A man of my advancing years really should know better than to even think about checking out his place on the Strava leaderboard for cycling climbs on the Yorkshire Wolds. And yet here I am with the first in a series of posts about these occasionally testing – but always scenic – ascents that start in the southern slopes of the Wolds with Brantingham Dale and extend to the climbs out of Filey on the North Sea coast.

Let me get my excuses in early and point out that Settrington is more than thirty miles from my home and I’m typically tired already before dropping in to the lower gears at the foot of this drag up towards beautiful views of the North York Moors over to the north and – when not following the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route – the blissful descent to West Lutton at the end of the delightful ridge. So that’s why I’m struggling to knock on the door of the top 2000 (out of 4000).

I prefer a stiff climb followed by a long slow descent. Settrington is such an example and worth the effort for the descent that follows, especially if the reward is a nice pot of tea in the Coach House Café in Sledmere or refreshments in one of the pubs along the Gold Wold valley between West Lutton and Fordon.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1832371

A 20-mile clockwise loop from Sledmere that goes up Settrington Bank. Please beware that cattle roam across the roads on Luddith Road around two miles before North Grimston. A sign as you are about to cross the cattle grid as you leave the fields also warn of bulls being present!

Check out this ride on Garmin Connect or Strava.

The category ‘ Cycling Climbs ‘ is prompted by the excellent article ‘Hill Climbs on the Yorkshire Wolds’ written by Roger England and first published in the Winter 2010/2011 edition of the ‘Woldsman’ magazine. Five of the climbs that will be detailed are also contained in Simon Warren’s ‘Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire: A Road Cyclist’s Guide‘, which is highly recommended.