Britain's top 10 cycle climbs:
With Brit Bradley Wiggins leading the Tour de France, there's never been as much interest in road cycling. If you're a serious cyclist or just want a taste of what the pros go through, get on your bike and head for one of these lung-busting hills
Know a good hill climb or cycling route? Add a comment
The Pass of Glen Coe is often voted the most beautiful and spectacular location in the whole of Britain; you can't fail to be in awe of your surroundings as you climb. Leave the banks of Loch Leven and head out on the long, flat approach. Weaving right and left following the river, you don't notice any increase in gradient for a while, but you are climbing. Following the small Loch Achtriochtan, the valley opens up, but there's still no serious increase in gradient. It's only when you see the pass heading to the giant V on the horizon that you feel it bite. The higher you climb, the more the road winds as it avoids huge outcrops of rock – and at one point cuts straight through one. Passing the numerous viewing points, cascading waterfalls and even the odd isolated building, you finish this – the most wonderful of roads – on the heavenly giant plateau at the top.
Where Start the climb at the junction of the B863 and the A82 and then follow the A82 east all the way to the top.
Length 1.35km
Height gain 304m
Approx climb time 36 mins
Deep in the beautiful Cotswolds, this little road has been used for numerous National Hill Climb championships. Although not the steepest of climbs, it is popular probably thanks to its central location and pleasant surroundings. This is one of a number of decent hills in the area – start your climb from Weston-sub-Edge and head south up the ridge, passing the church and the picture-postcard stone houses lining the road rising out of the village. Dotted with drainage grilles, the road kinks left then climbs harder up to a sharp right into a tunnel created by the overhanging canopy of branches. The road's surface begins to break up here, but the climb never becomes too extreme, with a maximum 14% gradient. The surface continues to deteriorate as it gradually arcs left, leaving the trees behind as it nears the summit. The road's topping, now lumpy, re-enters tree cover as the gradient ebbs towards the crest at the Dover's Hill car park.
Where Head south out of Weston-sub-Edge and up the ridge.
Length 1.73km
Height gain 145m
Approx climb time 6 mins
Jiggers Bank rises from the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Ironbridge Gorge, a deep scar in the landscape with towering banks either side. Heading north from the bridge you begin climbing into Coalbrookdale, gently at first away from the valley and the Severn river. Although this is the major route out of the gorge, it's not a busy one; however, there is a set of traffic lights to negotiate at a narrowing in the road, so be prepared for a slight delay. Shortly after the lights you have the option to turn left to take a narrow, twisting route up the same ridge, but stick to the larger road for a better climbing experience. Passing under a railway bridge on to Jiggers Bank, the long straight 10% slog out of the gorge leads to a beautifully smooth set of sweeping bends, where the gradient never slackens. Continue round to the right to the finish, which is even steeper, at the junction with the roundabout.
Where Follow the road through the gorge travelling west from Ironbridge. At a mini-roundabout turn right and begin to climb up Dale End towards Coalbrookdale.
Length 2.68km
Height gain 125m
Approx climb time 8mins
Leaving Langthwaite and the banks of Arkle Beck, the road up to the Tan Hill Inn is an epic climb by UK standards. The narrow, very well-surfaced road, lying like a ribbon draped across a vast expanse of wild grass and gorse, is in many places the only sign of man's presence in this wilderness. Following a lumpy section, the climb really begins after the right-hand turn to the hamlet of Whaw. The gradient is gentle, punctuated with the odd dip or brief bite of 12%, a few bridges and numerous sheep. Windswept and open, this isn't a climb for adverse conditions – the featureless Arkengarthdale moor to your left and Sleightholme moor to your right would become very hostile in bad weather. Climbing on and on and at times flattening out, you come to realise your great height when you see the snow markers lining the road on the final steep section up to the crest and then over to the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Britain.
Where Travel through Arkengarthdale heading west away from Langthwaite. Following a slight dip, begin the climb after the turn to Whaw.
