The road, whose hair-raising bends are often made treacherous by bad weather, was first designed as a toll road by the famous engineer Thomas Telford and financed by the Duke of Devonshire.
Opened on August 23, 1821, at the time it was England’s highest turnpike road.
One amusing tradition that takes place near the road is the annual Great Kinder Beer Barrel Challenge. The original challenge was laid down on a bleak January night when Edale shepherd Geoff Townsend complained that the Old Nags Head Inn had run out of his favourite beer. Geoff jokingly offered to fetch a barrel from the Snake Pass Inn, only three miles away as the crow flies, but with 900ft of ascent and descent in between.
The landlord challenged him to do just that, with the promise he would win its contents, and now teams race carrying barrels on mountain rescue stretchers.
. Long walk home?
An abandoned car in a layby on the Snake Pass being recovered Photo: Steve Ellis
. Seventies Snake
The Snake Pass, Derbyshire, pictured in June 1970 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
1. Long walk home?
An abandoned car in a layby on the Snake Pass being recovered Photo: Steve Ellis
3. Seventies Snake
The Snake Pass, Derbyshire, pictured in June 1970 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
4. Thirsty work!
Members of the Edale Field Head rangers team on their way to the finish of the Great Kinder Beer Barrel challenge race between the Snake Inn on the Snake Pass over Kinder Scout to finish at the Old Nag's Head in Edale Photo: Chris Lawton