I've just sent this to someone off here….
last night we set out from sheffield in windy, but clearish conditions. On the way out to the peak we could see a bit of rain coming in, but followed by sun. Fine we thought, we'll be ok.
Got to where you can see over to Mam Tor/Rushup, and they were snowbound. Looked like they'd had a fair old dump to be honest, so we knocked it on the head and rode over Stanage way.
Getting out of the car, we got caught in a blizzard. Sideways snow as we were getting ready – grim stuff. Freezing before we'd even got going. Anyway, we set out and a bit of sun broke through. It was just nasty going though. Meltwater had flooded the trails, and on the climbs/descents there were just water falls of icy water.
That said, if you're going tomorrow and the weather improves/holds today you might be in business. I reckon Mam Tor singletrack (Hollins Cross to Mam Nick) would be a mudfest pretty much, but Rushup generally holds up. the Pennine Bridleway will be ok as it's hard pack, and Oaken Clough up to the back of Jacobs should be ok. If the wind's coming in as it normally does ie: a westerly, it should help you up there. It will be bitterly cold though I think. That said, BBC weather says it's going to be 8 degrees with a 8mph wind, so it may not be so bad.
Recommendations? Hmm – I'd still risk Mam Tor, but be prepared for it to be muddy. The only other realistic option is to go up Chapel Gate but that's a bitch of a climb. Good warm up though…… link to the shortcut attached….