Length 9.95km
Height gain 206m
Approx climb time 27mins
I don't usually head for anything where the map contours are too compact, but one day I did just that and stumbled upon a beauty of a road. If you're riding the National Cycle Network Route 68 and fancy heading off-piste for a while – and if you like it rugged, twisting and wild – look no further. Turn north out of the village of Alnham, cross a cattle grid and head into a set of four hairpin bends so tangled that the road gets almost tied in a knot. Following this you climb gently across a large grassy plateau: the ever-deteriorating surface constantly bending left and right delivers you to the top of a sharp drop, from which point you can see the rest of the climb laid out in all its glory. This final demanding ascent takes you high into the Cheviots and you finish just past the remains of an ancient fort. Unfortunately, it's a dead end so you will have to double back, taking extreme care in descending on the terrible surface.
Where The climb starts across the cattle grid just out of the small village of Alnham on the edge of the Northumberland national park. You'll need a map for this one: it's very well hidden.
Length 3.76km
Height gain 194m
Approx climb time 15 mins
What's remarkable about this climb is its unnerving ability to stick to virtually the same gradient from base to summit, all 10km of it. Head out of Moffat and begin your ascent at the rear of the town sign on the A701, the "scenic trail" to Edinburgh. You will hardly notice the rise at first: pick your gear and begin to wind through countless gentle bends. The road sways left and right, never changing direction, just meandering onwards and upwards. At the junction with the B719 there's the only real change in the slope, a levelling up to a pair of bends, right and then left. Through these and up ahead the beautiful hills line the horizon, rolling, effortlessly morphing into one another and as soft and smooth as giant green pillows. The equally smooth road continues to snake along, continuously climbing, steeper round the side of the hill overlooking the Beef Tub, then gradually evaporating to level and finish.
Where Simply ride north out of Moffat on the A701 and keep going.
Length 1km
Height gain 310m
Approx climb time 27 mins
This corner of Exmoor is hill-climbing heaven, with a plethora of nasty steep roads to grind up and fly down. It's hard to single out one climb that sets itself apart from all others, but the road heading away from Luccombe up to the Beacon is a beast. Leave the crossroads and head into thick forest.
Ramping up straight away at 17% and winding across a steep cattle grid, you ride upwards under the trees. The opening stretch over, your legs will already be burning by the time the gradient affords you a brief rest before the road climbs once more. If you thought the first part was hard, think again. A perfect stretch of unrelenting 17% gradient cuts its way through the gorse, turning left, steeper, right, steeper still and delivering you to the finale. Ahead, the road winds like a streamer dropped from a tall building, kinking left and right, left, right, steep all the way. You'll finish, consumed by fatigue, adjacent to a small stone car park.
Where Leave Porlock heading east on the A39. Turn off south to West Luccombe, ride through the village and then through the village of Horner and take the next right at the crossroads to head up.
Length 3.2km
Height gain 326m
Approx climb time 20mins
There are two ways to start this climb and I've chosen the one that's raced in hill climbs: Woodplumpton Road, which heads south from the A646. This forms the first half of the route to the summit and is also the toughest section to climb. A short distance in you pass the faded white line in the left-hand gutter that marks the starting point for the raced distance. The surface on this quiet lane is generally good but becomes rough and patchy in places; after you pass a gate on your right the gradient steepens. The road passes through tall grassy banks and high stone walls until the gradient begins to lessen and you approach the right-hand bend at the top, and the second white line, marking the finish. From here join the larger Crown Point Road, turning left and across a cattle grid, down a slight dip, winding right before climbing left up the long 10% exposed road to the summit on the moor.
Where The base of the climb is on Woodplumpton Road where it joins the A646 on the south side of Burnley.
