Best places in the UK for hilly road riding....
Discussion
Have done a few nice places in the UK and having just done a fantastic week away in the Peak District I am already looking at where else to go. I have done Dartmoor and Exmoor (I prefer the Peaks to Exmoor I think, but both wonderful and preferable to Dartmoor I think). I have visited the Lake District 5 years ago but not for cycling and I'm tempted to go back as it is stunning. I have never been to the Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors....any ideas as to whether they'd be better than the Dales? I have been to the Cairngorms several times but mainly for mountain biking and whilst it's an utterly, utterly stunning place I'm not too convinced it's great for road riding because there aren't actually that many roads there!!
Cornwall?
As a rule, I am not a huge fan of the really narrow roads which often have poor surfaces (which increase chances of punctures), relatively wide-ish B roads are my preference, not too much traffic and lots of hills. Winnats Pass in the Peak District was a favourite of mine! I did a 49 mile ride there with 6100ft of climbing and loved it
Many thanks!
Cornwall?
As a rule, I am not a huge fan of the really narrow roads which often have poor surfaces (which increase chances of punctures), relatively wide-ish B roads are my preference, not too much traffic and lots of hills. Winnats Pass in the Peak District was a favourite of mine! I did a 49 mile ride there with 6100ft of climbing and loved it
Many thanks!
Have a look at the route of the Dragon ride. Haven’t done it for a few years but there were some lovely, long’ish climbs on it.
I did a sportive in Cornwall on Sunday on probably the poorest roads I’ve ever ridden on for a sportive. Luckily weather was good. Not much in the way of long hills just constant, short leg rippers everywhere.
I’m also doing a three day event in Scotland next week the second day of which goes through the Cairngorms. Some lovely long climbs with some really steep stuff on some of them. Drawback is it’s from Pitlochry to Aviemore so not a loop.
I did a sportive in Cornwall on Sunday on probably the poorest roads I’ve ever ridden on for a sportive. Luckily weather was good. Not much in the way of long hills just constant, short leg rippers everywhere.
I’m also doing a three day event in Scotland next week the second day of which goes through the Cairngorms. Some lovely long climbs with some really steep stuff on some of them. Drawback is it’s from Pitlochry to Aviemore so not a loop.
Where we are in Kent is surprisingly (to some) hilly. There are a few organised sportives but this would be one example that I can testify is a leg buster:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11744403
What there aren't are the long climbs that you get elsewhere but what they lack in length they make up for in gradient!
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11744403
What there aren't are the long climbs that you get elsewhere but what they lack in length they make up for in gradient!
murray said:
Have a look at the route of the Dragon ride. Haven’t done it for a few years but there were some lovely, long’ish climbs on it.
Yeh I’d second this, the Brecons have some really good climbs and are mostly good wide roads. You have the Tumble, Gospel Pass, Devil’s Elbow, the Blwch and the Rhigos. I’ve got a good loop that starts in Treorchy, up one side of the Blwch, down then onto the Rhigos, down into Neath then up the other side of the Blwch. The last stint is pretty much 15 or miles of uphill. Total route is ~60 miles and 6000ft.
Matt_N said:
murray said:
Have a look at the route of the Dragon ride. Haven’t done it for a few years but there were some lovely, long’ish climbs on it.
Yeh I’d second this, the Brecons have some really good climbs and are mostly good wide roads. You have the Tumble, Gospel Pass, Devil’s Elbow, the Blwch and the Rhigos. I’ve got a good loop that starts in Treorchy, up one side of the Blwch, down then onto the Rhigos, down into Neath then up the other side of the Blwch. The last stint is pretty much 15 or miles of uphill. Total route is ~60 miles and 6000ft.
towser44 said:
The Isle of Wight! I swear there is no flat on that island. I did the Randonnee 2 weeks ago and it was 5,500 feet over the 72 miles I did.
Ironically just on my doorstep, I'm based around Portsmouth..... It's a nice area but I'd like somewhere a bit bigger so as well as cycling I can go out and visit other places etc What about Northumberland? It's stunning and hardly anyone there. Rolling hills near the coast and bigger hills over towards kielder. In terms of other stuff to do, Beamish museum is amazing, lindisfarne worth a look, farne islands on a boat, some of the most stunning beaches in the uk. Love the place, just a shame it's so far away!
Noty cup of tea at all but I read a book written by that guy who decided to cycle the coast for the hell of it, forget his name now... Mike something? Anyway his view seemed to be if it was hell on a bike you were after then head for north Cornwall. You could make it into a cycling tour or north cornwall (Mr. Atkinson, falling off, housey housey etc.)
E65Ross said:
Where abouts do you meet?
Sunday is the main day. 0830 at cycle heaven, hospital fields road, york YO10 4FSRoutes etc here https://sites.google.com/site/yorkrouleurs/calenda...
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