Famous road · On the route
Snake Pass
- Summit
- 510 m summit
UKscenic
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
- Distance
- 65 mi
- 104 km
- Driving
- 2 hr
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 3 days
- balanced split
- Stops
- 7
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 7 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Mam Tor · Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
What the drive is like
It's split between the A57, the A624 and the B6465, with no single road carrying more than 35% of it.
It never gets very high, around 510 m at most near Snake Pass, but it's rarely flat: something like 1,587 m of climbing over the whole drive, much of it short and steep.
The bigger places on the way are High Peak, handy for fuel and food between the stops.
Part of the drive follows the Snake Pass, up to 510 m.
- A5735%
- A62414%
- B64656%
- A6236%
How high it goes
Passes and famous roads
From the 500-plus roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app.
Mountain pass · 4 mi off the route
Woodhead Pass
Famous road · 6 mi off the route
Cat and Fiddle Road (A537)
Mountain pass · 6 mi off the route
Holme Moss
- Summit
- 524 m summit
Famous road · 7 mi off the route
Goyt Valley road, Peak District
Before you go
Best time to drive it
April to October
The A57 over the Snake Pass is often among the first roads in England to close in snow, and has closed for landslips. Check before setting off in winter.
Indicative costs
- Fuel (40 mpg petrol)£11
- TollsFree
Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Driving in United KingdomEvery stop on the Snake Pass + Peak District
Sheffield
Start
Snake Pass (A57)
+16 mi from the last stop
Glossop
+8 mi from the last stop
Castleton
+16 mi from the last stop
Bakewell
+14 mi from the last stop
Chatsworth House
+4 mi from the last stop
Eyam
+6 mi from the last stop
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Peak District National Park
national park
Britain's first national park, featuring gritstone edges, limestone dales, and rolling moorland.
Chatsworth House
landmark
Magnificent stately home of the Duke of Devonshire set in expansive parkland, housing one of Europe's most significant art collections.
Stanage Edge
natural wonder
Dramatic gritstone escarpment stretching for nearly 4 miles across the Peak District, beloved by rock climbers and walkers alike.
Mam Tor
scenic viewpoint
Known as the 'Shivering Mountain' for its unstable layers, this Peak District summit offers spectacular views along the Great Ridge to Lose Hill.
Ladybower Inn
cafe
A traditional inn at the junction of Snake Pass and the A57 in the Peak District, a beloved meeting point for bikers and drivers tackling England's famous Snake Pass.
Cat and Fiddle Inn
cafe
A historic pub near the summit of the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Buxton and Macclesfield, once named Britain's most dangerous road and a famous biking destination.
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Matlock Bath Motorcycle Strip
landmark
The entire riverside parade at Matlock Bath transforms into the UK's most famous bike meet every sunny weekend.
Rapha Clubhouse Manchester
cafe
Manchester's cycling culture hub offering specialty coffee, kit, and a community space for riding enthusiasts.
Snake Pass
famous road
A twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.
Cat and Fiddle Road
famous road
A thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.
Winnats Pass
scenic viewpoint
A dramatic 1-in-5 limestone cleft above Castleton, the only through-road since Mam Tor collapsed. Steep, narrow and unforgettable.
Snake Pass Summit
scenic viewpoint
The highest point on the A57 crossing the Pennines, with moorland views stretching across the Dark Peak landscape.
Common questions about the Snake Pass + Peak District
How long does the Snake Pass + Peak District take?
The driving itself is about 2 hr across 65 miles (104 km). Most people spread it over 3 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the Snake Pass + Peak District?
65 miles, or 104 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the Snake Pass + Peak District?
April to October. The A57 over the Snake Pass is often among the first roads in England to close in snow, and has closed for landslips. Check before setting off in winter.
What does the Snake Pass + Peak District cost in fuel?
Roughly £11 in fuel for a petrol car averaging 40 mpg. Motorways on this route are toll-free. Indicative only: fuel prices move.
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