Snake Pass by motorcycle: Glossop to Ladybower

Snake Pass is a compact Peak District outing that needs more preparation than its mileage suggests. Build this ride around one crossing and a reservoir stop, leaving room to change plans if the road is closed. This is a researched itinerary; BRoadBikers has not ridden or inspected it.

Route at a glance

Start in Glossop and take the A57 east towards Ladybower, finishing at the A6013 junction. Derbyshire County Council describes Snake Road as a roughly 12-mile section between Glossop and the reservoir. Treat that as the pass section, not a precise distance from your parking space. A stop at Heatherdene, or the ride home, adds mileage. A57 Snake Pass landslip — Derbyshire County Council

Open the route outline in Google Maps. Check that the proposed line actually uses the A57; routing software may substitute another road. Do not override a closure simply to reproduce this itinerary.

Make the crossing the main event

Set up navigation and decide on your end stop before leaving Glossop. Follow the A57 across the pass to Ladybower rather than adding an unfamiliar side-road loop. This keeps the route easy to explain to another rider and makes the decision to abandon it straightforward.

Our suggested format is a half-day outing including your approach and breaks, not a predicted riding time. If you have a fixed appointment afterwards, leave enough flexibility to omit the crossing. A short route can still be a poor choice when visibility or access is uncertain.

Use town stops for regrouping. Agree that anyone who wants to shorten the day can do so without trying to catch the group. Keep photography separate from riding; reaching the reservoir without an intermediate photo stop is a perfectly good version of this trip.

Stop at Ladybower

For an optional walk, continue from the A57 onto the A6013 to Heatherdene car park. The National Park's Ladybower walking guide starts there. Check parking terms on arrival and use the pedestrian route shown by the operator; the walking itinerary is not a motorcycle route. Ladybower — Peak District National Park

Make this a deliberate break: park, take off your helmet, review the return journey and decide whether there is enough daylight and energy for it. We have not verified motorcycle parking charges, refreshment opening hours or space availability, so do not build the day around a promised free space or café.

Access check: 4 October 2026

The council's landslip page records investigation work from mid-June to early July 2026 and identifies four landslip locations. It also warns of winter snow and ice closures. Those historical works do not establish today's opening status. A57 Snake Pass landslip — Derbyshire County Council

The official roadworks page provides the next check. The page was accessible during research, but we could not independently inspect live map entries. Check the full A57 journey immediately before departure. If a closure affects it, choose another outing or the signed diversion; we have not verified an alternative leisure loop.

Before you leave

Read our wet-weather preparation guide and carry the route as a starting point, not a promise of access. For this trip, the key decision is whether conditions justify crossing the pass at all. Keep the distance modest and the return plan flexible.

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