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'Hatred for English astounding,' according to group of walkers
A group of women walkers say they won’t be returning to Wales - due to the 'anti-English' attitude of locals.
Amy Hurst, 56, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, claims they were not welcomed while on a walking holiday in Llanberis, Eryri, with seven women, aged between 55 and 70.
They claimed they encountered "astounding hatred for the English" during their four-day trip.
Florist Amy, part of the walking group ‘Women that Walk' told North Wales Live: “The hatred for the English in North Wales is astounding, we will not be returning.”
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Amy explained she first noticed something was awry when they arrived at their Airbnb on Friday, August 30.
She told the website: “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, Amy claimed the group entered a pub where a man said: “Let’s not bother with these they’re bloody English.”
She added: “We had to tell him to leave us alone. We ended up leaving a 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.”
Any also claimed: “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.
“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.”
And on their final day, she said a member of the group went to get drinks and the pub turned all the lights out. “They clearly wanted us out as well – I've never had an experience which has made me feel like this before," she said.
Tourism boss Jim Jones said: "I'm saddened to hear this group of ladies had this experience whilst visiting Llanberis. We work so hard to promote North Wales, which has a reputation for being a friendly and welcoming region."
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