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
Kendal Calling turns 21 in fine form with a brilliant bunch of headliners – and that was just the start…
Danny Jones
Oh, what a long weekend we had at Kendal Calling 2026, our fourth consecutive visit to the beloved festival proclaimed as ‘the favourite’ by many across the North West, and forever ‘the best’ if you hail from in and around Cumbria.
Now 21 editions into its run, the Penrith party down in Lowther Deer Park has gone from being a cult classic among natives in and around the Lake District a couple of decades ago, to one celebrated all over – and for good reason.
Apart from delivering stellar lineups year in, year out, it’s also one of the most family-friendly festivals you’ll ever come across.
But having said that, they still know how to kick a party into gear when the sun sets…
With The Kooks, The Cribs, Manchester up-and-comers Spangled, Oldham’s very own Tim Burgess, and many more opening up the party on Thursday night, they hit the ground running early doors.
Speaking of the turf, the wider arena was nice and dry this year, with punters only being treated to very short showery intervals, and most overnight.
Having the perfect conditions obviously helps, but we will say that Kendal Calling remains one of the brave few that powers in through regardless of the weather.
Nevertheless, we didn’t have to worry about it for KC2026, and maybe it’s just recency bias, but the entire festival site somehow looked prettier than ever, especially soaked in all that sun.
The dappled rays coming through trees over in the ‘Lost Eden’ definitely made the Woodlands stage as special as we’ve ever seen it – including those magical neon nights – and we even got to chat with Yorkshire lass Ellur ahead of her spellbinding set out in the forest.
Still surprising people more than two decades in
Lots caught us by surprise this year, such as Dutch indie pop group Son Mieux (our new obsession, by the way), as well as Fletchr Fletchr, who we now believe really need to be seen live to truly appreciate every aspect of their huge potential.
And then there was rising Sunderland star Tom A. Smith (again, over in the Woodlands), who joked he was “never there” after filling in on short notice at the same festival he first played when he was 12.
Fair to say he’s come some way since then, and you won’t find many more electric performers from this very confident, talented and still very young man.
But nothing more so than the surprise acoustic set starring the legendary Pete Doherty ahead of The Libertines’ main stage slot later that day, which we had to sprint across the fields to just about catch after hearing about. We had to climb up the side of a window to get the view of those that beat us there.
This year, we also thought we’d go around and ask those who know it best just what makes it so special, and more importantly, what keeps them coming back. Here’s what they had to say:
“I’ve been five times over 11 years. I’m Cumbrian-born but based in Manchester, so there’s always the pull to travel back home for it, and I’d definitely come more if I could. First memory that pops into mind is seeing The Vaccines when they were just getting big, and now over a decade on I got to see them on the main stage all these years and albums later – really full circle.
“One of the best parts about it is just how much there is on; back when I first started coming, they still were spotlighting local bands like Colt 45, but they just so happened to be on the same bill as Snoop Dog – and now I’ve seen everyone from Tom Jones and the Sugarhill Gang to The Darkness and now Biffy.
“Despite the festival growing in size and in terms of the acts that flock to it now, it still feels like one that looks after smaller names; it’s still got that wholesome, all-ages feel, and can be enjoyed for lots more than the music. I’ve definitely grown a new appreciation for everything it has to offer as I’ve gotten older.”
Nick, 32, from Dearham
The LathumsBiffy ClyroRed Rum ClubDeaf Havana, and SO many more…Credit: Audio North
We also asked another seasoned veteran of the annual summer fest how they’d sum it up in as few words as possible, to which they responded: “Nature, variety and (at times) questionable weather.”
Once again, we’ve definitely had wetter ones in the past – it is the North of England after all – but the music gods were smiling down on us all weekend long, and that extra dose of vitamin D definitely helped keep us going.
More personal highlights include closing headliners Wolf Alice, as well as Circa Waves and Groove Armada on the final night, as we somehow managed to catch a bit of all three, not to mention Deaf Havana, who drew their loyal crowd of passionate fans and gave us one of the best sets of the whole weekend.
And then, of course, there was ‘Biffy… F***ing… Clyroooo’. The Manc arm of the Audio North team were lucky enough to catch the Scottish gods at their huge headline gig at Co-op Live, but BOY did jumping around in a sea of people from all over as confetti, streamers, fireworks, and literal fire hit even harder.
With Kendal, Tramlines, Parklife, Beat-Herder, and Neighbourhood Weekender all under our belt already this year, we feel truly blessed to be in what is undoubtedly one of the best periods for live music festivals we’ve known; you can check out some of our other reviews down below.
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Other than that, all we have left to say is thank you to Hanglands and the KC crew as always for having us along, and we’ll catch you in the fields the same time next year. Over and out.
9 amazing lesser-known destinations you can fly to from Manchester for less than £100
Daisy Jackson
Planning a holiday – especially during the school summer break – can be a daunting and expensive process.
Demand over the summer months can see prices on flights and accommodation rocket, especially to popular holiday destinations.
Which is why Manchester Airport has published a list of lesser-known destinations which you can still fly to this summer, with flights from less than £100.
