100 Climbs Route: Day 24, Darlington to Pateley Bridge
In August 2018, three Cycling UK members - Dominic Millar, Graham Salisbury and James Findlater – cycled a 3,300-mile, 29-day route around Britain to take on all 100 hills featured in Simon Warren’s book ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’. This route plots day 24 of the journey, 111 miles from Darlington to Pateley Bridge, taking in the climbs of Carlton Bank, Rosedale Chimney, White Horse Bank and Boltby Bank.
Time for some short, sharp shocks on today’s ride with a quartet of climbs that make amends for being relatively brief by being exceedingly steep.
From the start in Darlington, head south then east towards Carlton-in-Cleveland. However, before you arrive in the village, detour south-east to take on Carlton Bank. This tricky climb mixes a poor road surface with a gradient that gradually increases until almost the very top. It’s a great view from the summit, though.
Carry on with the route into the North York Moors National Park and ride to Rosedale Abbey, where the second challenge awaits. And what a challenge it is: it’s not called the Rosedale Chimney for nothing. With sections of 33% and an altitude gain of almost 600ft in less than a mile, you’ll be hard pressed to even stay upright. Good luck!
With legs like jelly, pedal on through Hutton-le-Hole, Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley (all good for supplies) and past Byland Abbey. Soon after, you’ll come across White Horse Bank. This twisting, turning climb starts steady, increases to 20%, then kicks up to 25% nearer the top. If any further proof of its height is needed, the summit is also home to the Yorkshire Gliding Club.
Only one climb left for today, but it requires a bit of a loop to approach it from the approved angle. Head along the A170 then branch off north for Felixkirk and onwards to Boltby, where you’ll take on Boltby Bank – one of the toughest routes onto the North Yorkshire Moors plateau. You’ll be used to steep climbs with poor road surfaces by now, but that doesn’t make this particular test of will any easier.
Once at the top, head south to rejoin the A170, repeating the section of road westwards. Then drop south and south-west for the long ride to Ripon and onwards on the B2625 to finish at Pateley Bridge.
