England's longest New Year party finally ended this morning when a snow plough and gritter reached Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in the country, where 30 students and teachers had been cut off for two days.

Supplies of draught beer were down to Black Sheep's Riggwelter as the group from Leeds University cross country club consoled themselves amid 7ft drifts.

They were joined by 17 people rescued from the nearby A66 which was closed between Bowes and Brough as heavy snowfall hit the whole Pennine chain yesterday . The Snake Pass between Manchester and Sheffield was also impassable after drifting caused by high winds.

An even longer siege by the weather is still under way at Cape Wrath on Scotland's north-western tip, where John Ure, 57, is waiting for his wife Kay to return with the ingredients for Christmas dinner. Mrs Ure went shopping in Durness, 11 miles away by boat and car, on 19 December but the road was then closed by snow and she has been holed up in a friend's caravan ever since.

"I'm looking forward to a belated Christmas dinner but it might be Burns' Night – 25 January – before it happens," she said. She has regularly phoned her husband, who has ample supplies and has promised not to open any Christmas presents until she gets back.

The wintry spell is forecast to continue for the first half of January, with fresh snow showers likely to move inland from the east coast today and during the week. Much of the country is also experiencing Alpine conditions, of bright sunshine on a snowbound landscape, so complaints have been largely confined to those obliged to travel.

The lowest overnight temperature recorded was –17C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, and falls to –15C are likely to be widespread at night in Scotland and northern England during the next 10 days. Icy conditions caused serious road accidents in Blackpool, east Sussex and Greater Manchester and six FA Cup third round fixtures have been cancelled.

Snow is expected as far south as London this week, along with transport disruption. Inverness airport is currently closed and rail lines north of the city have also been shut by Network Rail. Brendan Jones of MeteoGroup forecasters said: "It is going to be very, very cold across the country. Bar the odd coastal site temperatures will remain below freezing everywhere every night. Ice on pavements and roads will be a problem for the next 10 days. People should be prepared for the conditions because there is a limit to what gritting can do."

At Tan Hill, which stands in a sea of desolate moorland 528m (1,732ft) at the head of Arkengarthdale on the Yorkshire-Durham border, student Nathan Martin said that spirits had remained high.

"It's been fun – like the ultimate lock-in," he said.

The inn's assistant manager Mike Carter said: "Everyone's had a good time – people were peeling carrots and potatoes and helping to make dinner on an evening. It was a really nice atmosphere.

"Some guests were still in bed this morning when the snowploughs arrived, and they had tea and toast before leaving."