Length 2.98km
Height gain 147m
Approx climb time 14 mins
Streatley Hill is an infamous climb in this region, and a recent inclusion in the professional Tour of Britain only strengthened its status as a classic. It rises from the idyllic villages of Streatley and Goring, and as soon as you leave the A329 that bisects them, this unforgiving stretch of road begins to climb. It is steep to the first bend, a slight left, then steeper still for a short section that takes you to the next slight left-hander, where the gradient increases slightly once more. Apart from numerous sunken iron drainage grilles close to the gutter, the surface is good, almost smooth in places. Passing a driveway on the left you reach the final push and the hardest sector. As the road bends right you can picture the summit but have to work very hard to reach it as the road banks left, topping out just past a National Trust car park. Take care here as this is a busy spot with cars turning to enter and exit the car park.
Where Follow the Thames heading north west from Reading along the A329. As the road reaches Streatley, take the first and only left turn on to the narrow B4009 and start to climb.
Length 0.98km
Height gain 130m
Approx climb time 5½mins
This is a beautifully rugged road hidden in the wild heart of the Brecon Beacons. It's a quiet route lying in between two busier roads and seems somewhat forgotten with its crumbling surface and neglected rusting barriers at the top. To start, leave the small village of Heol Senni, follow the river south and begin the climb adjacent to a right-hand junction. Stay left and head on up. The narrow, gnarled strip of now very rough tarmac climbs and winds through twisted trees either side, easing a pinch as you cross the first of two cattle grids. You feel like you're in a truly isolated wilderness as the road gradually climbs steeper, approaching the two wicked hairpins; first sharp left, then sharp right with a really tough stretch between them. Round the second hairpin and it eases to finish at the brow – the beauty of your surroundings will mask any pain. If only all roads were as quiet and wonderful as this.
Where Riding into Heol Senni from the east, from the A4215, turn left just before the village. Head along this road and start the climb just past the next right-hand juction.
Length 1.82km
Height gain 188m
Approx climb time 11 mins
Extracts taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs and Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs by Simon Warren
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
With Brit Bradley Wiggins leading the Tour de France, there's never been as much interest in road cycling. If you're a serious cyclist or just want a taste of what the pros go through, get on your bike and head for one of these lung-busting hills
Know a good hill climb or cycling route? Add a comment
Glen Coe, Highland
The Pass of Glen Coe is often voted the most beautiful and spectacular location in the whole of Britain; you can't fail to be in awe of your surroundings as you climb. Leave the banks of Loch Leven and head out on the long, flat approach. Weaving right and left following the river, you don't notice any increase in gradient for a while, but you are climbing. Following the small Loch Achtriochtan, the valley opens up, but there's still no serious increase in gradient. It's only when you see the pass heading to the giant V on the horizon that you feel it bite. The higher you climb, the more the road winds as it avoids huge outcrops of rock – and at one point cuts straight through one. Passing the numerous viewing points, cascading waterfalls and even the odd isolated building, you finish this – the most wonderful of roads – on the heavenly giant plateau at the top.
Where Start the climb at the junction of the B863 and the A82 and then follow the A82 east all the way to the top.
Length 1.35km
Height gain 304m
Approx climb time 36 mins
Dover's Hill, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
Deep in the beautiful Cotswolds, this little road has been used for numerous National Hill Climb championships. Although not the steepest of climbs, it is popular probably thanks to its central location and pleasant surroundings. This is one of a number of decent hills in the area – start your climb from Weston-sub-Edge and head south up the ridge, passing the church and the picture-postcard stone houses lining the road rising out of the village. Dotted with drainage grilles, the road kinks left then climbs harder up to a sharp right into a tunnel created by the overhanging canopy of branches. The road's surface begins to break up here, but the climb never becomes too extreme, with a maximum 14% gradient. The surface continues to deteriorate as it gradually arcs left, leaving the trees behind as it nears the summit. The road's topping, now lumpy, re-enters tree cover as the gradient ebbs towards the crest at the Dover's Hill car park.
Where Head south out of Weston-sub-Edge and up the ridge.
