Historic England with Jon Clifton
This week, contributor Jon Clifton takes us on a tour through some of England’s most picturesque villages known for their medieval castles and Tudor settlements.
This collection features some impressive climbs, including the Honister Pass, where gradients pitch up to 27%.
You can find all these rides under NEW in the FulGaz App.
HOXNE AND THE WAVENEY VALLEY
Starting at Shotford Bridge along the River Waveney, we follow the valley along through Mendham where we then go through several of the South Elmham villages (seven of them lie in a scattered group). The terrain here is usually flat, arable and sparsely populated. After passing through Metfield and Fressingfield we will finish our ride in the delightful and historic village of Hoxne
More InfoESSEX JEWELS
Starting in Finchingfield, one of the most picturesque villages in England, we cycle into a heavy northerly wind passing through Wethersfield through rolling landscapes. On to Sible Hedingham where Alderford Watermill sits on the River Colne and onto Castle Hedingham, passing many medieval and Tudor houses. The ride eventually finishes at the old Guildhall in Steeple Bumpstead.
More InfoOC-80 THE HONISTER PASS
Filmed on a rare sunny day in the English Lake District in late spring. Starting along the shores of Crummock Water heading through the Buttermere Fells and past Buttermere Lake where Hay Stacks (597m) sits to the right and beyond are some of England’s highest mountains. We soon start to hit some of the slopes of Honister Pass (Official Climbs #80) where gradients pitch up to 27% and with long sections of 20%. Having reached the top we drop into Borrowdale and then head along the River Derwent and along the west side of Derwent Water and Cat Bells (451m) where we get spectacular views of the lake with Blencathra (Saddleback 868m) and Skiddaw (931m) beyond. We finish the ride in the small village of Braithwaite.
More InfoTHE HIGH WEALD
A beautiful ride in late spring with bluebells, wood anemone and even the odd orchid lining the lush verges. We start this ride in the pretty hamlet of Warbleton in the heart of the High Weald, one of England’s finest landscapes amongst wooded and rolling hills. Our journey takes us north through Broad Oak and into the Rother Valley passing the odd oast house as we go finishing with a long climb at Willingford Lane to finish at Ox Lodge in Brightling.
More InfoTHE BURE VALLEY
Starting the ride at Itteringham in the upper Bure Valley, we skirt the National Trusts Great Wood following the meandering lanes passing through Ingworth (note the thatched roof of the 14th Century church here). We continue through various small villages and hamlets that sit in or on the edge of this beautiful broad river valley until we finish the ride at the water mill at Saxthorpe.
More InfoOC-33 WINNATS PASS
Starting in the Hope Valley we cycle through Castleton before hitting the slopes of Winnats Pass (OC-33) where gradients of 20% are long and steady. This was the venue of the 2021 National Hill Climb Championships. After reaching the top we pass Mam Tor (Shivering Mountain) on our right hand side before dropping into the Vale of Edale and heading back to the village of Hope to finish the loop.
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