A57 Snake Pass

After reading all the recent post about early morning drives I thought I'd jump on the band wagon and write one of my own but rather than just tell you how good it is, I thought I would map out the route. Just in case others want to have a drive.

I can't explain how much I've missed taking the Meg out for a blast. It's a hollow experience owning and R26 through winter, high cost and not much enjoyment. But spring and summer is a different story.

So when I'm awoken at 5:21am on a bank holiday Monday morning by a singing bird outside my window, I couldn't think of anything better to do but go out. So I start getting ready, trying to be as quiet as possible to not wake the GF but as im sneaking out the bedroom door I hear her awaken and ask what the F am I doing at this time in the morning. Now I think of it, sneaking out the room at that time half dressed and carrying my jeans and jumper, does appear suspicious and not something I've done since my early twenties. Only this time I was sober and I knew her but A swift explanation resolved the matter.

After a disapproving shake of her head it was time for the pre drive checks- tyres, weather report, all the usually to make sure all in order and it's time to set off. I was doubting my decision at first I'm not going to lie Manchester was cold, grey, foggy and drizzly, not what the report was saying but I was hoping the 25 mile journey to my destination would change all that.

My destination ........the Peak District .......namely the A57 Snake pass from Glossop towards Sheffield then up towards the A628 Woodhead pass and back across to Tintwistle/ Glossop. A fantastic 40+ mile lap of country roads with long, sweeping bends, highly visible straights, some sections of tight twisting B roads and a handful of low speed hairpins. A route which you will cross over the picturesque Counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire and if you're early enough you'll find these roads completely deserted.

I have driven these roads before but that weather was really concerning me, the M60 and M67 were nothing but a dull, misty grey with visibility barely 100m. The approach to Glossop usually offers views of the hills and landscape your about to attack, and at this point I usually get butterflies as I prepare my senses for the battering they're about to get but this time, the hills concealed by the grey abyss. At this point I genuinely thought it was game over, I'd made a balls up of this and wasted the fuel getting to this point, as surely the condition over the peaks will be much worse. I'd come too far now to turn back and throwing caution to the wind started the ascent out of Glossop up to hills, warming the engine and brakes in preparation for what I hoped to be the greatest drive of the year.

As it happens Lady Luck had paid me a visit and looked favourably on man and machine, it felt like I was at the pearly gates being welcomed with open arms by the driving gods.......the gamble truly paid off. Before I knew it I had climbed out of the grey and the weather had cleared. A short journey up the ascent had revealed crystal clear blue skies, a full moon and a sunrise within the upper atmosphere. It made me think of my last holiday and the exact moment when the plane flies through the top of the clouds into a seemingly different world.

My grin extended from ear to ear and my right foot was getting heavier and heavier with each passing road marking. The missile sound of the R26 exhaust when the rear seats are folded down was intoxicating and at this point I remember why I love this car so much.

But after a couple of miles I find myself completely torn between spirited driving and stopping and pulling over to take in the view. The cars just warmed up I can't stop now.............but it's not every morning I see the mist sprawling across the valley floors with the hills extending through and a full moon illuminated by the breath taking sunrise. So rather than just bore you all with text I thought it's time to pull over and take some photos.




I spent half an hour looking at this view and I just wish I had a better camera than the one on my HTC one M8 to capture it. Anyways a few miles into snake pass reveals some undulating tight twisting roads with steep inclines and declines, as there were several parking points I thought I show some of the roads a bit further along.




After about 10 miles (which seems to go by in no time at all) I reached the simply stunning Lady bower reservoir, and more photos were required. It's at the point of ladybower caution had to be taken the 50mph speed limit is often enforced by mobile rozzers and it's really a time to slot a high gear in and take in the surroundings.

 

When I set off a short distance down the road I see a group of people in the road taking photos, as I get closer an R8, 911 and Exige are all lined up with their owners taking photos of their pride and joy in a fantastic surrounding. A sense of happiness filled me , it was good to know it's not just me ....

About a mile past the reservoir I take a left onto Mortimer Road for the 10 mile leg up toward the A616 / A628. Now this road is completely different to Snake Pass, the roads are very bumpy with surface water streaming across many sections. Tbf I don't recall even meeting the national speed limits on this stretch of road. The roads are more covered except for the view over towards Broomhead Reservoir. Apologies for the photo my camera is poor when it comes to bright lights.

View attachment 2376

The section beyond this is mainly demands first and second gear hard acceleration and braking and good handling for the series of very tight and narrow hairpins. My favourite one of which is pictured below on a 14% incline and the meg did struggle a bit to get the power down properly as the front of the car unloaded on the way up. The tyres were squealing as the diff tried to apportion the right power to the right axle at the right time but I'm not slating the R26, this section of road is tough for any car IMO. At this point I was almost tempted to u turn a try going down it but I resisted.

(I'll post a pic up another time as its too large to upload here)

Soon the small village of Midhopestones is passed and this signifies the start of a left turn onto the A616 for a short journey along some tightly speed controlled roads through Langsett and then it's a left at the roundabout into the A628 or Woodhead Pass as it's more commonly known.

I have mixed feelings about Woodhead pass, it's more a road of long sweeping bends and straights which almost feel like a dual carriageway in places. The traffic can be heavy as it's the main route across the Peak District and if traffic's heavy then it's simply boring and I would avoid it like the plague. But at this time it's empty with plenty of views and places for over taking and I love it. Unfortunately I was heading back into the mist and drizzle seen earlier in Glossop and visibility dropped again so it was time to settle in for the journey back home.

People say that you can't enjoy roads and driving anymore. You can, you just need to go out your way to find it.

All in all my journey was around 90miles and used approx 3.5 gallons of fuel and took just over 2 hours with plenty of stops. With a cost of around £20 it wasn't a bad morning out if I'm honest.

I can't recommend this road enough for any driving enthusiast, it's pure motoring nirvana.

Thanks for reading- Simon

 

Thanks bud. it's a great camera tbf and gives loads of clarity for a phone, smashes iPhone out the park. There are camera settings which if bothered to figure out would probably help get good focus. I was genuinly gobsmacked when I saw that mist and moon. Great thing to wake up to.

 

Thanks i defo got lucky today with the weather. What are the roads down devon way like. I driven through teinmouth and dawlish and the coastal scenery around there was mint. Altho I was in a 320d estate so didn't get chance to truely enjoy them.

 

yeah sat nav does that unfortunatly , if you take a right at the set of light that's signed Glossop tho you go over snake pass, altho it can still get busy thro the day? Mark black may be 70 miles away from me but getting to him is an absolute joy over that road

 

The map of the route

 

It's what ruins it tbf, the lorries are slow enough to overtake but most people are scared to use the gas pedal these days so it creates a huge tailback of traffic who all tailgate each other meaning it's impossible to gradually overtake. I think it's early morning only to enjoy them. I'm trying the run up to holmfirth next time.

 

Photo of the hairpin up Mortimer Road
IMAG2373 by simonpage3103, on Flickr

Another photo from the start of the ascent

IMAG2339 by simonpage3103, on Flickr

Broomhead Reservoir
Snake Pass by simonpage3103, on Flickr

 

General Road Shots

IMAG2342 by simonpage3103, on Flickr

Snake Pass by simonpage3103, on Flickr

Ill stop now, i was just getting carried away as Ive just learned how to use Flickr

 

It's good fun, even tho it's a First gear job, the inside corner is so steep tractions an issue and the upper road is so high you really have to duck below the wheel to see if there's a car coming from the other direction.