Visitors warned after Peak District site finds unlikely fame on TikTok and Instagram

Glossop Mountain Rescue said the Peak District has become a big draw for visitors from Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and beyond during the current lockdown, with Higher Shelf Stones proving particularly popular.

A spokesperson said they were called to two incidents within a three-hour period last weekend as visitors clambered along the “inhospitable” route to and from the crash site, which “offers significant challenges for even the most experienced hikers.”

The site near Snake’s Pass has proved popular “thanks to its eerie and photogenic landscape, where the natural beauty of the area contrasts with the wreckage of a crashed B29 Superfortress”.

On November 3, 1948, the USAF Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999 plummeted from the sky at Higher Shelf Stones, Bleaklow, while flying from Scampton in Lincolnshire to Burtonwood in Cheshire.

A large amount of wreckage from the crash, which killed 13 crew members, is still visible as a memorial.

Team Leader Patch Haley said: “Visitors should be aware that social media only tells them half the story.

"Always check the weather before you set off. Conditions can change without warning at these elevations, and low cloud can reduce visibility drastically. It’s easy to get disorientated and wet, and that’s when hypothermia can set in. And remember to allow plenty of time to get back before sunset, as conditions underfoot will become claggy, and navigation nearly impossible. Make sure you bring food, water, a torch, and a map and compass. And be confident you can use them.”