From a display board in St Mary, Sledmere:

Between 1856 and 1913 Sir Tatton Sykes, 4th baronet (1772-1863) and Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th baronet (1826-1913) of Sledmere built, rebuilt or restored 18 rural churches in East Yorkshire, chiefly on the Wolds. It was the aim of Sir Tatton Sykes II, ‘perhaps the greatest English church builder of the 19th century’, to create centres of ‘Christian Art and Worship’ and he spent a fortune to produce some of the finest village churches in Britain. Three of the greatest Gothic Revival architects were employed: John L. Pearson, later architect of Truro Cathedral, George Edmund Street, best known for the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, and Temple L. Moore, whose career began in the East Riding.

The glory of the impressive architecture of the Sykes churches is equalled by the splendour of their Victorian and Edwardian furnishings by leading craftsmen and artists of the age. On sunny days the churches are flooded with colour from stained glass by the firms of Clayton & Bell, Burlison & Grylls, Kempe & Co., and H.V. Milner. The roofs are painted, the floors covered with decorative tiles, and the ornate wooden or wrought iron and brass screens divide nave from chancel.

The Sykes Churches Trail appears to have come about in 2013 to mark the hundredth anniversary of the death of Tatton Sykes II. It is separated in to a southern circuit and a smaller northern circuit, with Sledmere appearing on both. Over the summer of 2022 I completed several shorter rides in order to devise a single manageable, but challenging, Sykes Churches Trail suitable for road and touring cyclists. It covers a little over 100 miles.

Not all of the Sykes churches are included in the resultant route. I originally visited North Frodingham and Wansford but discounted them as, well, this is a web site celebrating cycling on the Yorkshire Wolds and these two villages are on the Holderness plain. (Similarly, the church of St Margaret, Hilston sits on the North Sea coast and was in any case destroyed by a bomb and rebuilt in the 1950s.) St Peter, Langtoft and St Andrew, East Heslerton failed to make the cut because of their proximity to unsuitable main roads. None of these roads is free from risk but, ultimately, safety won out over completeness.

This, entirely unofficial, cyclist-friendly Sykes Churches Trail incorporates both northern and southern circuits and fourteen of the Sykes churches. A photograph and description of each church is given below. The cyclist’s cardinal sin of going back over the same roads is kept to a minimum, and is limited to the final spur at Bishop Wilton (a place that would make for an interesting start point). A desire to avoid uphill sections on the busier roads, and to miss out less scenic views, led to some slightly extended loops and route-making decisions. (For instance, as a risk averse cyclist I never ride uphill from Fimber to Sledmere, or from Sledmere to the Cowlam crossroads, and I avoid the featureless drag from Wetwang to Huggate.) Ultimately, the choice of route – and the decision to drop some Sykes churches from the list – was determined by a mixture of safety concerns, a need for quiet roads and a wish to take in the varied and pleasant scenery of the Yorkshire Wolds.

A suggested cyclist’s route for the Yorkshire Wolds Sykes Church Trail as a Garmin Connect course. (Note that East Heslerton and Langtoft are omitted because of their proximity to unsuitable roads.)

You can also view the Sykes Churches Trail – A Cyclist’s Route as a Strava segment and as a Garmin Connect activity.

Sykes Churches Trail – A Cyclist’s Route

As already mentioned, this route could be started at other points – including Hutton Cranswick or Driffield if arriving by train – but here the start point is Field House Farm Campsite, Tibthorpe, which is an excellent base for day rides on the Yorkshire Wolds. (Several other varied route suggestions can be found on the campsite’s listing as one of the ‘Ride Base Loops‘ on this web site.) Consequently, approximate mileage figures for each of the villages passed through are taken from Field House Farm; the route does not necessarily pass immediately by each of the churches and a very short detour may be required to visit some of them. Descriptions of each church are reproduced from material written to promote the trail in 2013.

St Mary, Kirkburn (mile 3). “An early 12th century Norman church restored by J.L. Pearson for Sir Tatton Sykes I in 1856-7 when the south porch was added. The spectacular Norman doorway of three orders has beakhead and zigzag in the arch and a hoodmould with beasts and figures. Inside there is a fine Norman chancel arch and a delightfully rustic font carved with figures including what appears to be a cat with a mouse. Street furnished the chancel in 1872 and designed the ornate reredos carved by Redfern.”

St Michael, Garton-on-the-Wolds (mile 6). “An imposing Norman church dating from around 1120. It was restored by J.L. Pearson for Tatton Sykes I in 1856-7 when he reconstructed the Norman south doorway and the chancel. The interior comes as a great surprise. In 1872 Tatton Sykes II employed G.E. Street to furnish the church and he was responsible for the extraordinary paintings which cover the walls of the nave and chancel and the jewel-like stained glass. The paintings and glass are by Clayton & Bell and show related Old and New Testament scenes.”

St Mary, Sledmere (mile 11). “The grandest of the Sykes churches built for Tatton Sykes II in 1893-8 at a cost of at least £60,000. Designed by Temple Moor it stands on the site of a 14th-century church that was rebuilt, except for the tower, in 1758. The church is a most lavish essay in the Decorated style with a richly carved red sandstone interior, particularly in the chancel. There is an ornate screen and rood loft and elaborate reredos. The stained glass is by H.V. Milner and Burlison & Grylls (north aisle). There are monuments to the Sykes family from the former church and the fascinating illuminated book commemorating the Wagoners Reserve of the First World War.”

St Andrew, Kirby Grindaltythe (mile 14) “The church with its prominent spire is well sited in a large churchyard on the side of the valley above the Gypsey Race. Dating from the early 12th century the church has earlier origins revealed by fragments of 9th-11th century crosses and an early Romanesque tomb chest. The chancel was reconstructed and a new nave built in 1872-5 by G.E. Street for Sir Tatton Sykes II who provided it with stained glass by Clayton & Bell and H.V. Milner, pretty wrought-iron and wooden screens and a carved alabaster and marble reredos, and covered the whole of the west wall of the nave with a startling mosaic by the Venice and Murano Glass & Mosaic Co. depicting the Ascension.”

St Mary, West Lutton (mile 16). “St Mary’s is one of the most delightful of the smaller Sykes churches with its pretty wooden bell turret in Home Counties style and great variety in window pattern. Designed by G.E. Street and built in 1872-3 it cost Sir Tatton Sykes over £13,000. The church has a sumptuously decorated interior. The roof, of the nave, aisles and tunnel-vaulted vestry, is painted all over with floral designs and texts and has stars and suns in relief. The raised chancel is stone-vaulted with a painted reredos by Burlison & Grylls who were also responsible for the stained glass installed throughout the church in 1891.”

