One of the Peak District’s most iconic beauty spots has been overrun with visitors over the weekend, despite snowy and icy conditions.
Mam Tor was surrounded by gridlock on Sunday morning, with videos also showing visitors sliding back down the hill on their bums, unable to walk down the icy terrain.
Scenes at the summit show crowds of people jostling to soak in the views surrounded by snow.
In recent weeks the already-popular destination has gotten even more busy, going viral on social media for its sunrises.
It’s seen people rising before dawn to hike the short distance to the Mam Tor summit, where you can see the sun rise over the beautiful Peak District.
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Hundreds of people flocked to watch the sunrise despite the Mam Tor car park being closed because of ‘a lot of snow and ice on the ground’.
It led to lengthy queues of traffic, with one person saying ‘cars were just sat not moving for at least 30 minutes’.
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Crowds at the top of Mam Tor in the Peak District for sunriseTraffic around Mam TorCredit: TikTok, mum.life.travels
In the video shared of the traffic, they wrote: “If you can find the time and energy, it’s honestly worth the extra effort to park up at one of the surrounding village car parks and hike over. The views on the way over are unreal and very quiet. I’d expect some of those people missed most of the sunrise.”
Peak Travel Watch also shared photos of the gridlock near Mam Tor, writing: “The top of Winnats pass to Mam Tor car park is single file due to parked cars.
“The person parked on the Blue John cavern corner was my favourite, absolutely ridiculous and so dangerous.”
The Hope Valley Police Safer Neighbourhood Team attended and slapped 21 drivers with a Notice of Intended Prosecution for parking on a Clearway.
They wrote: “Upon our arrival, we were met with chaos as traffic was at a standstill in both directions. In order to clear the traffic, we had to temporarily close the top of Winnats Pass for approximately 20 minutes.
“This was necessary due to nearly 30 vehicles being parked illegally at the top of Winnats Pass, all the way to the junction at the top.”
Buxton Mountain Rescue also reported difficulties attending a nearby incident due to ‘the number of visitors cars parked on the road around Mam Tor’.
While Mam Tor is considered one of the easier walks in the national park, walkers have been arriving completely unprepared for the icy weather conditions.
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One person commented on a video of people sliding down the hill: “Uggs and trainers. No walking boots, spikes or poles in sight. Just what mountain rescue love to see… Well done TikTok for spoiling a beautiful place.”
Someone else wrote: “Bunch of idiots. Just being taken over by a load who just want an Insta photo.”
If you’re heading out on a walk or hike in the countryside, make sure you’re being respectful of local communities and environments, and that you’re suitable dressed and equipped for the weather conditions, which can change quickly in the hills.
You can see the latest Mountain Rescue safety advice HERE.
Travel chaos at Mam Tor this weekend, cars were just just sat not moving for at least 30 minutes. If you can find the time and energy, it’s honestly worth the extra effort to park up at one of the surrounding village car parks and hike over – the views on the way over are unreal and very quiet. I’d expect some of those people missed most of the sunrise 😭 #mamtorsunrise#mamtor
‘Groundbreaking’ new police team launches on Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world
Emily Sergeant
A ‘groundbreaking’ new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world has launched.
Described as being ‘pioneering’, the first-of-its-kind approach – named the Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) – will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour, and safety issues across the region’s transport network.
So, how will it work then? Well, according to TfGM, the command will ‘effectively establish’ the Bee Network as GMP’s eleventh policing district.
It will bring together up to 300 personnel, including new police officers, who are all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers travelling across the region.
Efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes, and roads across Greater Manchester will be ‘strengthened’ through the new team – improving co-ordination in response to incidents, and helping to reassure communities.
A ‘groundbreaking’ new police team has launched on the Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world / Credit: TfGM
The new team will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, the motorbike unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and more.
Overall, the key focus of TPACC is to:
Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
The launch of TPACC is said to represents ‘the next phase’ of Greater Manchester’s commitment to creating a ‘safer, more secure, and more welcoming’ transport network for everyone who lives, works, and travels across the region.
“I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together more than 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
First 14 Greater Manchester train stations set to join Bee Network this year revealed
Emily Sergeant
The first 14 train stations in Greater Manchester that are set to join Bee Network before the end of the year have been revealed.
In case you need bringing up to speed, back in December of last year, Andy Burnham – who was then Greater Manchester Mayor, at the time – announced a step-by-step plan for bringing the region’s rail lines into the Bee Network, all with the aim of creating the first truly integrated public transport system outside London.
Eight commuter rail lines will be brought onto the Bee Network in phases through to 2028, with the final additions expected by 2030, so passengers can enjoy all the benefits of joined up buses, trams, trains and active travel.
And now it’s been revealed which stations are set to be the first to join.
The first two lines – which will connect Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – will become part of the Bee Network from December 2026, with contactless ‘tap in, tap out’ ticketing also rolled out across 14 stations at the same time.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The first 14 Greater Manchester train stations set to join the Bee Network this year have been revealed / Credit: TfGM
The 14 Greater Manchester stations joining the Bee Network in December 2026
Ardwick
Ashburys
Broadbottom
Dinting
Fairfield
Flowery Field
Glossop
Godley
Gorton
Guide Bridge
Hadfield
Hattersley
Manchester Piccadilly
Newton for Hyde
The 15 stations planned to join the Bee Network in March 2027
Ashton-under-Lyne
Belle Vue
Bredbury
Brinnington
Hyde Central
Hyde North
Manchester Victoria
Marple
Reddish North
Romiley
Rose Hill Marple
Ryder Brow
Stalybridge
Strines
Woodley
The 43 stations planned to join the Bee Network by December 2028
Appley Bridge
Atherton
Bolton
Burnage
Castleton
Cheadle Hulme
Clifton
Daisy Hill
Davenport
Deansgate
East Didsbury
Eccles
Farnworth
Gathurst
Gatley
Hag Fold
Hazel Grove
Heald Green
Heaton Chapel
Hindley
Ince
Kearsley
Levenshulme
Manchester Airport
Manchester Oxford Road
Mauldeth Road
Middlewood
Mills Hill
Moorside
Moses Gate
Moston
Patricroft
Rochdale
Salford Central
Salford Crescent
Stockport
Swinton
Walkden
Westhoughton
Wigan North Western
Wigan Wallgate
Woodsmoor
The remaining 25 stations planned to join the Bee Network by 2030
Altrincham
Blackrod
Bramhall
Bromley Cross
Bryn
Chassen Road
Denton
Flixton
Glazebrook
Greenfield
Hale
Hall-i’-th’-Wood
Horwich Parkway
Humphrey Park
Irlam
Littleborough
Lostock Parkway
Mossley
Navigation Road
Orrell
Pemberton
Reddish South
Smithy Bridge
Trafford Park
Urmston
This means that contactless ‘tap and go’ payments with capped fares will be brought in across bus, tram and train services from 2030.
All timings are subject to ongoing work between Greater Manchester leaders and the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail, Shadow Great British Railways, and Train Operating Companies.
Daisy Jackson -
13th January 2025 
