Snake Pass

[RZ1]

Need to drive to Oldham in the morning and thinking about taking the snake pass, can anyone give me an idea what route is best to take. I will be travelling up the M1 from Junction 8.

Had a look at a map and it seems like the snake pass starts towards the back of Sheffield, Heeley area, what’s the best way to get to it from the M1?

[dooosuk]

Check it's open before you set off...was closed last weekend and they've had more snow since out that way.

[RP1]

More snow forecast for tonight i believe, so will probably be shut. It's usually the first place to get closed at the sight of any snow!

[dooosuk]

If it is shut, check the A616 and A628 as an alternative (spits you out closer to Oldham as well)....but equally likely to be closed if Snake is (although A628 was open all last weekend with no issues)

[Nedzilla]

As others have said,give it a wide birth,lots of snow forecast later.Lovely drive in the summer though.

[snotrag]

Off at 34. Straight through Sheffield, to Ecclesall.

Up Ecclesall Road, hang a right up Ringinglow road, cross over tops past Stanage edge to Hathersage. Down from Hathersage to Bamford, then to the Reservoir. Left at the lights on the Dam onto the A57, follow all the way across to Glossop.

Not the shortest, but fun.

[RZ1]

Thanks guys, how do you find out if its open? Didnt think about the snow aspect, looks like will have to stick with a boring M1

[dooosuk]

RZ1 said:

Thanks guys, how do you find out if its open? Didnt think about the snow aspect, looks like will have to stick with a boring M1

You look at the Highways Agency website for traffic details...the same as you would if checking any road traffic issues. (Or Traffic Updates on Google Maps or RAC Traffic Info etc etc.).

[obob]

Most likely to be shut if there's any sign of snow, A628 is pretty much always open but not very interesting as its full of lorries.

[northwest monkey]

Woodhead Pass might be open - they do sometimes try to keep one open at least.

Like someone else has said - if one is shut the other is a nightmare as it ends up full of trucks.

[GC8]

snotrag said:

Off at 34. Straight through Sheffield, to Ecclesall.

Up Ecclesall Road, hang a right up Ringinglow road, cross over tops past Stanage edge to Hathersage. Down from Hathersage to Bamford, then to the Reservoir. Left at the lights on the Dam onto the A57, follow all the way across to Glossop.

Not the shortest, but fun.

Better to get off at J29 - Chesterfield - Meadowhead - Beauchief.

[RZ1]

Dam shame never been on the snake pass and really fancied it but dont like the idea of sitting in traffic if it snows, especially not in the MR2

[northwest monkey]

RZ1 said:

Dam shame never been on the snake pass and really fancied it but dont like the idea of sitting in traffic if it snows, especially not in the MR2

Not the best time of the year to try it - really its not. The flowers you see by the side of the road aren't there for decoration. Accidents on any of the passes do tend to be pretty big.

Head up there really early one morning in April / May - good fun then. Be careful of Police though - there are a lot around at times. You also want a car you can have some fun in without having to go at stupid speeds - the MR2 or an MX5 would be ideal.

[Mattlan]

Drove over from Manchester last August, was excited at the concept, let down dramatically by the speed camera warnings every 10 yards!!

[RZ1]

Are there lots of cameras, not that i will be speeding....

[GC8]

A57? No. If you dont know the road then drive very carefully. It isnt a great road and the sudden changes from swooping rural A road to country lane have caught many a young jack.

[northwest monkey]

RZ1 said:

Are there lots of cameras, not that i will be speeding....

At times of the year there are a lot of vans hidden around blind bends etc. IIRC there are also a couple of stretches (near the steel plant on the Yorkshire side) with the SPECS average speed things. I actually prefer Woodhead Pass as it can be a bit quieter & there aren't as many knobheads on motorbikes* on your side of the road when you're going round a bend....

• not saying all people on Snake Pass on motorbikes are knobheads, but it does have more than its fair share.

[GC8]

The 'steel plant' is in Stocksbridge but this is adjacent to the A628.

The only likely place for any sort of speed enforcement on the A57 is around the reservoir, either in the car park alongside the road on the right as you travel towards Manchester, or shortly past there on the verge on the left as youre travelling alongside the reservoir.

[ant leigh]

northwest monkey said:

RZ1 said:

Are there lots of cameras, not that i will be speeding....

At times of the year there are a lot of vans hidden around blind bends etc. IIRC there are also a couple of stretches (near the steel plant on the Yorkshire side) with the SPECS average speed things. I actually prefer Woodhead Pass as it can be a bit quieter & there aren't as many knobheads on motorbikes* on your side of the road when you're going round a bend....

• not saying all people on Snake Pass on motorbikes are knobheads, but it does have more than its fair share.

It used to be a lot more fun 15/20 years ago. I remember a great drive pushing on early morning one autumn driving a visitor from South Africa to the Ponds forge pool in Sheffield. He still talks about it whenever I see him.

Now there is a lot more traffic just pottering along and the speed camera vans have followed to an extent.

[RZ1]

ant leigh said:

It used to be a lot more fun 15/20 years ago. I remember a great drive pushing on early morning one autumn driving a visitor from South Africa to the Ponds forge pool in Sheffield. He still talks about it whenever I see him.

Now there is a lot more traffic just pottering along and the speed camera vans have followed to an extent.

Feel like i have missed out