St Peter, Helperthorpe (mile 17). “Standing to the north of the village street St Peter’s is another church designed by G.E. Street for Sir Tatton Sykes II, again entirely individual. Built 1871-3 in the Early Decorated style it has a distinctive tower with bold spire and canted stair turret. Externally the chancel is a little higher than the nave, internally it has eight steps above. Inside the richly painted roofs of the nave, with bands of flowers and stars in relief, and the chancel, with floral panels, are the most striking features. The stained glass by Burlison & Grylls replaced the original scheme by Clayton & Bell in 1893, when the north aisle was added by Temple Moore who designed the fine stone reredos there. The Old Vicarage is by Street.”

St Andrew, Weaverthorpe (mile 18). “High up above the village, alongside the earthworks of a medieval manor house, stands this superb Norman church, restored by G.E. Street for Sir Tatton Sykes II in 1870-2. The inscription on the sundial over the entrance records that the church was built by Herbert of Winchester, the father of St William of York, probably c. 1120. The tall slim early Norman tower has a rounded staircase turret. Inside the high plain stone walls of the narrow aisleless nave contrast with the decorated barrel-vaulted roofs and the lavish Victorian furnishings. The stained glass is by Clayton & Bell.”

St Hilda, Sherburn (mile 25). “At the north end of the village in a large churchyard St Hilda’s, the last of the churches funded by Sir Tatton Sykes II, was completed just before his death. Largely rebuilt by C. Hodgson Fowler 1909-12, the earliest features in the church are the nine pieces of Anglo-Saxon sculpture at the base of the tower, and the wide Norman chancel arch. The interior has exceptional early 20th-century woodwork by Thompson & Co. including a richly carved rood screen, choir stalls with carvings of animals and birds, the organ case and font cover, and the chancel roof with winged angels. Unusually for a Sykes church the only stained glass is medieval fragments in the west window of the south aisle.”

St Mary, Cowlam (mile 41). “A small medieval church that was restored and partly rebuilt in 1852 to designs supplied by Mary E. Sykes, daughter of Tatton Sykes I. The village was depopulated in the late 17th century and the church is reached through a farmyard. Inside is a tub-shaped Norman font richly carved with figures including the three Magi, Adam and Eve, and two wrestlers.”

St Nicholas, Wetwang (mile 70). “The fascinating history of the development of this church from the 11th to the 20th century can be traced in the stonework and fittings. From the Norman period are the north arcade, two windows in the nave, the font and reused carvings in the vestry and under the tower. The tower and north chapel are 13th century, the north doorway is 14th century. There are remnants of 17th-century texts on the nave wall. There was a restoration in 1845-6 paid for by Tatton Sykes I but his son financed a more comprehensive programme of works by Temple Moore in 1895-6 on the tower and north wall, and C. Hodgson Fowler who rebuilt the chancel and re-roofed the nave in 1901-2 when the stained glass by Burlison & Grylls was inserted.”

St Mary, Fimber (mile 76). “The church, of Whitby stone in a 13th-century style, was designed by G.E. Street and built 1869-71 for Tatton Sykes II. It replaced a small chapel-of-ease that had been built on the site of a Bronze Age burial mound. The chancel has an ornate brass and iron screen and a richly carved reredos. The fine stained glass windows are by Clayton & Bell.”

St Mary, Fridaythorpe (mile 78). “Another interesting church restored for Tatton Sykes II by C. Hodgson Fowler in 1902-3. He added a new north aisle, replacing a 13th-century aisle long demolished, and the south porch to what is largely an early 12th-century building. The squat tower has an elaborate Edwardian clock face. There is a curious inscription ‘this 713 found hear’ carved on the capital of the first column from the east in the north arcade. The ornate carved reredos came from Sledmere church and the glass is by Burlison & Grylls, 1910.”

St Mary, Thixendale (mile 81). “The church, built 1868-70, the former vicarage and school (now village hall) and school house form an important group of buildings all designed by G.E. Street for Tatton Sykes II. It is a small church in the style of the 13th century with an aisled nave, bellcote and chancel. The stained glass windows are by Clayton & Bell except the east window by Burlison & Grylls in 1893.”

St Edith, Bishop Wilton (mile 92). “As lavish and embellished on the inside as it is visually striking on the outside, with its 15th-century tower and spire, St Edith’s church is a treat. The Norman chancel arch and south doorway are richly carved, the latter with animals, faces and human figures. The church was faithfully restored for Tatton Sykes in 1858-9 by J.L. Pearson who was responsible for the prettily painted hammerbeam roof, possibly the work of Clayton & Bell who were responsible for the stained glass. Temple Moore designed the elaborate font for Tatton Sykes II and the black and white mosaic floor said to be based on a floor in the Vatican and laid by Salviati in 1902.”

Related route alternatives in Garmin Connect

The full 100-mile route above is perhaps too long to form some sort of pilgrimage by bike – certainly for one day. Each church deserves a lengthier visit than is possible during a ride of fourteen churches in one go. Rather, the route is intended as a themed ride to enjoy the mostly quiet lanes around villages of the Yorkshire Wolds that feature a Sykes church. Alternative options are detailed below that allowed me more time to appreciate a number of the churches in greater detail. These are the routes I took when I was looking to put together the longer ride.

Sykes Churches Trail (Southern & Northern Circuit) from Field House Farm Campsite – 58 miles, 2,300 feet

Sykes Churches Trail (Southern Circuit) – Eastern Leg from Field House Farm Campsite – 46 miles, 1,300 feet

Sykes Churches Trail (Southern Circuit) – Western Leg from Field House Farm Campsite – 42 miles, 2,770 feet

Sykes Churches Trail (Southern Circuit) from near Beverley – 100 miles, 4,200 feet

Next page – Disclaimer, Ride Notes and More on the Sykes Churches

I’ve ridden two Hull Thursday Road Club sportives and I hope to ride this one next month. So I revisited the now defunct web pages I blogged back in 2013 and 2016 to remind myself of both events. I reproduce them below in case they might be vaguely useful to anyone thinking of entering any of the 2022 distances. I understand that the routes for the Big J will follow those of the Big G, but they don’t appear to be detailed as yet on the events pages. So I’ve included my Garmin Connect and Strava activities should anyone wish to view either the 100km or 150km routes. (Note that my ride from 2013 was from the old event headquarters in Molescroft; subsequent rides set out from Bishop Burton.)

