Tuesday 9th September 2008

'Snake Pass' Voted Best UK Road

Caterham survey reveals best and worse driving roads in Britain

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The M25 was unusually quiet

The 'Snake Pass' from Sheffield to Glossop has been named Britain's best driving road in a survey by Caterham Cars. Unsurprisingly, the clockwise section of the M25 between Junction 5 and 21 was voted the worst by nearly a third of those quizzed.

The sports car manufacturer asked 1,687 Caterham owners to pick their best and worst stretches of the 230,000 miles of tarmac that link the United Kingdom. The 25-mile stretch of the A57 between Sheffield and Glossop - commonly known as the 'Snake Pass' - twists across the Peak District and rises 512 metres above sea level, offering breathtaking views and dramatic scenery.

Taking a close second is the winding A537 ‘Cat & Fiddle road’ from Macclesfield to Buxton. The speed limitless A18 ‘Mountain Road’ that makes up part of the world famous TT course on the Isle of Man was third. In fourth place, set against a stunning Snowdonia backdrop, is the A4086 'Pass of Llanberis' from Caernarfon to Capel Curig, while fifth and sixth place belong to Scotland’s tranquil yet technical A817 from Loch Lomond to Garelochhead and the breathtaking A87 from Invergarry to Isle of Skye.

The M25 took 31.4% of the votes for the worst stretches of road, followed by the M1 and the M6 as it passes Birmingham. The highest placed ‘A-Road’ is the A14 between Cambridge and Peterborough thanks to its array of heavy goods vehicles and speed cameras. The A303 linking the South East with the West Country rounds off the Top 5.

Andy Noble, of Caterham Cars, said: 'Due to the large amount of congestion motorists now face, it is often easy to forget how enjoyable driving can be. But turn off from the beaten track and there are plenty of roads that remind us that driving is still a privilege.'

Britain’s Top Ten Best Driving Roads

No.	Road	Rationale	Votes
1	A57 ‘Snake Pass’, Sheffield to Glossop	‘Over 25 miles of tarmac rollercoaster.’	24.8%
2	A537 ‘Cat & Fiddle road’, Macclesfield to Buxton	‘Addictively technical but takes no prisoners.’	24.0%
3	A18 ‘Mountain Section’, Isle of Man	‘Part of the famous TT course and has no speed limit.’	18.2%
4	A4086 “Pass of Llanberis” Caernarfon to Capel Curig	‘Twisty roads and Snowdonia backdrop make it a must.’	17.8%
5	A817 Loch Lomond to Garelochhead	‘A wide, long, smooth curving road which carries you from loch to loch a thousand feet above Glen Fruin.’	17.1%
6	A87 Invergarry to Isle of Skye	‘As breathtaking as it is challenging.’	14.8%
7	B3223 Dulverton to Lynton	‘Narrow road through Exmoor Forest but flowing bends that beg to be driven.’	12.2%
8	B4100 Warwick to Banbury	‘A superb alternative to the M40’	11.6%
9	A35 Lyndhurst to Christchurch	‘The best way to enjoy the New Forest.’	11.4%
10	A686 Penrith to Alston (north Pennines)	‘Mainly open countryside, very challenging but rewarding. Stop at the cafe at Hartside Top.’	10.9%

 

Britain’s Worst Five Stretches of Road

No.	Road	Rationale	Votes
1	M25 (esp. between Junctions 5 and 21)	“The antithesis of driving.”	31.4%
2	M1 (all of it)	“All of it! Continual roadwork views at a snail’s pace.”	21.2%
3	M6 Junctions 4 to 12	“A slow crawl past a grey town – especially bad on a Friday.”	15.0%
4	A14 Cambridge to Peterborough	“Popular route for trucker’s is an accident rich, heavily congested with average speed cameras.”	9.6%
5	A303 from Andover onwards	“Single-carriageway and caravan hell.”	5.6%

[norman156]

