us will still call it Snowdon.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
A YouGov survey in April found that 57% of Brits swear most days, including 37% who claim to swear every day. Just 8% reckoned they never swore.
Men swear more regularly than women, and there is a generational shift with younger people now more likely to curse. But there are exceptions. 'When I walked up and down Snowdon at the age of 69, I'm sure that I said plenty of those words lol,' said a Suffolk woman.
The YouGov survey found that people in Wales are less likely than those in England and Scotland to bother whether or not they hear swearing. However, when when it came to swearing in front of children, there was almost universal disapproval (95%).
For most people context is important. 'I hike all the time and can count on one hand the number of times I've seen children on the hills,' said a Welshwoman. 'It wouldn't cross my mind to watch my tongue up there. The whole point is the feeling of freedom.'
On the subject of language, and its correct use, she suggested people start by using the right names for places in Wales. 'For a start, we call it Yr Wyddfa now, if you really want to teach your kids about respectful language how about starting there!'
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