100km Big G Cyclosportive 2013

Yesterday, I finally managed to take part in the Big G Cyclosportive after illness, holidays, a wedding and other distractions prevented me from giving it a go in previous years. This was only my second sportive after completing the Heart of the Wolds back in April. Once again I was unprepared and carrying a bit too much weight, but I enjoyed a dash around the Yorkshire Wolds with some faster, younger cyclists.

I quickly latched on to a group of riders from the Beverley Knights and Hull Thursday clubs. As with my previous sportive, the help of others in sharing the work would prove invaluable; I was rather optimistically hoping for ‘Gold’ in this event. Thankfully, the weather provided a break from the recent heat wave; a few minutes after I had applied sun cream we found ourselves getting rained on as we left Molescroft.

The 100km route avoids the hilliest roads found on the 160km event (Burdale, Birdsall, Hanging Grimston etc), but still throws in some testers. A few riders overtook us, but we pulled back more, particularly on the uphill sections.

I won’t detail the full ride (view the ‘Player‘ link on Garmin Connect). Instead a few highlights for me were just about holding my own on the eight short climbs, being reminded to pedal on the way downhill (old habits die hard for us old cycletourists) and seeing so many riders out on the Wolds.

I was slightly disappointed that, after holding it together on those climbs, I was finally dropped on that little dink out of Etton. But by then I knew that – barring an accident or p***ture – I would get back to Molescroft within the Gold standard time, so it wasn’t a complete collapse. I managed to keep going and got back in under four hours. I was rather chuffed with that.

I really enjoyed this event – and the company along the way. Big thanks to all from Hull Thursday who made the day such a memorable one, especially Dave. That pull through Kiplingcotes in to a head wind had me at my limit. I couldn’t face the post-ride pie and peas (and I think there was a goodie bag I forgot to pick up), but I now have a snazzy maroon Grimpeurs des Wolds polo shirt that matched my complexion nicely. Next year, maybe the 160km ride…?

150km Big G Cyclosportive 2016

I never knew Graeme Forrester – the ‘Big G’. A photograph of him appeared on a poster on the wall at the Bishop Burton College headquarters earlier this month. I’m sure he would have been proud of the efforts made by his club, Hull Thursday, to put on another successful event in his name.

This was my first 150km Big G, and I could have done to have been better prepared for it. Instead, along with a few ride buddies, I used it as preparation for a weekend doing the Way of the Roses coast-to-coast route. I have to confess it was more of a struggle than I had imagined, but there was a real sense of satisfaction in getting round in a half decent time.

I mention the time – yes, I know these sportives are not races – as time had a bearing on how the day went. Four of us – five on the day – had talked about aiming to get round within the seven hour cut-off for the ‘Silver’ standard. Paul and Rob had done the event last year and were disappointed in getting back at around the 7:20 mark. So we would all ride around together. That was the plan…

And so it was that between South Dalton and Holme on the Wolds we were overtaken by a group that contained a bloke with a huge knapsack on his back and another who appeared to have come straight from a game of five-a-side. Despite not being a competitive cyclist it felt wrong not to hitch a ride with this group and gestured to Jason’s mate Martin – the fifth member of our quintet – that we should get on the back for a bit of a tow.

I knew I would struggle on the middle third: Hanging Grimston, Thrussendale Road (Acklam North) and Painsthorpe Lane so, with the wind at our backs, I tagged along. The others I had set off with didn’t seem quite so keen to latch on, but as they are all lighter, younger and fitter I decided it would be prudent to take shelter before I inevitably fell off the pace before being caught.

It didn’t quite work out as planned. The knapsack group stopped at the roadside just before North Dalton and I rode with Peter – who I had mistakenly believed was one of their number – up the steady drag towards Huggate. Like me Peter was rather out of condition and we left each other on Life Hill. On that little dink just before the Sledmere road someone flashed past me. I would later hope it was the chap who got round in just over five hours. Five hours!

I was surprised that I got up Burdale in my quickest time to date. Last time we were chased up by a tractor. I think I may have overdone things as I struggled all the way to the first feed station after this. I couldn’t ignore the rain any longer so on with the ‘race cape’ just past Wharram-le-Street and I stopped again at Birdsall to double check that my rear brake blocks weren’t rubbing against the rims. That’s how much I was slowing down

I also wanted to get in as many miles as possible ahead of the inevitable downpour, but the heavens opened before the Thixendale ‘feed station’ – the village hall – and after a wave of riders overtook me on the ascent of Birdsall Brow. Those cyclists included Martin and Jason. Rob and Paul were not with them.

The grub on the Big G is highly regarded. So much choice – and plenty of it. I needed a longer stop than Jason and Martin, but I was ready to get under way in the rain just as Rob and Paul fetched up. I said I would get off as I needed a head start on them in any case.

I did not enjoy the next bit. More people dragged themselves past me on the steep road out next to the village hall. The only rider I overtook was Peter who I wouldn’t see again until Bishop Burton. The descent of Uncleby hill was just as terrifying as I had expected then the world and his wife – actually, two wives including one on a steel bike with disc brakes – went past me up Hanging Grimston. I did see Jason again. Just before the first (open) gate he was at the roadside replacing a punctured inner tube. Reader, I passed by on the other side. On Thrussendale Road two people ahead of me were pushing their bikes. I know I was really struggling by now, but I swear they were going up faster than me.

The rain and gravelly surface slowed down the usually wonderful descent of Greets Hill and I was grateful of the arrows fastened to wooden stakes pointing the way as I was unfamiliar with this part of the route up to Bugthorpe. On this section – despite an ever present drizzle in the air – I took off my cape just as the grinning duo of Jason and Martin whizzed past. Fair enough. I needed more grub and a bit of a stretch. Painsthorpe lived up to its name and I negotiated the mini waterfalls that formed a margin at each side of that poorly surfaced road.

I have never enjoyed passing through Millington Dale less than on this ride. Fatigue and inclement weather combined to somehow make this spectacular stretch of Yorkshire Wolds cycling a depressingly joyless affair. Fortunately, I perked up after the second, excellent, feed station just south of Huggate. I had only taken one small bottle on this ride and gulped down perhaps a litre of water and took some more goodies before pushing off just as Paul and Rob arrived.

