Snake Pass is one of the best drives in the UK
Snake Pass, at 512m (1,679ft) above sea level, connects Manchester and Sheffield in Northern England. This mountain pass offers a challenging drive across the Pennines. Explore its details, history, and unique features that make it a notable route in the UK.
Which road is Snake Pass?
Set high in the East Midlands of England, the road to the summit is entirely paved. It’s called A57 (aka Snake Road).
When was the road through Snake Pass built?
The Parliament approved its construction in 1818, engineered by Thomas Telford, and the road opened to the public in 1821. Tolls continued to be collected on the road until 1870.
How many miles is Snake Pass?
The pass is 42km (26 miles) long, running west-east from Glossop (in the Borough of High Peak in Derbyshire) to Sheffield (in South Yorkshire county).
Why is Snake Pass so dangerous?
It is a truly hair-raising ride replete with tricky bends and blind summits crossing the Pennines. It’s quite twisty with several blind summits, as well as dangerous curves. It is a road that every driving enthusiast should experience. The drive is notoriously hazardous and can prove treacherous to unprepared drivers. The road, which passes over the high ground between the flatter moorland, is a winding, twisty road with lots of elevation changes and adverse cambers, and can be very slippery in poor weather conditions.
What gradient is Snake Pass?
The drive is steep, with a maximum gradient of 10.2% through some of the ramps. It has frequently featured in the Tour of Britain. Starting from Glossop, the ascent is 7 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 362 meters. The average gradient is 5.2%.
Is Snake Pass open now?
The road over the pass is often closed in winter months as the bending roads become icy, but it can be closed anytime when the access is not cleared of snow. It is one of the first roads closed in Britain due to snow and can be very slippery in poor weather conditions. It has seen several longer-term closures owing to subsidence following heavy rain. It’s closed for an average of 70 days a year due to bad weather and dangerous conditions, according to Transport for the North.
Is Snake Pass worth it?
The road offers superb views, and the scenery is exceptional, particularly at the start of the descent into Glossop, from where you can see to Manchester and beyond on a clear day.
Travel recommendation:
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