Mount Snowdon’s name officially changed after thousands sign petition

Mount Snowdon and the surrounding park (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)The highest mountain in Wales, Mount Snowdon, will now be officially known by its Welsh title after thousands signed a petition backing the switch.Its English name will no longer be used to refer to the mountain and the national park it sits in after Snowdonia National Park authorities voted on Wednesday (November 16) to use Yr Wyddfa rather than Snowdon and Eryri rather than Snowdonia.The vote comes after a petition calling on the National Park Authority to formalise the use of the Welsh names was signed by over 5,000 people last year, the Mirror reports.Gwynedd councillor John Pughe Roberts put forward a motion in April 2021 asking the park to stop using the English names, but it was not considered at the time on the basis that a group was already looking at a future policy on Welsh language names.Yr Wyddfa stands at 3,560ft (1,085m) and attracts around 400,000 walkers from all over the world every year.  It is located within the Eryri National Park which covers a total of 823 square miles and is visited by nearly four million people annually.Naomi Jones, head of cultural heritage at the Snowdonia National Park Authority said that the change would allow people from across the globe to “engage with the Welsh language” and its “special qualities”. The mountain attracts around 400,000 walkers a year (Image: Getty Images)Commenting on the decision, she said: ‘We have historic names in both languages, but we are eager to consider the message we wish to convey about place names, and the role they have to play in our current cultural heritage by promoting the Welsh language as one of the national park’s special qualities. The national park’s statutory purposes denotes the requirement to protect and enhance our cultural heritage and provide opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy the special qualities.’By referring to our most renowned landmarks by their Welsh names, we give people from all over the world the opportunity to engage with the Welsh language and its rich culture.’She also said that the use of the new names had already started, adding: ‘Many public bodies across Wales have moved to use both the Welsh and English names, or the Welsh name only, when referring to Yr Wyddfa and Eryri, as have many of the mainstream English-language press and filming companies.’This is very encouraging, and gives us confidence that this change in the authority’s approach will be accepted for the benefit of the Welsh language and as a mark of respect to our cultural heritage.”The vote to change the names to their Welsh versions comes shortly after it was revealed that Wales’ national football team will also consider changing its name after the World Cup. The national team is known as Wales in international competitions, but plans to speak to various stakeholders in Welsh football about switching to their Welsh name, Cymru.The Football Association of Wales already uses Cymru in its internal and external communications.