Your top 5 UK climbs
Schleck's Chain
Posts: 31
What are your top five UK climbs?
I guess we will have different criteria to judge what makes a good climb. For me - as the list below shows - I rate a climb by how "epic" it feels plus the scenery.
My personal top 5 would be:
The Struggle (378m; 4.5km @ 8%: https://www.strava.com/segments/1206016)
Some might prefer the shorter but sharper climbs in the Lakes but - for me - the Struggle has it all. Starting from genteel Ambleside and ending high among the Fells. Huge height gain with some steep sections. All culminating in the dramatic zig-zag to the Kirkstone Inn at the Summit.
Marchlyn Mawr (536m; 7.7km @ 7%: https://www.strava.com/segments/4151349)
One of the longest climbs I've found in the UK. The second half is fantastic as the road rises without relenting through the wilderness within the bowl of the mountains.
Porlock Toll Road (366m; 6.6km @ 5%: https://www.strava.com/segments/894936)
No real steep sections but a stunning road rising through the wooded section through the hairpins and eventually leading out to fantastic sea views.
Gospel Pass (444m; 8.2km @ 5%: https://www.strava.com/segments/4452068)
If the slightly rolling start is a bit of an anticlimax, the rest makes up for it. A good test of a steep section through the woods leads over a cattle grid and onto what feels like the top of the world. One of the most stunning roads I've ridden leads across the top of the hills to the summit.
Great Dun Fell (617m; 7.4km @ 8%: https://www.strava.com/segments/12041989)
Lived up all the hype. The day I climbed it, there was a low fog that reduced visibility to metres. Until I hit halfway up and ascended into blue skies. A testing climb in a fantastic setting that truly feels epic.
Interested in what other people rate as their top 5.
I guess we will have different criteria to judge what makes a good climb. For me - as the list below shows - I rate a climb by how "epic" it feels plus the scenery.
My personal top 5 would be:
The Struggle (378m; 4.5km @ 8%: https://www.strava.com/segments/1206016)
Some might prefer the shorter but sharper climbs in the Lakes but - for me - the Struggle has it all. Starting from genteel Ambleside and ending high among the Fells. Huge height gain with some steep sections. All culminating in the dramatic zig-zag to the Kirkstone Inn at the Summit.
Marchlyn Mawr (536m; 7.7km @ 7%: https://www.strava.com/segments/4151349)
One of the longest climbs I've found in the UK. The second half is fantastic as the road rises without relenting through the wilderness within the bowl of the mountains.
Porlock Toll Road (366m; 6.6km @ 5%: https://www.strava.com/segments/894936)
No real steep sections but a stunning road rising through the wooded section through the hairpins and eventually leading out to fantastic sea views.
Gospel Pass (444m; 8.2km @ 5%: https://www.strava.com/segments/4452068)
If the slightly rolling start is a bit of an anticlimax, the rest makes up for it. A good test of a steep section through the woods leads over a cattle grid and onto what feels like the top of the world. One of the most stunning roads I've ridden leads across the top of the hills to the summit.
Great Dun Fell (617m; 7.4km @ 8%: https://www.strava.com/segments/12041989)
Lived up all the hype. The day I climbed it, there was a low fog that reduced visibility to metres. Until I hit halfway up and ascended into blue skies. A testing climb in a fantastic setting that truly feels epic.
Interested in what other people rate as their top 5.
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1) Bealach Na Ba (from east)
2) Porlock Toll road
3) Gospel pass (from north)
4) Honister pass (from west)
5) Tan hill (from east)
Chosen for shear beauty mainlyleft the forum March 20230 -
In no particular order
1 Holme Moss - memories of Phil and Friends ride pre sportive boom
2 Via Gellia - Local climb like the long gradual gradient and the way it emerges from trees onto open country at the top
3 Froggat Edge A625 - Lovely climb I used to commute to sheffield over - fantastic descent if you have a tail wind too
4 Alport Heights from Duffield - OK not a single climb as such more a series of climbs punctuated by flat sections but I've never suffered as much as the old training ride that used to go over this with local "hitters" of the time Dave and Reg Spencer, Eagers, Pedley et al. Makes a fantastic climb on a summers evening too - top is exactly 10 miles from my front door.