Length 1.73km
Height gain 145m
Approx climb time 6 mins
Jiggers Bank, Ironbridge, Shropshire
Jiggers Bank rises from the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Ironbridge Gorge, a deep scar in the landscape with towering banks either side. Heading north from the bridge you begin climbing into Coalbrookdale, gently at first away from the valley and the Severn river. Although this is the major route out of the gorge, it's not a busy one; however, there is a set of traffic lights to negotiate at a narrowing in the road, so be prepared for a slight delay. Shortly after the lights you have the option to turn left to take a narrow, twisting route up the same ridge, but stick to the larger road for a better climbing experience. Passing under a railway bridge on to Jiggers Bank, the long straight 10% slog out of the gorge leads to a beautifully smooth set of sweeping bends, where the gradient never slackens. Continue round to the right to the finish, which is even steeper, at the junction with the roundabout.
Where Follow the road through the gorge travelling west from Ironbridge. At a mini-roundabout turn right and begin to climb up Dale End towards Coalbrookdale.
Length 2.68km
Height gain 125m
Approx climb time 8mins
Tan Hill, Langthwaite, North Yorkshire
Leaving Langthwaite and the banks of Arkle Beck, the road up to the Tan Hill Inn is an epic climb by UK standards. The narrow, very well-surfaced road, lying like a ribbon draped across a vast expanse of wild grass and gorse, is in many places the only sign of man's presence in this wilderness. Following a lumpy section, the climb really begins after the right-hand turn to the hamlet of Whaw. The gradient is gentle, punctuated with the odd dip or brief bite of 12%, a few bridges and numerous sheep. Windswept and open, this isn't a climb for adverse conditions – the featureless Arkengarthdale moor to your left and Sleightholme moor to your right would become very hostile in bad weather. Climbing on and on and at times flattening out, you come to realise your great height when you see the snow markers lining the road on the final steep section up to the crest and then over to the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Britain.
Where Travel through Arkengarthdale heading west away from Langthwaite. Following a slight dip, begin the climb after the turn to Whaw.
Length 9.95km
Height gain 206m
Approx climb time 27mins
High Knowes, Alnham, Northumberland
I don't usually head for anything where the map contours are too compact, but one day I did just that and stumbled upon a beauty of a road. If you're riding the National Cycle Network Route 68 and fancy heading off-piste for a while – and if you like it rugged, twisting and wild – look no further. Turn north out of the village of Alnham, cross a cattle grid and head into a set of four hairpin bends so tangled that the road gets almost tied in a knot. Following this you climb gently across a large grassy plateau: the ever-deteriorating surface constantly bending left and right delivers you to the top of a sharp drop, from which point you can see the rest of the climb laid out in all its glory. This final demanding ascent takes you high into the Cheviots and you finish just past the remains of an ancient fort. Unfortunately, it's a dead end so you will have to double back, taking extreme care in descending on the terrible surface.
Where The climb starts across the cattle grid just out of the small village of Alnham on the edge of the Northumberland national park. You'll need a map for this one: it's very well hidden.
Length 3.76km
Height gain 194m
Approx climb time 15 mins
Devil's Beef Tub, Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway
What's remarkable about this climb is its unnerving ability to stick to virtually the same gradient from base to summit, all 10km of it. Head out of Moffat and begin your ascent at the rear of the town sign on the A701, the "scenic trail" to Edinburgh. You will hardly notice the rise at first: pick your gear and begin to wind through countless gentle bends. The road sways left and right, never changing direction, just meandering onwards and upwards. At the junction with the B719 there's the only real change in the slope, a levelling up to a pair of bends, right and then left. Through these and up ahead the beautiful hills line the horizon, rolling, effortlessly morphing into one another and as soft and smooth as giant green pillows. The equally smooth road continues to snake along, continuously climbing, steeper round the side of the hill overlooking the Beef Tub, then gradually evaporating to level and finish.
Where Simply ride north out of Moffat on the A701 and keep going.
