Clifftop camping warning as adventurer goes viral

A climber whose eye-catching images of him camping on a clifftop have gone viral has warned others not to copy him.

Steven Bowater spent the night at the top of an Eryri - also known as Snowdonia - mountain on a cliff that fits one tent and is surrounded by vertigo-inducing 350m (1,150ft) drops on three sides.

After posting video of the picturesque spot with views of Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, on Facebook, other thrill-seekers were keen to visit the awe-inspiring site.

But Mr Bowater said only people equipped with the necessary expertise, gear and mental preparedness should even consider such an endeavour.

Mr Bowater has camped throughout Europe's mountain ranges and said it was hard to find this particular location.

"I went up about five weeks earlier just to find it and to have a look," he said.

"There is a little bit of a scramble to get down to it."

The campsite is on rock, covered in just a thin layer of grass, and he had to use rocks to attach and secure the tent.

"You’ve got to have proper equipment, you can’t just go in with a tent from Argos," Mr Bowater said.

It took him and his sons four hours to get to the site.

He received a barrage of inquiries asking for the precise location after posting his photos online, with some people even asking for the postcode.

But Mr Bowater decided against sharing the exact location over safety concerns.

"It’s also very, very dangerous and I definitely wouldn’t want to promote it," he said.

"It was a fantastic experience. I’ve camped all over the UK and the Alps and it's just a really cool place, very exposed."

He said getting to the campsite required significant effort and know-how and the location was often windy, even in good weather, creating a genuine risk of being swept off the edge.

Mr Bowater said he was not afraid to camp at the spot given his extensive experience, but added: "It’s not for the faint of heart."

He and his sons Jack and Sam set up a geodesic tent, renowned for its durability in harsh weather.

His images of magnificent views captivated many, while some joked about the dangers for sleepwalkers and the risk involved in late night bathroom trips.

Wild camping is banned in Eryri, but conscientious campers are usually tolerated if they respect the basic principles of wild camping - setting up camp out of sight, departing at dawn and leaving no evidence of their stay.

Not everyone does, however, and Mr Bowater expressed his frustration at finding someone had lit a fire at the site when he visited previously, saying campers should not "leave a trace".