Travel & Tourism

‘No Instagram story is worth it’ – safety warning issued to hikers over dangerous beauty spot

'80 year old rusty bolts don't care about you, or your like count'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th April 2023

A mountain rescue team has issued a safety warning and some advice to hikers after an upsurge of visitors to several dangerous areas.

Stressing that ‘No Instagram story is worth the risk’, the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team (LLMRT) urged people not to venture into the old slate quarries around North Wales – no matter how beautiful they may be.

LLMRT said that ‘considerable media and press coverage’ has brought waves of new visitors to the old quarries around Snowdonia, who are often ‘unprepared and inexperienced’.

Hidden dangers at these beauty spots include old railways and ladders that date back more than half a century, often rusted and decayed.

These are prone to collapse at any time, without warning, and are often found above precipitous drops.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their words of warning came with a series of photos of people posing on the old railway bridge tracks above Dinorwic Quarry, which jut out into thin air.

The Lllanberis Mountain Rescue Team wrote on Facebook: “When it comes to adventure, we hate to say ‘don’t’, but this is a seriously BAD idea.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Rescuing someone from here would be dangerous, horrific, traumatising. 80 year old rusty bolts don’t care about you, or your like count.”

They then posted photos of the same railway line from a few years ago, when it still made a bridge across the quarry.

The hills around Snowdonia are hugely popular with walkers from across the north west, including Mancs who can drive there in just a couple of hours.

ADVERTISEMENT

LLMRT say they are ‘increasingly concerned’ about the volume and nature of trips being made to such dangerous landscapes.

The advice issued has urged people to book excursions with professional and qualified leaders and instructors and to be wary of ‘social media meet-ups’.

They also said to bear in mind the three Adventure Smart Questions before heading out on any hill walks or hikes, which are: ‘Am I confident I have the KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS for the day?’, ‘Do I know what the WEATHER will be like?’, and ‘Do I have the right GEAR?’.

LLMRT’s full post on Facebook states: “The slate quarries in North Wales have seen an upsurge in visitor numbers in recent years. While we understand the urge to explore such historic manmade landscapes, there are increasing concerns at both the volume and nature of trips being made into these dangerous places.

“As a mountain rescue team, LLMRT train to operate safely in almost any mountain environment, but there are many hidden dangers in the slate quarries that we can’t always account for. Such unseen hazards can pose a considerable risk to rescuers or emergency services personnel called to assist persons in difficulty in these areas.

ADVERTISEMENT

“With the Easter holiday approaching and increasing number of visitors to the area, we’d like to ask people to consider the following:

“The old buildings and infrastructure of the slate quarries (railways, ladders etc.) are over half a century old and in various states of rust and decay. These old structures and fixtures, which can often be found above precipitous drops, could (and often do) collapse at any time and without warning. No Instagram story is worth the level of risk that some people are unwittingly taking.

“LLMRT are aware of many groups, often “social media meet-ups,”, exploring the quarries with unqualified and inexperienced leaders. LLMRT would always recommend that people joining such groups ascertain the qualifications and experience level of group leaders before participating in such events.

“The quarries and similar sites have recently received considerable media and press coverage, some extolling the adventures to be had here, which has encouraged unprepared and inexperienced people to explore these potentially very dangerous places. These articles can encourage the unwary into dangerous areas. LLMRT would always encourage inexperienced people to gain advice from professional and qualified leaders and instructors.”

Read more

Featured image: Llanberis Mountain Rescue

Travel & Tourism

The Northern Belle, ‘Britain’s poshest train’, is coming to Manchester, with a seven-course banquet on board

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia The Northern Belle, 'Britain's poshest train', is coming to Manchester, with a seven-course banquet on board

A luxury train that’s been dubbed the poshest in Britain is steaming into Manchester this year, offering passengers a chance to sit in the same seats as royalty.

The Northern Belle will set off for its first trip of 2025 from Manchester Victoria, whisking people on a breathtaking journey through the Yorkshire Dales.

Whilst on board the Settle-Carlisle railway line, guests will tuck into a a show-stopping seven course banquet with bottles of champagne and wine.

