TheCountryside around Buxton snowed under last night, someone in a van was blown sideways by a crosswind and blocked the main Buxton to Manchester road, which was a twelve-mile long stationary nose-to-tail jam by the time I tried to get on it. Two other main roads out of Buxton (to Macclesfield and Congleton) were blocked by snow.

I got past the blockage via a back road, a quarry access road and part of a golf course (I think; it was hard to tell whether it was a bunker or a snowdrift).

The roads were not gritted in advance, and drivers were not warned that bad weather was expected that day (though people should pay more attention to weather forecasts).

In a part of Britain well known for harsh weather, I saw very few drivers equipped with basics such as wellingtons or other boots, shovels, warm clothing (everyone just sat with the engines idling and heaters going full blast for an hour and a half).

I don't consider myself much of an enterprising or resourceful character, but my successful detour was emulated by barely a dozen drivers out of several hundred.