Watkins Path Info

[Wastrel43]

Hello why was the Watkins path on snowdon so named

[wolf63]

Hi

It gives the answer on this webpage http://www.llanberismountainrescue.co.uk/snowdon/watkin-path

[vulcan42]

\\ This path was named after Sir Edward Watkin, Liberal Member of Parliament and railway entrepreneur who retired to a chalet in Cwm Llan on the foothills of Snowdon. A track to the South Snowdon Slate Quarry through Cwm Llan already existed so to enable visitors to walk all the way up Snowdon, Edward Watkin created a path from the quarry to the summit. This was the first designated footpath in Britain and the first step towards opening the countryside to walkers. The path was officially opened in 1892 by the Prime Minister William Gladstone, who was 83 years old at the time. He addressed a crowd of over 2000 people from a rock on the side of the path, which is known today as the Gladstone Rock.//
from the LLanberis mountain rescue team web site.

[Wastrel43]

Thanks Vulcan & wolf problem solved