Actually, it wasn’t until getting up Nunburnholme – where a bloke running overtook me – that I felt energised again. For much of the day I had overtaken and been overtaken by various members of Cottingham Road Club. They had either been waiting for those getting up some hill or other or standing around whilst one of a series of punctures was being fixed. (There were an alarming number of punctures that day.) So I latched on to some of them and chatted to Gary as I was dragged along through Kiplingcotes Valley. At the right turn I promptly fell off the back as promised but, idly curious about whether I could still get back under seven hours, I made a bit of a last gasp effort to beat the clock.

My Garmin recorded a moving time of under seven hours, but this particular model does not display overall time elapsed. Back in the Bishop Burton College canteen Jason steered me to the Sports Timing Solutions van and a monitor that shows finishing times. Is it sad that a man of my advanced years can be so chuffed at getting a virtual ‘Silver’ medal? Er, yes, probably. But cycling is a broad church and I reckon there is room for deriving pleasure – now and again – from testing yourself, even if it’s not a race…

I enjoyed all the hospitality of the college, the Hull Thursday members, my Warners massage and a catch up with my four ride buddies. Rob and Paul had shaven ten minutes off their 2015 times. Next year under six hours, anyone?

Visit this link to my Strava activity from 2016 to see the 150km route.

Well, I hope I haven’t put anyone off with these accounts. Best wishes to those who ride the events in aid of Joel.

A pal of mine is helping to organise a local sportive, it’s called the Big J and is in aid of a good cause, so I’m now plugging it for him…https://t.co/QyGMDw83pR#yorkshirewolds #cycling #sportive

— Paul Bentley (@sensisuperstar) July 21, 2022

There are arguably stiffer climbs out of Warter – Cobdale Lane (pictured in the distance in the photgraph above) and Cold Moor may well be more challenging – but they lack the views while Bailey Lane still offers significant resistance. To be clear, this is no killer climb – it doesn’t get a ranking in Roger England’s Hill Climbs of the Yorkshire Wolds – but is sufficiently testing that the folds of Bailey Dale down and to the left perhaps provide a welcome psychological distraction that lessens the impact on the tired rider’s legs. You are also more likely to see Red Kite gliding overhead. Which is nice.

Like the ride south out of Nunburnholme, the road out of Warter reaches the same plateau, albeit at a lower height. At the top of the climb turn left and there is the rewarding, gradual descent to Middleton on the Wolds; turn right and enjoy a shallow climb to the junction over Nunburnholme, with route options to Londesborough and Burnby.

Bailey Lane, Warter segment on Strava

Field House near Tibthorpe is an ‘off-grid’ campsite east of Huggate on the Way of the Roses cycle route and three miles from the course of the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route. It opened in July 2021 as a ‘pop-up’ site (and after a successful trial has been developed further with the addition of purpose built ‘eco’ toilets for 2022 and ‘coffee barn’ in 2023).

Happy Yorkshire Day everyone #YorkshireDay #YORKSHIRE #yorkshirewolds pic.twitter.com/7ktsrSIiiF

— Field House Campsite (@FieldCampsite) August 1, 2022

Here’s what Dixe Wills, travel writer for the Guardian, wrote about the countryside in which Field House Campsite is set, between Huggate and Tibthorpe, after completing the Way of the Roses for the first time:

And furthermore, I was ready for the question every cyclist gets asked about a long-distance ride: What’s your favourite bit? My answer? The four miles on the way to the village of Tibthorpe, about 20 miles from the east coast: huge skies, an empty road beneath my wheels and the sylvan countryside below melting away in the summer haze. I’m ashamed to say I threw my arms out wide and, coming over all Leonardo DiCaprio, shouted out, “I’m the king of the wold”. Which just goes to show that country air may not be so good for you after all.

As well as being a potential overnight stop for those riding the Way of the Roses the campsite is in a prime location for cyclists looking for a base in the Yorkshire Wolds from which to complete a range of day rides. Many Yorkshire Wolds accommodation providers rightly state that visitors can enjoy excellent cycling nearby, but for those from outside the area it is not always obvious where to start. This post is the first in the category ‘Ride Base Loops‘ that aims to give visiting cyclists at least five different loop options starting and ending at the same fixed base.

Solar-powered hot showers were built for the opening of Field House Campsite in 2021…

… with ‘eco’ toilets replacing the temporary portable chemical toilets in 2022…

… and a cyclist-friendly ‘coffee barn’ in 2023

NB some loops cross over main roads and occasionally travel a short distance along busier roads which shouldn’t trouble confident touring and road cyclists. However, the usual disclaimers apply about no liability being accepted as a result of following these suggested routes.

All rides are saved as ‘courses’ in Garmin Connect and those that have been recorded in Strava are created as ‘segments’. Quicklinks below for the rides from Field House Campsite, Tibthorpe:

Ride #1 – High Mowthorpe (38 miles, anti-clockwise) via Sledmere, West Lutton, Duggleby, Birdsall, Thixendale and Huggate

Links for the High Mowthorpe ride Garmin Connect activity and Strava segment.

Visit the page for Ride # 1 High Mowthorpe

Ride #2 – Snainton (58 miles, figure 8) via Wetwang, Sledmere, Sherburn, West Heslerton, Driffield and Hutton Cranswick.

The Snainton ride as a Garmin Connect course.

Visit the page for Ride # 2 – Snainton

Ride #3 – Castle Howard (64 miles, anti-clockwise) via Driffield, Cowlam, Settrington, Malton, Leavening, Millington Dale and Huggate.

The Castle Howard ride as a Garmin Connect course.

Visit the page for Ride # 3 – Castle Howard

Ride #4 – “Red Kite Bike Ride” Goodmanham (64 miles, largely clockwise) via Lund, Goodmanham, Pocklington, Millington, Warter, Huggate and North Dalton.

The “Red Kite Bike Ride” as a Garmin Connect course.

Visit the page for Ride # 4 – “Red Kite Bike Ride”

Ride #5 – “Trois Monts” Stamford Bridge and hills (50 miles, clockwise) via Millington Dale, Great Givendale, Bishop Wilton, and the climbs of Acklam, Hanging Grimston and Painsthorpe.

The “Trois Monts” ride in Garmin Connect.

Visit the page for Ride # 5 – “Trois Monts”, Acklam, Hanging Grimston and Painsthorpe via Stamford Bridge

Ride #6 – Goodmanham (33 miles, clockwise) via Lund, Burnby, Warter and Huggate.

The Goodmanham ride as a Garmin Connect course.

Visit the page for Ride #6 – Goodmanham via Lund, Burnby, Warter and Huggate

Ride #7 – Sykes Churches Trail (103 miles, various) via Weaverthorpe, Snainton, Driffield, Bishop Wilton and many other villages.

