Distressed holidaymakers have vowed never to return to North Wales again after experiencing an ‘astounding’ anti-English attitude from local residents.
The group of seven English women, aged between 55 and 70, travelled from Lancashire on a four-day walking holiday to enjoy the natural beauty of Llanberis, but claim they were met with anti-English jibes in the street.
They also said they were snubbed in pubs and restaurants and found it hard to get served.
Amy Hurst, 56, from Clitheroe, who is a member of Women That Walk, a local group set up to encourage them to get out and about in nature, said they encountered ‘astounding hatred for the English’ at every turn.
The mother-of-one said: ‘The hatred for the English in North Wales is astounding, we will not be returning.’
Distressed holidaymakers have vowed never to return to North Wales again after experiencing an ‘astounding’ anti-English attitude from local residents
The group of seven English women, aged between 55 and 70, travelled from Lancashire to enjoy the natural beauty of Llanberis, but claim they were met with anti-English jibes
Despite Llanberis’ natural beauty, the women have vowed never to return again to the area
The women claim they were treated differently while on holiday in Llanberis, North Wales
Ms Hurst, who runs a flower business, says the group first noticed something was awry when they arrived at their Airbnb accommodation on August 30.
She said: ‘When we first arrived there, we were walking down the street when one of us remarked on there being a funeral care place.
‘A guy walking past overheard us and said: “It’s free for the English!” It was a bit strange.’
The following night, Ms Hurst claims the group entered a pub where a punter said: ‘Let’s not bother with these they’re bloody English.’
The shocked florist said: ‘We had to tell them to leave us alone.
‘We ended up leaving the pub and one of our group challenged the man and asked him why he felt the way he did – he turned into a cowering little boy!
‘We felt a bit scared, it just felt very threatening.’
Ms Hurst claims he group visited a restaurant the following day and everyone was served apart from them – though she admits it could have just been bad luck.
‘The vibe was awful all round – we were all shocked at how bad it was.
‘I’ve been to Wales a few times – but this was really anti-English and probably anti-women too – I will not be going back.’
She said despite their experience with the locals, the walk up Snowdonia was ‘incredible’, but she was left surprised by how they were treated.
One of the group said they encountered ‘astounding hatred for the English’ at every turn
‘It’s hardly Barcelona where they want the tourists out because there are too many,’ she said.
‘I wouldn’t recommend going there to anybody.
‘It’s such a beautiful place, but the people were just off – we basically just got abused.’
One said: ‘The hatred for the English in North Wales is astounding, we will not be returning’
Llanberis, located at the base of Mount Snowdon, is a popular destination for hikers (file pic)
On the group’s final night, Ms Hurst claims the group visited a pub and when last orders were called a member of the group went to get drinks – only for the pub workers to turn all the lights out.
She added: ‘They clearly wanted us out as well. I’ve never had an experience which has made me feel like this before.’
MailOnline has contacted the Welsh Government’s tourism office for comment.