Peak District by Motorcycle: Cat and Fiddle, Snake Pass and Winnats

The Peak District sits between Manchester, Sheffield and Derby, and on a dry weekend it is one of the busiest biking areas in England. The draw is a handful of famous moorland roads packed into a small area: the Cat and Fiddle, the Snake Pass and Winnats Pass, all within an hour of each other. This loop from Buxton rides all three in about 120km (75 mi), with enough time left for a long lunch and a second go at your favourite.

The route

Buxton to Macclesfield over the Cat and Fiddle (about 19km / 12 mi). Leave Buxton west on the A537. The road climbs straight onto the moor and past the Cat and Fiddle Inn, at around 515m (1,690ft) one of the highest pubs in England, then winds down to Macclesfield through a long series of bends with the Cheshire Plain spread out below. Ride it in both directions if you have time: the descent towards Macclesfield and the climb back to Buxton feel like two different roads.

Macclesfield to Glossop (about 35km / 22 mi). Head north through Bollington and Whaley Bridge, then over to Glossop via Hayfield. This is the link section, through towns and villages, with a few good bends on the climb out of Hayfield.

Glossop to Ladybower over the Snake Pass (about 26km / 16 mi). The A57 climbs east out of Glossop onto open peat moor, tops out at about 510m (1,680ft) and then drops through forest along the River Ashop past the Snake Pass Inn. The upper part is wide open with long sight lines; the lower half is a run of bends through the trees. At the bottom, the road crosses the Ladybower reservoir on a viaduct. The road up to Derwent dam, where 617 Squadron practised for the Dambusters raid, is a short detour north.

Ladybower to Castleton and Winnats Pass (about 12km / 7 mi). Follow the A6013 south through Bamford, then the A6187 west through Hope to Castleton. Winnats Pass climbs out of the far end of the village through a narrow limestone gorge, steep enough to need first gear on the hairpin at the bottom. It replaced the old A625 over Mam Tor, which was closed for good after landslips: you can still see the broken road from the top.

Castleton back to Buxton (about 25km / 16 mi). Cross the top of the moor to the A623 and come back to Buxton through Peak Forest, or carry on south to the A6 and ride it into Buxton from Taddington.

The Cat and Fiddle: what to expect

The A537 has a long history as one of England's most dangerous roads for bikers, and the response has been a 50mph limit and average-speed cameras along the route, plus regular police patrols on summer weekends. Treat it as a road to enjoy at a sensible pace, not a place to chase lap times. The bends are well sighted on the moor but tighten without much warning on the Macclesfield side, and the surface collects gravel and water at the edges. Fog sits on the top on many mornings even when the valleys are clear.

The Snake Pass: what to expect

The Snake is a real mountain road by English standards. It is often the first road in the area to close in snow, and the peat ground under it has caused landslips that have shut it for weeks at a time. Check National Highways or Derbyshire County Council road updates before you set off. In the wet, the lower section through the forest stays damp and greasy long after the moor has dried. Expect the odd lorry and plenty of cyclists on the climb from Glossop.

Extensions

• Holme Moss (A6024). North of Glossop, the A628 Woodhead road and the A6024 over Holme Moss add a high, exposed climb with views into West Yorkshire. Good on a clear day, bleak in cloud.
• The A6 and Matlock Bath. South from Buxton, the A6 runs through the limestone dales to Bakewell and Matlock. Matlock Bath, in the Derwent gorge, is a long-standing meeting place for riders on dry weekends, with the bikes lined up along the riverside.
• The A54 and A53. West of Buxton, the A54 to Congleton and the A53 to Leek pass the gritstone edges of the Roaches. Both are quieter than the Cat and Fiddle and just as good to ride.

Riding tips for the Peak

Weekends from spring to autumn are busy, with cars, cyclists and walkers' cars parked on the verges near every popular path. Ride early in the morning or on a weekday if you can. Sheep wander the open moor roads, and the cattle grids at the edges of the moors can be slippery in the wet: cross them upright and off the brakes. Many of the villages have 30mph or 20mph limits, and speed vans work the main routes in summer. The weather on the tops can be several degrees colder than in Buxton or Sheffield, so pack a layer even in July.

A suggested day

Start early from Buxton and ride the Cat and Fiddle to Macclesfield before the Sunday traffic builds, then turn round and ride it back towards Buxton while it is still quiet. Head north to Glossop for a mid-morning break, take the Snake Pass east in the late morning, and stop at Ladybower for lunch. In the afternoon, ride up to Derwent dam, then round to Castleton for Winnats Pass, and finish with the A623 or the A6 back to Buxton. If you still have the energy, the A54 and A53 make a fine evening run with the sun low over the Roaches. On a weekday you can ride the whole loop at an easy pace in five or six hours with stops; on a sunny bank holiday weekend allow far longer, or swap the order and ride the Snake Pass first.

Kit and bikes

Any bike suits the main roads here, from sports bikes to big tourers. Winnats Pass is the only part that asks for real low-speed skill, with a steep hairpin at the Castleton end and cars stopping without warning to take photos. Heated grips are worth having outside high summer: the wind across the top of the Snake can be bitter even when the valleys are warm. Fuel is easy to find in Buxton, Macclesfield, Glossop and Bakewell.

When to go

April to October. May, June and September bring the best mix of long days and quieter roads. Bank holidays and sunny Sundays are the busiest days of the year on the Cat and Fiddle and Winnats. In winter, the high roads can be closed by snow or ice and the low sun makes the moor bends hard to read.

Where to stay

Buxton is the natural base: central, with all three roads within half an hour. Castleton, Hope and Bakewell are quieter options, and Glossop works if you are coming from the north-west. See all Peak District biker-friendly stays. To carry on north, the Yorkshire Dales loop is about two hours away, and the Lake District passes about two and a half. For Wales, start with the A470 and the Evo Triangle.