This week, Jon Clifton takes us on a fun tour around Yorkshire, Wales and Leicestershire.
He’s captured some great Official Climbs of the region whilst showing off the varied and unique riding the UK has on offer.
For those of you looking for a stunning, easy, recovery ride, make sure you check out Leicestershire Wolds. Blue skies, summer flowers and quaint laneways make it a real delight.
You can find all these rides under NEW in the FulGaz App.
We start this ride at the Post Office in the small village of Tudweiliog on one of the hottest days in summer where temperatures reach 31c and head along picturesque and remote lanes towards Aberdaron which sits at the tip of the peninsula, from here we climb Rhiw where views of the sandy beaches at Porth Neigwl are seen on the way down. We finish the ride at the jetty in Abersoch. Note, to pronounce Rhiw, I’m told by my B&B host to “drop the R and roll the h and the w”…….. I hope you have better luck than me.
More InfoStarting at the small pier at Trefor on the northern shores of the Llyn Peninsula, we soon hit the slopes of Yr Eifl (the ‘Rivals’ in English) with its 17% gradients. It is a beautiful climb and at the top you find yourself amongst heather in flower and spectacular views looking along the entire Lyn Peninsula. Descend through Llithfaen, Pistyll and onto Nefyn, then head along minor lanes with glimpses of the Snowdonia Hills in the distance, to finish overlooking Criccieth castle on the edge of Cardigan Bay.
More InfoThe ‘wolds’ is a term used in England to describe a range of low hills and valleys in open countryside of which we have many wolds, the most famous being of course the Cotswolds. Our ride today takes us through the Leicestershire Wolds starting in the tiny hamlet of Saxelbye heading out along the lanes which are full with the white flowers of cow parsley. We pass through the villages of Grimston, Willoughby-in-the-Wolds, Wysall and East Leake before dropping off the wolds to finish our ride on the river at Normanton-on-Soar.
More InfoA ride of two very different terrains. Starting at Keld in Upper Swaldale and soon picking up the River Swale at the turning to Tan Hill, we wind our way through Birkdale, arguably one of the prettiest dales in North Yorkshire. Listen for the bubbling Curlew and calling Oystercatcher as we rise to the high point where views of the North Pennines, the Howgill Fells and distantly, the Lakeland Fells can be seen. Once entering Cumbria and dropping into Kirkby Stephen the landscape changes dramatically as we then head through the lush Eden Valley where the hay harvest is in full swing. We continue to our finish point at Appleby-in-Westmorland on the River Eden.
More InfoThe highest road in Yorkshire, this Official UK Climbs #50 is a gut buster! Starting in the peaceful market town of Hawes we soon hit the first 17% slope at Gayle where the road then levels off a little before reaching the steeper slopes at 17% and topping out at 23% near the top. The long ascent is always in view so you can see what is to come and you can be philosophical! Once at the summit and looking south, you will see the three highest peaks in Yorkshire, Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent. The road then drops into the beautiful Langstrothdale, the upper valley of the River Wharfe, and finishes at Yockenthwaite.
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