Visit the page for Ride #7 – The Sykes Churches Trail – A Cyclist’s Route

Ride #8 – Thixendale Hills – a taster ride. (50 miles, various)

A hilly loop including Water Dale and Burdale climbs.

Visit the page for Ride #8 – Thixendale Hills – a taster ride

Ride #9 – Hockney Trail: A Cyclist’s Route. (107 miles, various)

David Hockney cycled in and around the Yorkshire Wolds as a youngster back in the 1950s. Other references to a ‘Hockney Trail’ invariably mention driving along (parts of) a suggested route. This ride, which could be enjoyed over two days, attempts to showcase the Yorkshire Wolds and Hockney locations with a challenging and rewarding route as it is best experienced – by bike.

Visit the page for Ride #9 – Hockney Trail: A Cyclist’s Route

Next page

Burdale: a short, sharp climb but is it long enough to be amongst the toughest climbs on the Wolds?

In addition to the various articles there are a number of web sites devoted to cataloguing climbs, and one site, climbbybike.com does list one of our local climbs, Staxton Brow. This site is different in that it gives each climb a ‘Difficulty Score’ in an attempt to provide a comparison between different climbs. Staxton scores 44 compared with Blakey Bank on the Moors at 70, and the Lake District’s Hardknott Pass (West) which tops the English climbs with a score of 106. These scores show why climbs on the Wolds do not figure in national surveys. Nevertheless some of the climbs can offer tough challenges to a tired rider.

The Ordnance Survey map only shows three roads on the Wolds with a double chevron: Flixton, Staxton and Acklam, indicating a gradient of 1 in 5 or steeper. Both Flixton and Acklam have road signs confirming a 20% gradient, but the sign at the top of Staxton only shows 17%. In addition to these climbs there are numerous roads with a single chevron indicating a gradient between 1 in 7 and 1 in 5. Could some of these longer climbs be harder than the short but steep roads up Flixton or Acklam?

With digital Ordnance Survey maps it is now relatively easy to get an accurate profile of a hill to arrive at an average gradient and calculate a Difficulty Score.

However, it is one thing to sit at a computer and decide which is the hardest climb based on data from a map, the real test is to get out there and ride the climb. I also wanted to check the actual gradient since many of the minor roads lack a gradient sign and a single chevron on the map covers a range of 13% to 20%. One way to measure the gradient is to use an inclinometer. Searching the web I found a German model specifically designed for cyclists. This is a simple graduated spirit level that clamps to the handlebars and gives a reasonably accurate measure of the gradient. I tried the inclinometer on different bikes and decided that my Moulton gave the best reading as the suspension cuts out a lot of vibration to the bars. I also experimented with a cycle computer which calculated the slope by measuring the change in altitude, but this turned out to be very inaccurate, as do the GPS units which work on the same principle. So equipped with the inclinometer I have spent the autumn weekends exploring some of those vertical lanes which many of us go out of our way to avoid at all costs. I rode and checked all the climbs listed except the main road climbs of Staxton, North Grimston and Garrowby. On one afternoon I climbed 5 of the big climbs between Leavening and Bishop Wilton. I think my knees were trying to tell me something that evening!

Leavening Bank

The steepest and longest climbs lie on the northern and western escarpments, but away from the escarpment there are many shorter roads climbing out of the dry valleys that proliferate across the Wolds, with many of the best climbs lying in the Thixendale and Burdale area. However further east the isolated hamlet of Fordon nestling deep in a valley is also worth a visit, but here I have concentrated on the northern and western edges of the Wolds. Starting in the north eastern corner of the Wolds the first real climb is Folkton Brow (16%) which I found quite busy and unappealing. Moving west the next climb is Flixton Wold which is a real killer sporting a 300 metre ramp with gradients between 16% and 20%. This road is probably marginally steeper than Acklam but the steep section is not as long. Next come Staxton Brow, Ganton Wold and Sherburn Grits.

These are all 17% climbs in spite of the 16% sign at the top of The Grits. Because of their location adjoining the A64 we tend to avoid these roads which is a pity as The Grits is a super climb up a narrow lane with a leg sapping middle section of between 12% and 17% for nearly 700 metres. I last climbed this hill as a teenager over 50 years ago when it had a fearsome reputation. I then climbed it on a 5 speed Holdsworth with a 49 inch bottom gear, now I need something nearer a 29 inch gear.

Over the next section towards Birdsall the escarpment is more broken with a number of valleys cutting back into the Wolds, and the climbs become easier. However, West Heslerton which has been used on the Milk Race, is another tough climb. Don’t be misled by the 16% sign at the bottom – the middle section is consistently steep with gradients between 12% and 17% for 400 metres.

Birdsall Brow

Despite the 17% sign at the foot of Settrington it is not that hard with a predominant gradient between 10 and 13% and only two short steep ramps of 16% and 17%. Birdsall marks the north western corner of the Wolds as the escarpment heads south to the Humber, and the next section between Leavening and Bishop Wilton offers eight roads climbing up to the highest section of the Wolds. These range from the brutal Acklam Wold which attacks the escarpment head on, to the scenic climb out of Bishop Wilton which winds its way up an attractive wooded valley. Most local cyclists will have climbed Leavening Brow but how many of us are familiar with Uncleby or Worsen Dale?

Although only a short climb, Acklam Wold has a well-deserved reputation for being a killer climb on a par with Flixton. Leaving the village the road rapidly steepens to between 15% and 20% for 500 metres as it climbs straight up the hillside to the communication mast at the top of the wold.

Just south of Acklam village is another road heading up to the communication mast. Starting at the junction near Barthorpe Lodge Farm this road has the longest and highest ascent in the area at 3.5 km with 178 metres of height gain. With only one chevron shown on the map and an average gradient of 5% it looks quite easy. However, there are some steep sections of up to 15% on the lower road and a short but steep section of 20% near the top, but there are some level sections where the rider can recover. In spite of its low score this is a great climb. Heading south again the next village is Kirby Underdale. Nestling in the huge amphitheatre of Open Dale there are three roads climbing up the bank through woods and pastures. The first, Hanging Grimston, is not only my own personal favourite but is one of the best climbs on the Wolds. The two single chevrons on the map hide the true statistics of this 1.5 km 153 metre climb with an average gradient of 10% and a maximum of 20%.

