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Farming

Farming in Snowdonia The landscape of Snowdonia was not shaped by ice alone. For thousands of years, farming has defined the character of Eryri — its stone walls, its open hillsides, its patchwork of enclosed fields running down to the valley floors. This is a working landscape, and the farming communities who manage it are as much a part of Snowdonia’s identity as the mountains themselves. Over a thousand farms operate within the boundaries of the Snowdonia National Park. The vast majority are livestock holdings — Welsh Mountain sheep and Welsh Black cattle grazing some of the most challenging terrain in Britain. Hill farming here is not an industry of scale and mechanisation. It is a tradition passed between generations, shaped by the seasons, and deeply connected to the Welsh language and culture that runs through these valleys. But farming in Snowdonia is also changing. Upland soil management, sustainable grazing, agri-environment schemes, and the evolving relationship between food production and conservation are all reshaping how this land is worked. The pressures on modern hill farmers — from market prices and policy shifts to climate change and biodiversity targets — are real and ongoing. This section explores the agriculture that sustains Snowdonia: the breeds, the practices, the supply chains, and the people behind them. Whether you are a farmer, a visitor curious about the landscape you are walking through, or a professional working in the agricultural supply chain, you will find insight here into the farming systems that keep Eryri alive.