Visitors warned away from Welsh mountains – including tourists from as far away as London

Emergency Services as National Park Authorities have warned tourists away from Wales’ mountains – as police revealed that some had travelled from as far as London.

Dyfed Powys Police said there were a couple of hundred vehicles in the Brecon Beacons area today. Snowdonia National Park Authority also posted pictures of full car parks, saying that no one should travel to the area.

Both Wales and the South-East of England are under both countries’ strictest restrictions, with the rules saying no one should travel unless absolutely necessary.

Inspector Andrew Williams, from Dyfed-Powys Police’s specialist operations (RPU) team, said: “Officers have spoken to one man who had driven from Hertfordshire to walk up Pen y Fan, while a minibus of people from mixed households had travelled from Cheltenham.

“Fixed penalty notices have and will be issued to those blatant breaches where engagement fails, but the vast majority of people are listening to advice and when they are turning up and seeing RPU vehicles at the site, they are turning around and going home – which is the objective of our high visibility patrols.”

‘No long journeys’

Snowdonia National Park Authority posted pictures of parked cars and said that visitors should pay heed to the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 lockdown.

“Although the snow looks beautiful on the mountains, the Welsh Government’s current rules state that no one should travel unless absolutely necessary,” they said.

“No significant distance should be travelled just to exercise in the countryside or in beautiful places.”

The Welsh Government said: “Exercise is important for physical and mental health, but while Wales is at alert level 4, it should start and finish from home.

“You should not make long journeys unless absolutely necessary.”