Turning off the Kirby Underdale road the narrow lane to Hanging Grimston descends steeply to Salamanca Beck where the climb starts. Immediately the road kicks up at 15% to 20% for 100 metres. Fortunately the momentum gained on the downhill should get the rider up this stretch and onto an easier section where the gradient varies between 5% and 10% as the lane climbs gently though unfenced open pastures. Approaching the farm set back on the right, the climb steepens to 14% before rounding a left hand bend and a gate which may be closed. The rider then approaches the final section of road lined with beech trees, passing the old 1-in-6 road sign for the final 500 metres of 16% before the gradient finally eases. The road surface is quite rough and broken, but not potholed, and by using both sides of the road it is possible to pick a reasonable line. This is a super climb in lovely surroundings.

The next road is another lane through the little hamlet of Uncleby. This is a straight forward and unusual in so much that the gradient is pretty uniform throughout varying between 10% and 15% for a kilometre before easing back approaching the junction at the top. Although the narrow road climbs straight up the escarpment it is an attractive route bordered by mature trees and woodland. When riding this hill I felt it was the easier of the three Kirby Underdale climbs in spite of its high score.

The third climb is the popular Painsthorpe road which ascends from the church and quickly steepens to 17% as it passes the Hall before easing back to 10% approaching the hamlet of Painsthorpe. From here it is an easy 5% to the top of the wold. This route should be familiar to those who have completed the 70-mile version of the George Herbert Stancer standard ride.

Bypassing the main road up Garrowby Hill, which has become a weekend race track for bikers, the next climb of interest to the cyclist is from Bishop Wilton village to Garrowby top. This is a lovely climb up through the mature beech woods of Worsen Dale. Starting in the village, climb gently along the stream past the village church, turn left at the head of the village past the primary school then right onto Worsendale Road and continue climbing, first at 5% gradually steepening to 10%. The road then continues with gradients up to 15% before easing and emerging from the woods at the junction with the main road close to the highest point on the Wolds.

Beyond Bishop Wilton the climbs become easier as more dales cut into the hills. The next climb of any distinction is Nunburnholme which we often climb on our Sunday runs. Fortunately, the steepest section of 14% is at the bottom of the climb, which is then followed by 800 metres of 5% to 10% steady climbing.

Trundlegate

South of Market Weighton we are on home territory as the Wolds become lower. Nestling along the southern edge of the Wolds is one of my favourite climbs, Brantingham Dale. The pretty approach up the dale starts easily enough but the gradient steadily steepens to 10% for the final 300 metres, which includes two steeper ramps of 13% and 14%. The council have recently erected a sign at the top showing a gradient of 11% which is very misleading.

Fortunately I managed to complete all but one of the climbs before the bad weather arrived at the end of November. Since then I have been able to review all the data gathered on the climbs to produce the table below. The list includes a Difficulty Score based on the climbbybike.com formula. This was originally developed for ranking long alpine climbs and can produce anomalies with short climbs, particularly on the Wolds where it can be difficult on some climbs to decide where to set the start and finish lines. It is based largely on the length of the climb and average gradient, not the maximum gradient. Also I have only included climbs of 800 metres or more. However, the results do make interesting reading to compare routes.

Notes
* indicate my own maximum gradient readings
** indicate hills where my own reading was higher than the road sign
? Garrowby is the only hill I did not visit

The maximum gradient shown in the table is based on the higher of either my own reading or the road sign. As the signs are based on the old convention of 1 in 6 (17%) and 1 in 5 (20%) we do not see any signs for climbs of 18% or 19%. My inclinometer only had a maximum reading of 20% and it was difficult to get an accurate reading once over 17%, but I am sure that some of the signed 20% hills were less, and in due course I will be back to check out those hills. A nice ride for next spring.

A version of this post originally featured in the Winter 2010/2011 edition of the Woldsman and appears here by kind permission of Roger England.

Simon Warren since wrote a follow-up book, Another 100 Greatest Climbs, which included Hanging Grimston. Seven hill climbs of the Yorkshire Wolds subsequently featured in Warren’s later ‘Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire: A Road Cyclist’s Guide’

It's back! An oldie but a goodie, and from the days when @100climbs was the new kid on the block, Roger England's excellent 'Hill Climbs on the Yorkshire Wolds', used by kind permission. Huge motivation for @sensisuperstar, @CharlieRispin, me & many more:https://t.co/f0adH4pmcU pic.twitter.com/HCVrarewyh

— Cycling the Yorkshire Wolds (@CycleTheWolds) April 2, 2021

Compare that to the map on the Yorkshire Red Kites web site that also details the reintroduction programme of 1999 at Harewood Estate in West Yorkshire.

Over the past few years I have noticed these magnificent birds more frequently whilst cycling around particular parts of the Yorkshire Wolds. So I thought I’d put together a ride that takes in most of the places where I’ve spotted Red Kite. The route is a little under forty miles long.

From Etton the route goes gently upwards before dropping in to the shallow Kiplingcotes valley, over the crossroads and up again, passing the start point of the Kiplingcotes Derby. That route is followed over the next crossroads before ramping up for another at Money Hill. The ‘Kiplingcotes’ sign that once pointed further north has been missing for a while now, but we’re turning left on to a lumpy road and heading for Goodmanham. Here I saw the unmistakable markings of a solitary Red Kite over Goodmanmham Wold some way in the distance to the north.

Flooding around Goodmanham meant I had to divert through Market Weighton before picking up the route towards Londesborough then Burnby and Nunburnholme. I also had to switch off the auto-pilot that would have steered me towards Kilnwick Percy or Pocklington, but it was less of a wrench to take the back road to Warter at the foot of Totterdown (Nunburnholme) Hill – that climb is one I no longer care for.

Back Lane between Nunburnholme and Warter

The skies above the woods on the approach to Warter – take care on the undulating road with its rough surface in parts – are usually a safe bet for spotting birds of prey, but I saw none here this day. After the village sign on the outskirts of Warter I prefer to bear left (signposted Pocklington) rather than pass by the distinctive cottages opposite the war memorial. A right turn on the B1246 is quickly followed a hundred yards or so later with a left turn and the start of a long, gradual climb from Warter to Cold Wold on the way to Huggate. (The route could be shortened by cutting out Huggate, instead going past the war memorial, travelling east for a minute or so then carefully taking the right turn whilst still in Warter opposite the pond.)

Looking back on the first hill out of Warter with Bailey Dale beyond. Bailey Lane is also the way out of Warter after the detour via Huggate.

In Huggate a right turn before the Wolds Inn leads back to Warter over Warter Wold. Again at the B1246 in the village a right turn is followed quickly by a left turn, opposite the pond, and the start of an always enjoyable climb along Bailey Lane. As an aside I find this a far more rewarding climb than Nunburnholme Hill – another road that leads to the same ridge. For me there is a greater sense of openness, the road wider and the views – especially over and down to the left – are much more pleasant. Oh, and it’s not as steep.

