The car park at Pen y Pass provides the closest parking to the summit of Snowdon and is often completely full. The alternative parking close to the Pen y Gwryd hotel is also extremely popular, and many hill-goers walk along the road from Pen y Pass to get back to their cars.

The road is fast and has many blind bends. The new path is a welcome development that will help both walkers and motorists.

The path is being funded by Snowdonia Green Key, an initiative run by the Snowdonia National Park Authority.

Emyr Williams, director of land management at the national park, told the local newspaper The Daily Post:

"The new footpath development from Pen Y Gwryd to Pen Y Pass will now enable walkers to walk safely between the two points.

This will avoid the need to walk on the busy and dangerous section of the A4086 which has always been of major concern to the National Park and the highways agencies for a number of years."

Work on the path is due to start later this month and should be finished in spring 2011.