MAN · United Kingdom
Within an hour of the Cat and Fiddle, the Snake Pass and the Peak District, and within two of both the Lake District and Snowdonia.
Great roads in range
14
First road from the terminal
Cat and Fiddle Road, about 19 min
Best months
April to October
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Drive times are estimates from the terminal to the start of each road, padded for mountain routing. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 2 March 2026
Ranked
01 · Lake District, England
England's steepest road gradient, a brutal one in three climb over Roman ruins.
About 2 hr 42 min from the airport · 3.1 mi · Rating 9.5 / 10
Ice and snow regularly close the summit in winter
02 · Snowdonia, Wales
A dramatic pass beneath Snowdon's crags linking two of Wales's most storied villages.
About 2 hr 37 min from the airport · 9.9 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Can ice near the summit in cold snaps
03 · Lake District, England
A steep slate quarry pass squeezed between towering fells above Buttermere.
About 2 hr 54 min from the airport · 4 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Ice and snow can close the summit in winter
04 · Peak District, England
A biker and driver favourite of fast open curves past England's second highest pub.
About 19 min from the airport · 7.1 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10
Ice and fog common on the exposed summit in winter
05 · Peak District, England
Sweeping moorland A road that rolls and dips across the wild Pennine spine.
About 29 min from the airport · 9.9 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10
Regularly closed by snow drifts in winter
06 · Yorkshire Dales, England
Tour de France famous climb past limestone potholes between two classic dale villages.
About 2 hr 12 min from the airport · 6.8 mi · Rating 9.1 / 10
Snow can close the pass for short periods in winter
07 · Lake District, England
Narrow single track linking Langdale to Duddon Valley over the ancient Three Shire Stone.
About 2 hr 41 min from the airport · 4 mi · Rating 9.1 / 10
Prone to ice and occasional winter closure
08 · Forest of Bowland, England
A ribbon of tarmac threading heather fells said to mark the centre of Britain.
About 1 hr 25 min from the airport · 6.2 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10
Can flood or ice over in poor weather
09 · Denbigh Moors, Wales
One leg of the legendary Evo Triangle, a flowing high speed moorland test road.
About 1 hr 38 min from the airport · 14.9 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10
Exposed moorland stretch can ice in winter
10 · North Pennines, England
A biker's classic with wide open views across the Eden Valley to the Lakeland fells.
About 3 hr 21 min from the airport · 8.1 mi · Rating 9.1 / 10
One of England's first roads to close in snow
11 · Denbighshire, Wales
A famous horseshoe bend switchback climbing out of the Vale of Llangollen.
About 1 hr 32 min from the airport · 11.2 mi · Rating 8.8 / 10
Snow gates close the summit in severe winter weather
12 · Snowdonia, Wales
The connecting stretch of the Evo Triangle beloved for its rhythmic fast corners.
About 2 hr 5 min from the airport · 6.2 mi · Rating 8.8 / 10
13 · Black Mountains, Wales
Wales's highest surfaced road climbs open sheepwalks above the Wye valley.
About 3 hr 13 min from the airport · 6.8 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10
The highest road pass in Wales, closes in heavy snow
14 · Lake District, England
The highest road pass in the Lakes open to through traffic, with sweeping fell views.
About 2 hr 38 min from the airport · 6.8 mi · Rating 8.7 / 10
The highest pub in England marks a summit that ices readily
Practical
Every major supplier, good pricing and quick access to the M56 and the A537.
April to October. Prices and availability move sharply either side of those months, so lock the car in before the flights if you want anything more interesting than a diesel hatchback.