Police have issued stern advice regarding visiting a beauty hotspot, after a weekend of ‘ridiculous’ parking earlier this month.
North Wales Police said there was ‘really disappointing’ and ‘irresponsible’ behaviour from visitors last week, when Storm Goretti left Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park covered in a beautiful blanket of snow.
The impressive scenery has drawn a lot of walkers up into the hills – but the winter weather has also created difficult conditions for travelling.
It’s let to the police clamping down on vehicles that are left at the sides of the road, with enforcement officers patrolling looking out for illegally parked vehicles.
Their statement also stressed that ‘irresponsible behaviour for the benefit of some Instagram photos’ can put strain on the emergency services and volunteer mountain rescue groups, pulling them away from real emergencies.
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The advice has come after a weekend that saw ‘significant disruption’ due to poor parking at Pen y Pass within the Eryri National Park, which acts as an access point to climb to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon).
Police have slammed ‘irresponsible’ drivers visiting Eryri. Credit: Unsplash, Neil Mark Thomas
T/Inspector Jason Diamond, North Wales Police said: “It was really disappointing to see such irresponsible behaviour last weekend with people leaving vehicles in ridiculous parking locations, causing the ‘if they do it, I’ll do it’ effect and massively increasing risk to themselves and others.
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“We understand that the area is outstandingly beautiful – even more so with a blanket of snow, but common sense must still prevail.
“Leaving vehicles at edges of snow lined carriageways and pushing others into the paths of oncoming vehicles at best increases the risk of coming back to a damaged vehicle, but at worst, hugely increases the risk of serious personal injury.
“We seldom get snow flurries like we have seen in recent days, so our general motoring public are not used to driving on snow and ice, so irresponsible behaviour for the benefit of a walk or some Instagram photos increases the demand on our emergency and volunteer services who could be focusing on dealing with real emergencies.
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“Pre-empting the social media responses, seizing vehicles left in dangerous situations, whilst always an option, needs to be risk managed in such conditions, whilst some may not be, we are always working with safety in mind. And building car parks in a national park is far more complicated than it sounds!
There will be extra parking patrols at Eryri/Snowdonia. Credit: Unsplash, Benjamin Blyth
“If you are planning on visiting Eryri please familiarise yourself with the weather forecast and keep up to date information relating to Storm Goretti by following the Met Office and news bulletins.
“If you do intend on visiting the area please make sure you park responsibly and sensibly. Local authorities will be sending their enforcement officers out and will be issuing notices to any vehicles illegally parked.”
Councillor Craig ab Iago, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet member for the Environment said: “The recent snow and ice have created some beautiful scenes and a wonderful atmosphere here in Gwynedd, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy it safely. If you are coming to areas such as Pen y Pass to walk or to enjoy the views, please plan your visit carefully and respect others and our communities.
“We are asking people to park responsibly and not block the road for others. Our officers will be working with partners from other authorities with the aim of keeping the road clear.
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“We are also encouraging people to use public transport where possible, and bear in mind that the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service is running on the winter timetable, which means that buses are running less frequently.
“Because of the mountainous and rural nature of the area, visitors should also remember that the weather can affect the roads, which has a knock-on effect on public transport. Please check the weather forecast and road information before setting off.”
Urgent travel warning issued ahead of one of Manchester’s busiest event weekends of the year
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is gearing up for what is set to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Manchester‘s biggest music festival, Parklife, returns to Heaton Park this weekend (Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June), with tens of thousands of people expected to make the journey to see headliners Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Skepta, and Zara Larsson, as well as many other well-known music names… but that’s not all.
Over at the Etihad Stadium, Take That are set to perform a series of shows across the weekend, while the Etihad Campus will also host the Women’s Netball Final at Co-op Live from 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
The city will also welcome Lily Allen and the B52s across three nights at the AO Arena, and the Women’s Cricket World Cup will draw thousands to Emirates Old Trafford on 21 June, when South Africa take on India.
So, as you can see, we’ve got a jam-packed couple of days coming up.
📣 This weekend is expected to be one of the busiest in Manchester, with multiple events taking place across the city.
🚗 Public transport, roads and venues are likely to be extremely busy.
🕛 If you’re travelling anywhere this weekend, please plan ahead and allow extra time… pic.twitter.com/iqtmlSpAOR
In fact, it’s estimated that more than a quarter of a million people are expected to be travelling to the various events over the weekend, and of course, this means the roads and public transport will be significantly busier than usual.
Whether you’re one of the many fans or just making a regular journey, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is advising everyone to ‘plan ahead’, allow extra time for their journey, and avoid the busiest areas and times.
To prepare for the increase in travel, TfGM has confirmed that there will be more trams serving event venues, alongside extended tram operating times, to ensure everyone gets home safely.
For travel to and from Parklife, the specific Parklife travel ticket – which will be available on the Bee Network app – is valid on trams and buses across Greater Manchester, and this includes relevant shuttle buses operating to and from the city centre.
An urgent travel warning has been issued ahead of one of Manchester’s busiest event weekends of the year / Credit: Steve Turvey (Supplied) | TfGM
Throughout the weekend, extra staff and TravelSafe Support Officers will be out and about across the transport network to help passengers, and TfGM will be working closely with police and other partners to manage roads and the transport network around the clock.
“We’re expecting it to be very busy across the network, with more than a quarter of a million fans travelling to various sports and music events,” commented Danny Vaughn, who is the Chief Network Officer at TfGM.
“We will have as many staff as possible on the network, running as many services as we can to ensure that the Bee Network is here to help you get where you need to go.
“So, for everyone looking to get out and about, please plan ahead, check the Bee Network app for updates and have a safe journey.”
A dedicated travel page for this weekend’s event has been set up, so you can find out everything you need to know and get live updates on the Bee Network website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
The simple hack that can save healthcare workers money on their holidays
Danny Jones
With cost-of-living pressure ever-present in the background of most everyday lives, finding some spare pennies for a getaway feels more difficult than ever, and if there’s anyone who deserves discounts on a holiday, it’s healthcare workers.
That’s why, when we became aware of the simple hack that can save those working in healthcare services money on holidays, we thought we’d help spread the word.
We’re sure lots of you working within the sector already know plenty about this booking strategy, but for anyone who doesn’t, how do you fancy saving up to half a grand on your next jolly?
With searches for ‘holiday voucher code’ up by 73% on Google, and even the likes of TikTok seeing ‘money saving tips’ up by 45%, travel agency TUI have decided to team up with the Health Service Discounts platform for 2026.
Providing those who work for the NHS with a ‘Holidays for Heroes’ (HfH) access code on various popular peak-season trips, this exclusive discount can be added on top of all other seasonal TUI deals, including the company’s ‘First Choice’ package holidays.
With the HfH code alone guaranteeing workers an extra £100 off their bookings, play your cards right, and you could get up to £200 in total discounts overall.
How to access the healthcare ‘Holidays for Heroes’ deal
Separate from standard Blue Light card savings, here’s how it works, and don’t worry, it’s all very simple:
Ella Foden-Lynch, Partnerships Manager at Health Service Discounts, said in a statement: “Getting away is vital for wellbeing, especially for those in high-stress roles.
“With travel costs rising, affordable breaks are becoming harder to find, but by using discounts on flights, accommodation, and car hire, key workers can still enjoy quality time away. It’s not always about luxury; it’s about making rest and recovery realistic.”
So, for those of you healthcare heroes looking for a well-deserved break, we urge you to find an affordable holiday that suits you very soon. With cheaper airport pints also inbound later this year, here’s hoping you save even more spends for when you’re away.
Daisy Jackson -
16th January 2026 
