Snake Pass (A57)

The tarmac is generally good, with long, open corners across the top and tighter, tree-lined sections as you drop down towards Ladybower. The road climbs steadily out of Glossop and keeps you up on the moor for most of the run, so the character is big-sky riding rather than technical hairpin work.

It flows best when you're smooth rather than fast. There are average-speed cameras on the road, which suits the place fine. This is a road to ride for the view and the feel of the hills, not the stopwatch.

Snake Pass links naturally with the rest of the Peak District's riding. Many riders pair it with the run over to the Cat and Fiddle on the other side of the national park, or loop back through the Hope Valley and Winnats Pass area for a full day in the hills.

The Ladybower and Derwent reservoirs sit just off the road and are worth a stop, and the surrounding lanes give you plenty of options to stretch the ride in either direction.

The road passes through working farmland and small communities, so keep the noise down near houses and give walkers, cyclists and horse riders plenty of room.

There's no racing to be done here. Average-speed cameras cover the route, and the road rewards a relaxed hand far more than a heavy one.