As well as hidden gem destinations, there are a few holiday hotspots like Ibiza and Mallorca on the list.
Manchester Airport serves more than 200 destinations worldwide, and airport bosses have now dug through that whopping list to pull together some of the best deals, as well as sharing some tips for securing the best deals during peak season.
Manchester Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Turner said: “Here at Manchester Airport we are proud to connect the North to the World – with a bigger and better route network than any UK airport outside London.
“What that means in practice is better choice and value for our passengers – so they can still get great deals even during the summer holidays when prices to lots of destinations tend to rise.
“We fly to lots of lesser-known destinations that other airports don’t, so there are a lot of bargains to be found. But because we also offer more flights each day to some of Europe’s top destinations, that helps keep prices down too.”
Here are nine lesser-known destinations you can fly to from Manchester Airport this summer.
Skip the busy Amalfi coast or popular summer cities like Florence and Rome, and instead head to Rimini, on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
This beautiful destination – a brand-new addition to Manchester Airport’s network – is famed for having miles of sandy beaches, a picturesque old town, and a marina.
It’s also home to Italia in Miniatura, a model village-style attraction where you can see Italy’s most famous sites in a small scale.
Direct flights start from £58pp return with Ryanair in August
Girona
Manchester to Girona flights start from £75pp return. Credit: Lucas Gallone on Unsplash
Head further north along the Costa Brava coast from Barcelona and you’ll find Girona, a city that’s emerging as a new family favourite in Spain – and which you might recognise as a major Game of Thrones setting.
As well as the beaches and tapas that have made the European country so popular for decades, Girona boasts the pretty whitewashed town of Cadaqués, the home of Salvador Dali for more than 50 years.
You can visit his former home, now a museum, before heading back to resume your tapas crawl.
Flights start from £75pp return, based on TUI trips in August
The South of France always feels like it should a very luxury destination, but it is more than possible to visit parts of this beautiful part of the world for less.
You can fly from Manchester to Beziers, the gateway to France’s Languedoc coast, where you’ll be spoilt with 120 miles-worth of golden sandy beaches, port town, and fishing villages.
The towns of Agde and Sete are popular places to stay for exploring the coastline and the inland vineyards nearby.
You can fly from £80pp return with Ryanair in early August
You already know Majorca and Ibiza, but did you know that Menorca remains the least-visited of the three big Balearic Islands?
That means that even in the height of summer, you’ve a good chance of finding quiet beaches and waterside restaurants.
If you can tear yourself away from the crystal clear waters, make sure to visit Cuitadella, a winding Medieval town with a brilliant food scene.
Ryanair flies direct from £45pp
Faro
From Faro you can access the beautiful Algarve. Credit: Ioana Mohanu on Unsplash
Faro serves as a gateway to Portugal’s hugely popular Algarve, which has much more to it than golf clubs and lively nightlife strips.
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Faro itself is a charming town with great local restaurants, but head along the coast to find tonnes of family-friendly resorts, lively towns, and beautiful dramatic coastlines.
The weather is usually pretty blissful down here, too.
There’s so much to discover of Spain, and one lesser-explored region singled out by Manchester Airport travel exports is Santander.
Located on the north coast and the Cantabrian Sea, this is where you’ll find charming landmarks like a 13th century cathedral, and an Old Town packed with pintxos bars.
You can also relax on the iconic El Sardinero beach, a popular surfing spot.
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AND if you hate the crushing heat of summer, this is the spot for you – it’s generally cooler than other parts of Spain at a delightful 25ºC even in the height of summer.
Direct flights in August with Ryanair start from £75pp return
Heading back to France again, this time to the country’s second-largest city which makes for an excellent city break.
Formerly an Ancient Greek colony, you’ll still find incredible ruins near the city’s port, surrounded by fine dining restaurants, museums and galleries.
Get out of the city and you’ll be able to explore the Calanques National Park, where stony beaches nestle into narrow bays beneath the cliffs.
Direct flights start from just £59pp return with Ryanair
Yes, like the olives. But this sometimes-overlooked destination on the Greek mainland has a lot more to it than that.
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Standing on the tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, Kalamata dates back nearly 3000 years and has an Old Town, a medieval castle, and masses of Ancient Greek sites to explore.
You can really mix up a city break and a beach break here – split your time between historical sites, family-run tavernas, and the nearby two-mile-long Bouka Beach.
EasyJet will get you there from £76pp return
To save money when booking your holiday flights this summer:
Check prices regularly – and if you see a deal you like the look of, don’t hold off. Travellers are booking later this summer, so last-minute deals are there to be had – but don’t cut it too fine.
If you know you love the seaside resorts of Spain, or the whitewashed villages of Greece, expand your horizons and look at parts of the country you haven’t visited before. Manchester Airport flies to dozens of destinations in these countries and if you’re willing to be flexible on where exactly you go, you might nab a better deal.
Working parents will tend to book a calendar week or two off work during the school summer holidays and theferore they tend to want to fly at the weekend, or as close to is as possible, to maximise their time away. As such, you could save significant sums on your flights if you’re willing to travel between Tuesday and Thursday.
Daisy Jackson -
13th January 2025 