The road out of Warter, through Bailey Dale, also gave me my second and final Red Kite sighting of the day. The bird appeared overhead to my right and glided over the road without a single wing beat. I watched it for as long as I could crane my neck to see the kite whilst still riding safely on towards the T junction at the top of the now easing climb.

Either direction from the junction ultimately leads to a thrilling, long descent, but here I turn left and follow the signs towards Middleton-on-the-Wolds. Making three right turns in Middleton-on-the-Wolds sends us west along the A614 that passes through the village, but only for a couple of hundred yards before taking the left turn on to Holme on the Wolds. (On the ride before this one I saw for the first time Red Kite over Lund Wold which this ride passes by here.) From Holme on the Wolds it’s on through South Dalton and the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route signs directing riders along Warter Road, effectively Etton’s back road, so that you enter the village via the tradesman’s entrance rather than along its main street. (The provisional Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route originally passed through Etton before being amended, and that’s the way I went this day on the beginning of the ‘Red Kite Bike Ride’; it’s my recommendation if you haven’t seen the landmark St Mary’s spire gradually revealed as you pop up over the little ramp between Etton and South Dalton, just like in that video made to promote the Tour de Yorkshire.)

Perhaps I could have timed my midday ride better – apparently, it’s more likely that you will see Red Kite late in the afternoon – but Yorkshire Wolds cyclists are blessed with varied and interesting scenery, mostly quiet roads and occasionally testing climbs that makes a ride such as this one more than worthwhile in its own right. I’ll be back to try it again soon…

Ideally, I would have been able to create some clever Strava Art in the shape of a fork-tailed bird of prey, instead of a care-worn bat or some sort of flying squirrel. Whatever. At any rate I created a course in Garmin Connect which I didn’t follow on the day because of flooding at Goodmanham (edit: link to Strava activity updated July 2021)

… even more out of focus, but this angle shows a clearer outline of the characteristic forked tail that distinguishes the Red Kite from the Common Buzzard with its more rounded fan-shaped tail ???? pic.twitter.com/ODlKpZb0La

— Cycling the Yorkshire Wolds (@CycleTheWolds) October 23, 2020

Edit January 2024: the original ‘Red Kite Bike Ride’ route, of less than 40 miles, has since been expanded to a 100km version. Garmin activities, which includes the joyful, gentle climb through Millington Dale, can viewed for either a southern start point (Etton) or a northern one (ride #4 from Field House Campsite). Both versions also include a fast, freewheeling descent from the top of Baggaby Hill, the shallow climb out of North Dalton, the descent from Huggate to Tibthorpe, and a pleasant meander over Lund Wold – all delightful additions to the original route.

The 100km version of a Yorkshire Wolds Red Kite Bike Ride, from Field House campsite

Stops along the route

Like many of the cycle rides to be enjoyed on the Yorkshire Wolds this ‘Yorkshire Wolds Red Kite Bike Ride’ has no railway crossings or traffic lights, and only one roundabout along the route (unless, like me when I did this ride, you find yourself passing through Market Weighton on your journey), so you can expect to tap along with minimal stops if you wanted to use this ride just for fitness; there are a couple of moderate hills to test your climbing legs. But you would be potentially missing out on lovely views – Red Kite sightings and more – if you focused your attention purely on thrashing around or watching the numbers on your GPS device. Similarly, when permitted, there are a number of tempting places to take refreshments depending on where you start your ride, including the Michelin-starred Pipe & Glass in South Dalton; the Fiddle Drill in Goodmanham, and Rose’s Walnut Cottage Tea Room, and the Wolds Inn, which are both in Huggate. More details on these and other cyclist-friendly places can be found on the Eat & Drink page of this web site.

Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire – A Road Cyclist’s Guide, by Simon Warren

Simon Warren describes a ride towards Askrigg (# 46 Oxnop Scar) that I haven’t done, but would like to. According to Warren this climb has a height gain of 243 metres. The Harkerside road from Grinton goes from about 186 metres to 541 at its peak. Even if you start counting at Low Witta (about 220 metres) the climb to the top, and the cattle grid shown below, is well over 300 metres of height gained, with more false summits than I can remember, and no fewer than seven Ordnance Survey chevrons pointing at the wearying cyclist. The chap in the B&B in Askrigg told me that drivers’ Sat Nav systems sometimes send them along this narrow road. I wouldn’t fancy driving it, but how long will we have to wait before 100 More Greatest Cycling Climbs I wonder…?

Well I got the follow-up title wrong (the sequel was to be ‘Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs‘) and the climb didn’t make the cut, but that oversight is remedied in ‘Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire: A Road Cyclist’s Guide‘, the latest publication in this popular series.

(By the way, if you get the chance, do take the road between Grinton and Askrigg – it’s called Fleak Moss – as part of a loop from Askrigg or somewhere in Wensleydale; you can hardly go wrong in this my favourite part of Yorkshire for cycling, walking or maybe just sitting in front of that open fire with a cheeky pint.)

But perhaps – for this East Riding cyclist anyway – the greatest oversight in the first two volumes of the original books is the poor showing of the Yorkshire Wolds; only one climb (4/10) gets a mention as that area’s sole representation in the second volume. Hanging Grimston, despite being categorised as being in the ‘East Riding’, is actually over the border – the physical separation that is Salamanca Beck – in North Yorkshire, so is not even an ascent those of us in East Yorkshire can claim as our own. More on East and North Yorkshire later…

However, despite not one hill scoring more than 5/10 no fewer than seven out of the 75 climbs in this second regional guide (the first was ‘Cycling Climbs of South-East England‘) are within the Yorkshire Wolds. Anyone who as ever ridden an established sportive in East Yorkshire will most likely have gone up Nunburnholme Hill. Each year on event photographers’ web sites there will be some poor soul captured – mercifully in the distance and therefore fuzzily out of focus – wheeling their bike up beyond the final push. Let’s hope they don’t have the energy to read through the pages of ‘Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire‘ as this nemesis of over-geared and out-of-condition road cyclists in East Yorkshire scores a modest 2/10 according to Simon Warren.

But the lowest rating of 1/10 is reserved for Brantingham Dale. On a good day I get up on a 39T chain ring (that’s the middle one of my triple – the inner one on my road bike is a reassuringly forgiving 34T) but I have suffered the ignominy of being overtaken by a young bloke going up on the big ring. So perhaps I shouldn’t grumble about that apparent low-scoring slight.