The steam locomotive is a 1930’s Pullman-style train and used to form part of the iconic Orient Express experience, and takes on its journeys with an on-board live band.

Self-proclaimed as ‘Britain’s poshest train’, this vintage travel vehicle has been known to host a famous face or two, including acting legend Billy Nighy, who described the locomotive as ‘the Grand Dame of luxury travel’.

It’s not just Hollywood A Listers travelling in style – the royals have been known to frequent these four carriage walls.

On board The Northern Belle, which will visit Manchester in March. Credit: Supplied
On board The Northern Belle, which will visit Manchester in March. Credit: Supplied
On board The Northern Belle, which will visit Manchester in March. Credit: Supplied

One of the seven carriages which will be making the journey used to be party of Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Train, and is home to the Queen Mum’s favourite seat, where she would sit and wave through the window while sipping a gin and tonic.

A red carpet will be rolled out at Manchester Victoria to welcome everyone hopping on board this high-class rail service, with tickets from £365.

The Northern Belle departs Manchester city centre around 10am, collecting more passengers from Bolton before cruising some of the UK’s finest countryside.

Dust off your glad rags and get ready to be the ‘Belle’ of the ball as you travel on vintage locomotive The Northern Belle.

Read more:

This isn’t the only Northern Belle trip running this year as you can make your big and bold entrance to both Royal Ascot and Chelsea Flower Show via this comfortable and certainly not modest rail liner.

Just like its epic decorum, the prices follow the same bold style with tickets varying from £365 upwards depending on which event you’d like to attend.

Arriving on 1 March 2025, this luxury train is making a special stop in Greater Manchester with tickets available to purchase HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image: Publicity Picture (Supplied)

Travel & Tourism

Macclesfield Forest – The picture-perfect country walk that looks like a postcard in winter weather

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Macclesfield Forest makes for one of the best winter walks near Manchester

It is absolutely baltic out there – but also pretty beautiful, and we’ve found you a winter walk that looks better than ever at this time of year.

The weather in the UK has well and truly turned wintery, with temperatures dropped below zero and the big coats permanently glued to our backs.

That comes with a lot of bad bits, like being really bloody cold all the time, having to scrape the car every time you use it, and energy bills going through the roof if you want to put your heating on for five seconds.

But also, when you stop and look around on a good day, brilliant blue skies, frost-tipped landscapes, perfect sunsets and crunchy leaves.

This sort of winter weather is actually perfect for a big walk, with no risk of sunburn or sweaty backs, so we say let’s all get wrapped up warm and head on out to the beautiful countryside around our home city.

Macclesfield Forest
Macclesfield Forest. Credit: Unsplash, Marty Finney

One of the most stunning sites in the north west is just across the border into Cheshire. We are of course talking about Macclesfield Forest.

Here, huge conifers dominate the landscape like giant Christmas trees – it’s about as close to an alpine wonderland you can get without travelling all the way to actual mountains.

When it snows, the whole forest is muffled. The only sounds you’ll hear is the soft thump of snow falling off the branches.

And if you don’t fancy killing an entire afternoon wandering through the woodland, there are also two reservoirs – Trentabank and Ridgegate to explore.

There are a number of walking trails to follow, from a gently green route all the way to a more challenging red route that takes you deeper into the forest.

If you brave the uphill climbs, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views over the Cat and Fiddle Moors and the Cheshire Plains.

And then you can defrost from your walk in the cosy Leather’s Smithy pub, which dates back to the 18th century and serves proper pub grub and real ales.

Leather’s Smithy, a cosy 18th century pub serving real ales, locally-distilled Forest Gin made from botanicals foraged nearby, and comforting pub grub.

You can find a full trail through AllTrails here.

Read more

Featured image: Unsplash

More Travel & Tourism

Travel & Tourism

New survey reveals the UK’s best and worst motorway service stations

Manchester

Manchester named one of the UK’s most congested cities with the ‘worst traffic’

Travel & Tourism

Mancs wanted to take part in next series of BBC’s Race Across the World

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches