Cars could be banned from using one of the UK’s most dangerous roads

It is a road that offers some of the most breathtaking views in the UK – but Snake Pass could potentially close to cars.

The famous route connects both Manchester and Sheffield but is under threat because of extreme weather and dangerous landslips.

This has led to frequent closures, especially in the winter, with a local councillor warning the authority cannot keep up with the cost of repairs.

The 200-year-old road, named after a former pub that sat by it, could instead open up just for walkers and cyclists, campaigners suggest.

Charlotte Cupit, Derbyshire County Council’s member for transport, told the BBC: ‘I think that Snake Pass because of the geology of the area has always been a bit of a challenge in terms of landslips and movement in the area.

‘Sadly with some of the floods, and some of the big snowfall events, Snake bears the brunt of that quite often because it’s one of the highest points in the county.’

There are currently four landslips along Snake Pass of varying degrees of severity, Ms Cupit said.

She also said that half of the road has disappeared along the route near Alport.

This means traffic lights have been installed so cars only use one of the lanes.

Ms Cupit said the council does not have the resources if a major landslip does occur.

She warned: ‘We haven’t got the resources to be able to carry out the repair, because that’s many millions of pounds, and that would take it off the wider highways budget that we currently get.

‘County-wide we only get about £27million a year as a base, and that’s for the whole county – 3,500 miles of roads.’

Despite Snake Pass being the main route between Sheffield and Manchester, Derbyshire County Council is the authority responsible for the road.

A spokesperson from Derbyshire County Council told Metro the council will do everything it can to keep the road open.

The spokesperson said: ‘We have no plans to close Snake Pass. There are several landslips on the road, which we are managing.

‘We hope that the road remains stable, and will do everything we can to keep it open within the budgets that we have.’

Cycling campaigner Harry Gray told the BBC the road could be turned into a cycling and walking route, similar to the nearby Monsal Trail.

Around 300,000 people use that a year, which helps boost local tourism and the economy, according to Harry.

He hopes Snake Pass could become one of the most famous walking and cycling routes in the country if it did close to cars.

Derbyshire County Council has asked the Department for Transport (DfT) for a ‘landslip fund’.

But the department stopped short of offering the local council this fund to help with future repairs and said £75million has been given to the East Midlands Combined Authority.

A spokesperson for the DfT told Metro: ‘We understand the disruption and frustration landslides on Snake Pass can cause for drivers and local communities.

‘While Derbyshire County Council is responsible for the road, we have provided £75million to the East Midlands Combined Authority for 2025/26 to help support them in maintaining their local roads.’

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