Not sure wether I'd choose Snake Pass or Cat and Fiddle as my favourite, both are fantastic drives. The whole police spotter plane thing does put me off Cat and Fiddle a bit, though it does make for a rather interesting route back home from Manchester airport

[madeinsheffield]

It's a fantastic road, some new tarmac down, the police have spoiled it though after the speed limit was reduced to 50mph and then they set up scamera vans up whenever the sun comes out, spoiling our fun, it was great in a car awesome on a bike

[Taita]

The Invergarry road has had me stting my keks more times than I can remember . 4am, rain, estate car weighed down with full load. Eeep

[hayesey]

hmm, personally I think Cat&Fiddle is better than snake pass. Although last time I drove on snake pass it was chucking it down...aquaplane-tastic!

Also, I'd vote the m6 as being worse than most of the m1. Although I never really drive further south than about junction 15 on the m1 so maybe the votes are mainly coming from parts lower than that? If going south (like I am this weekend to Northampton) I normally take in snake or woodhead pass to go to the m1 rather than going down the m6!

Edited by hayesey on Tuesday 9th September 12:06

[sa_20v]

So, essentially, anything in the South of England is ste...

[Mr_C]

Both the top two are heavily policed with helicopters and un marked scamera vans and the like, I'd not recommend pressing on down them to anybody.

There are better roads around the area, you've got to know where they are though, and I certainly wouldn't be telling a survey about them that the police/everybody else can see...

[Fetchez la vache]

Expect to see even more sped cameras on those roads shortly, then.

[norman156]

Mr_C said:

Both the top two are heavily policed with helicopters and un marked scamera vans and the like, I'd not recommend pressing on down them to anybody.

Not sure if I'd go that far, I think the traffic is a far bigger problem for both those roads. The 50 limit and cameras are a pain, but alot of both of those roads are windy enough to mean that plenty of fun can be had without going over 50. You just need to restrain yourself on the straighter bits...

Edited by norman156 on Tuesday 9th September 12:10

[Tsiakosmantis]

How about the A4 or A40 going in to London??

[L100NYY]

sa_20v said:

So, essentially, anything in the South of England is ste...

[BlueSei]

I think the roads Around Mac in the Peak District are excellent driving roads. M6 motorway is far better than the M1, the M1 seems to have far more dangerous drivers than the M6 every time I have driven on it and I use them both regularly, I avoid the M1 as often as I can.

Another good driving road (for scenery not speed) is the coast Road from Port Glasgow south.

[spoonoff]

My drive to work over the North York Moors beats many of these, but I'm keeping that one to myself!

[MitchT]

If you know of a great driving road, keep quiet about it! Otherwise it'll soon be crawling with tax men.

[The Donster]

Anyone know of Wrynose Pass leading into Hardknott Pass from Ambleside in the Lake District? Now that's GOOD!

[gaz132]

The vote percetage for the best roads add up to 162.8%?

[PJS917]

The Donster said:

Anyone know of Wrynose Pass leading into Hardknott Pass from Ambleside in the Lake District? Now that's GOOD!

For views and reversing challenges yes, for driving er no!

[Wacky Racer]

The road between Hawes and Ingleton via Ribblehead viaduct is pretty good.., with not a speed camera in sight........

[Pingman]

I'm suprised that the A13 (as well as other awful London comute roads) didn't get a mention as the worst.

Also suprised that the Dartford crossing didn't get a name drop in the M25 part too.

Looks like all the good roads are 'oup North', guess i better move out of SE England if I ever want to enjoy driving again.

[Alfanatic]

Fetchez la vache said:

Expect to see even more sped cameras on those roads shortly, then.

Yep. Now the cops know to relocate all those scameras soon to be made surplus by Swindon.

[The Donster]

PJS917 said:

The Donster said:

Anyone know of Wrynose Pass leading into Hardknott Pass from Ambleside in the Lake District? Now that's GOOD!

For views and reversing challenges yes, for driving er no!

What are you talking about, man! I thought it was a great drive - granted, some of it was f**king scary, but it got the old April Tart thumping a treat!