Traffic chaos as thousands park up in the Peak District

The sunny Bank Holiday has attracted the masses

Barmy Bank Holiday weather was all it took to lure the hordes to the Peak District today, with all the usual hotspots flooded with visitors.

Traffic was so heavy in Thorpe, with visitors clamouring for a glimpse of Dovedale, that travelling from the small village to Ilam, just a few miles away, took over an hour for some drivers.

Car parks were all open at the beauty spot, including a new overflow car park, but the sheer number of cars arriving spilled out and many chose to park along the road, adding to the gridlock.

At Carsington Water, which has been closed to the public since the start of the coronavirus lock-down, parked cars lined the Hognaston Bypass alongside the dam, to get around the closure of the Severn Trent reservoir's various car parks.

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The estate village of Tissington was also busy all day, as were the banks of the River Dove at Mappleton, with cars lining up either side of Okeover Bridge.

And, further afield, the notorious "Blue Lagoon" in Harpur Hill was swamped with youngsters, some of whom were ignoring the warnings of toxic water and swimming.

The influx to the infamous quarry pond led to long tailbacks in Harpur Hill, with cars parked on both sides of the road blocking the road through.

A motorist in Thorpe, who did not want to be named, said: "It's just crazy, I've never seen it like this.

"We were prepared for a bit of extra traffic, but this is something else.

"People are parking really carelessly too, which really doesn't help."

Government coronavirus restrictions have been eased recently to allow people to spend as long as they like outdoors exercising, to drive to other destinations and to meet up with one person from outside their household, providing they adhere to social distancing measures.