A family who live on Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, have said they wouldn’t change it and love the secluded area. Eira Morris and her family have lived on the mountain for two decades, running electricity from a generator. Standing at 3,560ft, Snowdon, known as Yr Wyddfa in Wales, is Snowdonia’s highest peak and the most famous mountain in Wales. The landmark sees around half a million people climb its peak ever year.
The family have only recently had a telephone line installed. Council worker Eira, 49, admitted that living in such a remote place came with challenges but said she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Eira moved to the farmhouse after meeting her husband Geraint Rees Morris. Speaking to WalesOnline, she said: “His family bought the Llanberis side of Yr Wyddfa in 1984 and had been farming on the land ever since. No-one lived in the house and it had been empty for 50 years before we decided to take it on and restore it bit by bit over a matter of years.
“The idea of moving to a place like this never concerned me. I always liked the idea of living in a detached house and living somewhere so unique – there is nowhere quite like it. We moved in back in 2002 and have lived here ever since. My husband was a farmer and we sadly lost him 11 years ago.
“He was 32 years old when he was diagnosed with leukaemia. It wasn’t the aggressive type of cancer and he lived for eight years with the condition. We lost him when he was 40 years old. This place and the house meant the world to him.”
Eira and her husband now live in the house with their four children. But since moving there, Eira said the area has become more popular as more walkers flock there to reach the peak.
“A few years back they would only come here in the summer but now they come here in the summer and the winter. Once it snows people want to see this place.
“In the summer we have to drive through the thousands of motorists and people that are walking up Yr Wyddfa. The Llanberis Path doesn’t directly pass our house but we have the occasional walkers that go the wrong way.
“Sometimes in the middle of the night or early in the morning you hear the dogs bark and know that someone is there. Sometimes I have to help them out. I’ll wake up from my bed, open the window, and tell them where to go – I’m more than happy to help them most of the time.
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“But other times – especially when I’m tucked in bed and know we have a big sign right next to the road leading up to the house telling people that this is not the path to the mountain – it can be frustrating. Obviously they don’t think anyone lives around here and go completely the wrong way.”
Eira said the bad weather can cause problems now and then.
She added: “As I work every day I can pick stuff from the shop with no issue. But when I know the weather is going to be bad I have to consider that I need enough supplies – tea, bread, and stuff for the freezer – in case things get bad.
“But if it gets terrible my water will freeze so before now I’ve had to move down and live with my mum and dad in Brynrefail. I haven’t had to do it in a long time but the last time we had terrible weather was Beast from the East in 2018.
“The last snow we had in the winter that’s just been I had to walk for a mile to reach Llanberis and then my boss would pick me up and take me to work in the mornings. My boss would bring me back in the afternoon and I would have to walk back home. Luckily it didn’t last too long.”
But despite the challenges, the family don’t plan on moving anytime soon.
“Whenever I tell people where I live they are shocked that a house exists in such a place,” she said. “Some people think I’m out of my mind but others say they would love to live here. It’s not easy living here but I love it.
“And my children absolutely love it here as well because they were raised here and they don’t know anything different. They are used to living on a mountain. The best part about living here is, of course, the scenery. It can be so quiet here – there is nowhere like it and I feel so incredibly lucky that I live here.”