5 Clee Hill - part of the old Elizabethan road race circuit and then part of Brendan Chiu LVRC race - never actually managed to get to the top in the front group but it's the hardest climb I've been up in an race.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles0
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In random order, my favourite five, picked for beauty of location, are,
Llyn Brianne - Cambrian Mountains.
An amazing mountain road.
Bealach Na Ba - Applecross.
I love both sides.
Countisbury Hill - Lynmouth, Exmoor.
More dramatically beautiful than Porlock Toll Road, a stunning climb up the coast.
Foreland Lighthouse - Lynmouth, Exmoor.
A remarkable 'hidden' climb up the other side of Countisbury Hill; only ridden by 16 people on Strava.
https://www.strava.com/segments/8234050?filter=overall
Lee Bay, Woody Bay to Jose's Lane - The Valley of Rocks, Lynton, Exmoor.
Everyone should try to ride this road once; Jered Gruber said he preferred it to the Stelvio (I've never ridden the Stelvio, so I can't comment on that).
Obvious bias because of where I live and ride, but if you live in one of the best riding locations in the UK then I guess it's going to happen like that.0 -
Thanks - some good tips. I need to head West of Porlock!
Do you have a Strava link to the climb up Llyn Brianne? I may be that way next Easter.0 -
Schleck's Chain wrote:Thanks - some good tips. I need to head West of Porlock!
Do you have a Strava link to the climb up Llyn Brianne? I may be that way next Easter.
West of Porlock is unbelievable... here's the link to Llyn Brianne:
https://www.strava.com/segments/1147998?filter=overall
Here's a great loop in the Cambrian Mountains: https://www.strava.com/activities/3803792180 -
Crackington Haven, Cornwall.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1262448
Steep, and gets steeper.....a good westerly off the Atlantic helps quite a bit...!0 -
If only there was a series of books on the UK climbs....0
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I would agree with the climb upto Alport heights from Duffield. I live 10 minutes from the bottom of the climb and it is a delight.
I would then say locally the climb from the via Gellia through Bonsall.
Riber castle is pretty hard.
Another little known climb is from whatstandwell upto Crich. After a few yards turn left and prepare to suffer.0 -
1. Bealach Na Ba from the south. Never climbed it from Applecross.
2. The struggle.
3. Cairn O Mount from Fettercairn.
4. The Lecht from Corgaff. Love that descent
5. The climb over to Otter Ferry from Glendaurel in Cowal. Very quiet lovely views out west from the top.0 -
bernithebiker wrote:Crackington Haven, Cornwall.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1262448
Steep, and gets steeper.....a good westerly off the Atlantic helps quite a bit...!
An 80 meters climb? Shouldn't it be in 3 digits to qualify as a climb and in 4 to qualify as an epic climb?
left the forum March 20230 -
ugo.santalucia wrote:bernithebiker wrote:Crackington Haven, Cornwall.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1262448
Steep, and gets steeper.....a good westerly off the Atlantic helps quite a bit...!
An 80 meters climb? Shouldn't it be in 3 digits to qualify as a climb and in 4 to qualify as an epic climb?
I found that giving it full beans up there was tougher than climbing say, Alpe d'Huez, but each to their own....!
And by 'top' I'm considering views, enjoyment factor, etc. etc.....
A bit like asking what's your Top 5 favourite films - you're gonna get a shed load of different answers....0 -
bernithebiker wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:bernithebiker wrote:Crackington Haven, Cornwall.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1262448
Steep, and gets steeper.....a good westerly off the Atlantic helps quite a bit...!
An 80 meters climb? Shouldn't it be in 3 digits to qualify as a climb and in 4 to qualify as an epic climb?
I found that giving it full beans up there was tougher than climbing say, Alpe d'Huez, but each to their own....!
And by 'top' I'm considering views, enjoyment factor, etc. etc.....
A bit like asking what's your Top 5 favourite films - you're gonna get a shed load of different answers....
Not sure how many will include the new Burberry advert though...
left the forum March 20230
