Peak District route help

[mdianuk]

Looking to take my car (and missus) out for a few hours driving and lunch. Will be heading from Macc way, so makes sense to take in the A537 (Cat n Fiddle) even though it is speed limited now (just for old times sake), then I'd like to include the A5004 (Long Hill), Edale Road and A57 (Snake Pass), but need to stop in Tideswell about two thirds through the route.

Can anyone recommend a decent route for me to take please? Looking for roads with good visibility, sweeping curves and of course stunning views; ideally not many single lane roads (can't stand them). Car is a Porsche GT4 if that helps.

[AdiT]

I'd do... Macc', Cat', Buxton, LongHill, WhalleyBridge, Chinley, ChinleyHead, Hayfield, Chunnel, Glossop, SnakePass, Bamford, Hope (right turn in village is easy to miss), Edale, MamNick, WhinnetsPass, Castleton, Hope, Bradwell, BradwellMoor, Tideswell, MillersDale, right at T on A6 then left on A5270, BrierlowBar, Longnor, left onto LeekRd, RoyalCottage, a53 AxleEdge, Buxton, longhill (again) WhalleyBridge, left b4570, Macc'.

[JeremyH5]

Agree with that.

[Wilmslowboy]

......road from Buxton to Whaley bridge is best...as is the short leg of the A6 to Chapel

Once on snakes pass...head to hope/Castleton up Winnats pass then back to Chapel

[mdianuk]

AdiT said:

I'd do... Macc', Cat', Buxton, LongHill, WhalleyBridge, Chinley, ChinleyHead, Hayfield, Chunnel, Glossop, SnakePass, Bamford, Hope (right turn in village is easy to miss), Edale, MamNick, WhinnetsPass, Castleton, Hope, Bradwell, BradwellMoor, Tideswell, MillersDale, right at T on A6 then left on A5270, BrierlowBar, Longnor, left onto LeekRd, RoyalCottage, a53 AxleEdge, Buxton, longhill (again) WhalleyBridge, left b4570, Macc'.

Thanks all but especially AdiT for this. I've mapped that route out and it looks exactly what I'm after, though I need to cut it down a little so have removed the cat run (I can come in from Hazel Grove instead) and the later parts. How does this look? Bit unsure about using so much of the A6? Without extending my luck too far, any points within that route you'd suggest are worth a brief pull over for a look? Maybe even a picnic should we decide to avoid a pub lunch.

Edited by mdianuk on Thursday 21st July 21:27

[AdiT]

Decent view 1/2 way down LongHill (lay-by on the left). Snake summit (parking prob not good for GT4) and at LadybowerRes (on the left) worth stops. Nice cafe at Edale station (P+D carpark on right by the turning into the village and station just over the road). Good view top of MamNick (just before summit). BlueJohn cavern and the old MamTor (collapsed) road are worth a look just after that. Amazing view (and good food I'm told) at BarrelInn, Bretton...Slight diversion, turn left top of Bradwell moor at Windmill then through Grindlow (don't be tempted to take the next left to GreatHucklow and along the ridge as it's very narrow) to Foolow and left up to the Barrel. Nice Cafe in Tideswell (past church, through r/l bend and 100m on the left).

[mdianuk]

Thanks again, some super suggestions there. I have one final debate; from start/finish we have about 3 hours, which times in nicely with the map below. However, if we want to take in a pub lunch in Tideswell we'll need to drop either Snake Pass, Edale or Longhill. It will be a weekend, so expect traffic. Which one would you cut out if you had to?

[AdiT]

If your coming from Stockport direction try going direct to Glossop via M67 and start the hills with the Snake; The drag up the A6 and to Hayfield isn't worth it. Then cut out the left turn at Whalley Bridge near the end and go straight down the A6; Unless you follow the road all the way to Rainow/Macc, you're missing the good bit anyway as your map is... and it is good. See how much time that saves you.

[mdianuk]

Thanks for the help, managed to do the run today, but was short on time, so went over the cat (still the best road, just without speed), through Buxton (hell) and through to Tideswell for lunch, then up to Edale (the road after Castleton through the devils bum is quite different - albeit very slow), and then to Chapel and down Longhill. Didn't like Longhill much, not much viability. I need more time next time to enjoy.