Bristol hikers plant English flags on Welsh peak Pen y Fan

Two men wearing masks climbed to the top of Pen y Fan in the middle of the night and planted two flags on the stone cairn. The flags, a cross of St George and a Union Flag, stood on either side of the National Trust summit sign. The group Bristol Rises posted the video online and claimed the pair conquered the peak.

The post stated that two proud Brits reached 886 meters above the noise. The group described the climb as quiet conversations away from the crowd. They added that they were proud of where they come from and respectful of where they stand. The video showed the flags fluttering in the wind at the top of the mountain in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.

Viewers reacted quickly to the footage. Some questioned why an English flag was planted on a Welsh mountain. One commenter asked if the hikers knew the location was in Wales and not England. Another wrote that planting an English flag on a Welsh summit was not respectful. A third user, an Englishman, suggested the hikers be careful raising an English flag in Wales.

Other viewers welcomed the visit. One person wrote that mountains are for everyone to enjoy. Another said they were glad the hikers rose above the situation and called the scene peaceful. The comments mixed criticism of the national symbols with general encouragement for the nighttime hike.

Ben Pinker of Bristol Rises defended the stunt. He said the group is proud to be British and proud to be English. Pinker stated they will never apologize for flying their national flags. He explained that they climbed Pen y Fan during the night while carrying the Union Jack and St George's flag. The goal was to enjoy the hike and celebrate their national identity.

Pinker said nobody should be labeled or smeared for carrying their own British or English flag. He noted the group has respect for Wales and its people. He argued that pride in one's own country is not hatred toward another. The flags represent heritage, identity, and history, he said, and the group will never apologize for that.

Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern Britain at 886 meters. Nearby peaks include Corn Du at 873 meters and Cribyn at 795 meters. More than 250,000 people trek to the summits of these three peaks each year.