Apologies for dwelling so much on the Yorkshire Wolds. And the Dales and Moors. It’s just that I can’t comment specifically on the hills of South and West Yorkshire. For me there is a world of difference between taking in the vistas of the Dales, Moors & Wolds and humping your bike past somebody’s kitchen window in Huddersfield or Sheffield or somewhere like that. Nevertheless, there is clearly a demand for this kind of stuff among list ticking roadies out there and not just those trying to “Ride Them All“.

Riders on the Wolds 123 Sportive: Thrussendale Road, Acklam, in the Yorkshire Wolds. Image courtesy of Adie Turford

However, if you had to be scrupulously impartial and include these Yorkshire cycling climbs based on some sort of inflexible measure it’s likely the Yorkshire Wolds would struggle to make the grade. For instance, some of the climbs out of Grosmont and Egton Bridge are stiffer and longer than almost anything the Wolds has to offer.

The climb out of Egton Bridge towards Egton, with one of the roads in to the village visible in the background. Neither features in Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire

The book follows the now familiar formula of a double page spread for each climb – used in earlier volumes for perhaps a third of the climbs – with one page bearing a photograph and the climb’s rating, and the other page containing a brief overview and including an even briefer fact file along with a map, grid reference, length, height gain and approx. climb time. All the entries carry a graphic of the climb’s profile detailing particular points of interest – such as cattle grids, cobbles, hairpin bends etc. – that were presumably excluded for some climbs in previous books for reasons of space. There is also the tick list at the back, but it does not provide a page reference or other system to avoid flicking through the book to find the entry you want.

Safely round the hairpin on Rosedale Chimney. In ‘East Yorkshire’

It’s interesting to compare this book with James Allen’s ‘50 Classic Cycle Climbs: Yorkshire & Peak District‘. Although that book takes a different approach both authors conclude that Trooper Lane in Halifax is worthy of the grading 10/10. What’s notable is that it doesn’t feature in Simon Warren’s work until this third opportunity. That’s the difference of local knowledge, I suppose. They also agree on the maximum score for Caper Hill/Glaisdale Head, but James Allen gives the infamous Rosedale Chimney ‘only’ 9.5/10 compared to Simon Warren’s 10/10. It’s also a relief that since ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs‘ was released this latest publication upgrades Boltby Bank/Sneck Yate Bank from 7/10 to 8/10. That’s still short of the grade given in ‘50 Classic Climbs‘; James Allen gives it 10/10. (For what it’s worth – and in my humble opinion – I found Boltby Bank harder going than Rosedale Chimney.)

A hapless East Yorkshire cyclist grinds up Buttertubs Pass on a cold day one April. Despite the ‘iconic’ images during stage one of the Tour de France 2014, the southern ascent doesn’t get a separate listing in any of Simon Warren’s Cycling Climbs books. Image courtesy of Dave Barter

So, if you’re a cyclist in Yorkshire and like climbing hills you will be needing a copy of this book. Further summary points:

• Despite the first two volumes having the climbs numbered from 1 to 200, ‘Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire‘ does not employ any sort of numbering system, and has no index for ease of use.
• As in previous editions no cyclists appear in the photographs of the hills. I’d prefer it if they did, at least occasionally and to give some sort of perspective, but I can understand why for the sake of consistency none is included.
• Simon Warren’s definition of ‘East Yorkshire’, in order to separate the areas of Yorkshire in to four convenient sections of his book, lumps the likes of North Yorkshire climbs Caper Hill and Rosedale Chimney in to this handy geographical construct, but may well upset some purists. The reasoning is given as part of the introduction, but I would have thought ‘Moors & Wolds’, ‘Dales & Surroundings’, oh… maybe not. It just doesn’t sit right. Never mind.
• There are only 75 climbs! Surely there are 100 challenging climbs in Yorkshire. To some extent we’re back to arguments that came about after the publication of the first book, but could it be that other books in the regional guides cannot support that number of worthy climbs? I don’t know. Anyway, the book is highly recommended.

A version of this review first appeared on the web site CycleSeven.org, which is no longer online.

… No cyclists went past me on my last ride, just a surprisingly large number of cars – ironically, the closest pass came from the first of two cars laden with mountain bikes – perhaps there was an event on somewhere. Anyway, it’s normally a quiet ride with gorgeous views and a long, steady ascent similar to Water Dale out of Thixendale, or Millington Dale out towards Huggate. There’s also a little kick perhaps two-thirds of the way as you pass trees close to the road. Each time I try to keep up the pace so I don’t hang about and not dwell too long on the bend, which doesn’t have great sightlines for drivers of motor vehicles coming up behind. It never happens.

A string of telegraph poles in a field to the left helpfully points to where you will eventually reach the crossroads at the top of this rewarding climb. Roll on towards the Luttons or turn left to Sledmere for that slice of banana loaf to go with your coffee. I wouldn’t turn right on a bike.

https://www.strava.com/segments/4181664

A 100km anti-clockwise loop from the east of Hull that goes up Cowlam Hill.

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.

Just before we reached the junction at the top of the Kiplingcotes Racecourse drag no fewer than three cars in a line pulled over on to the verge to let us pass. I despair of the stories I read on Twitter and elsewhere of motorist v cyclist. Perhaps I’m lucky – or just choose my routes carefully – but I very rarely encounter any aggravation on the Yorkshire Wolds. The last car was more off the road than on it. “Hey, I’m not that fat”, I quipped. Chuckles all round. It’s like another world.

After refreshments at the Coach House Cafe at Sledmere there is a little ramp out before wonderful views on the well-deserved, mostly downhill, easy miles to the A614 near Kirkburn via Garton on the Wolds. Rob hadn’t ridden this way back from Sledmere (apart from part of it when he got lost on the Heart of the Wold Centurion Sportive) and seemed to like it. This loop then picks up the National Cycle Network Route 1 through to Bracken and the villages nearer to home.

(Just a note on the way to Etton. I planned a course in Garmin Connect to go via Mere Lane then through South Dalton, but on the day we bypassed Dalton and took the right turn off the B1248 to Etton. My planned course is probably more advisable for those newer to cycling or not sure of the route – especially at busier times.)

More refreshments, this time in the Black Horse in Little Weighton before Rob and I went our separate ways. A decent lumpy loosener with 2350 feet of climbing in a little over 50 very pleasant miles.

View ‘Skinny loop to Sledmere from Little Weighton’ in Garmin Connect or Strava.

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.