All carparks around Snowdon, are owned and run by the Snowdonia Park authority, but because Pen Y Pass proves to be one of the most popular routes up the mountain, the parking charges reflect this.
The parking fee is a crisp £10, simply because in conjunction with Gwynedd authority, parking is strictly monitored around the mountain.
Forget to pay your parking fee in any of the main carparks, or outstay your welcome, and the yellow tickets are issued with a vengence.
Some years ago, a blind eye was shown to poorly parked cars, especially up the llanberis Pass, but no more.
The only true safe area, for the lazy or unwary motorist, is a hundred or so yards beyond the PenY Gwyrydd hotel, where Gwynedd meets Conwy.
Policing Mt Snowdon, is big business, and who knows how expensive parking will become in the future.
Years ago, i could never have envisaged it costing £10 to park in the confined area of Pen Y Pass, but its popularity is increasing year on year.
If Conwy eventually join Gwynedd and start charging to park within walking distance of the mountain, then who knows where it will end.
More reason to seek out those rare forgotten hiding places that both National Park and Gwynedd council have forgotten about, they are certainly a rare commodity around the mountain.
Car insurance, tax, fuel etc, costs the average walker dearly, soon only the well heeled will be able to access the mountain.
Cannot afford the parking charges, make way for those who can, and are willing to pay.