Length 1km
Height gain 310m
Approx climb time 27 mins
Dunkery Beacon, Porlock, Somerset
This corner of Exmoor is hill-climbing heaven, with a plethora of nasty steep roads to grind up and fly down. It's hard to single out one climb that sets itself apart from all others, but the road heading away from Luccombe up to the Beacon is a beast. Leave the crossroads and head into thick forest.
Ramping up straight away at 17% and winding across a steep cattle grid, you ride upwards under the trees. The opening stretch over, your legs will already be burning by the time the gradient affords you a brief rest before the road climbs once more. If you thought the first part was hard, think again. A perfect stretch of unrelenting 17% gradient cuts its way through the gorse, turning left, steeper, right, steeper still and delivering you to the finale. Ahead, the road winds like a streamer dropped from a tall building, kinking left and right, left, right, steep all the way. You'll finish, consumed by fatigue, adjacent to a small stone car park.
Where Leave Porlock heading east on the A39. Turn off south to West Luccombe, ride through the village and then through the village of Horner and take the next right at the crossroads to head up.
Length 3.2km
Height gain 326m
Approx climb time 20mins
Crown Point, Burnley, Lancashire
There are two ways to start this climb and I've chosen the one that's raced in hill climbs: Woodplumpton Road, which heads south from the A646. This forms the first half of the route to the summit and is also the toughest section to climb. A short distance in you pass the faded white line in the left-hand gutter that marks the starting point for the raced distance. The surface on this quiet lane is generally good but becomes rough and patchy in places; after you pass a gate on your right the gradient steepens. The road passes through tall grassy banks and high stone walls until the gradient begins to lessen and you approach the right-hand bend at the top, and the second white line, marking the finish. From here join the larger Crown Point Road, turning left and across a cattle grid, down a slight dip, winding right before climbing left up the long 10% exposed road to the summit on the moor.
Where The base of the climb is on Woodplumpton Road where it joins the A646 on the south side of Burnley.
Length 2.98km
Height gain 147m
Approx climb time 14 mins
Streatley Hill, Streatley, Berkshire
Streatley Hill is an infamous climb in this region, and a recent inclusion in the professional Tour of Britain only strengthened its status as a classic. It rises from the idyllic villages of Streatley and Goring, and as soon as you leave the A329 that bisects them, this unforgiving stretch of road begins to climb. It is steep to the first bend, a slight left, then steeper still for a short section that takes you to the next slight left-hander, where the gradient increases slightly once more. Apart from numerous sunken iron drainage grilles close to the gutter, the surface is good, almost smooth in places. Passing a driveway on the left you reach the final push and the hardest sector. As the road bends right you can picture the summit but have to work very hard to reach it as the road banks left, topping out just past a National Trust car park. Take care here as this is a busy spot with cars turning to enter and exit the car park.
Where Follow the Thames heading north west from Reading along the A329. As the road reaches Streatley, take the first and only left turn on to the narrow B4009 and start to climb.
Length 0.98km
Height gain 130m
Approx climb time 5½mins
Heol Senni, Brecon, Powys
This is a beautifully rugged road hidden in the wild heart of the Brecon Beacons. It's a quiet route lying in between two busier roads and seems somewhat forgotten with its crumbling surface and neglected rusting barriers at the top. To start, leave the small village of Heol Senni, follow the river south and begin the climb adjacent to a right-hand junction. Stay left and head on up. The narrow, gnarled strip of now very rough tarmac climbs and winds through twisted trees either side, easing a pinch as you cross the first of two cattle grids. You feel like you're in a truly isolated wilderness as the road gradually climbs steeper, approaching the two wicked hairpins; first sharp left, then sharp right with a really tough stretch between them. Round the second hairpin and it eases to finish at the brow – the beauty of your surroundings will mask any pain. If only all roads were as quiet and wonderful as this.
Where Riding into Heol Senni from the east, from the A4215, turn left just before the village. Head along this road and start the climb just past the next right-hand juction.
Length 1.82km
Height gain 188m
Approx climb time 11 mins
Extracts taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs and Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs by Simon Warren
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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