100 Climbs Route: Day 12, Penistone to Lancaster
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 12 of the journey, 115 miles from Penistone to Lancaster, taking in the climbs of Jackson Bridge, Holme Moss, Shibden Wall, Halifax Lane, The Rake, Nick of Pendle and the Trough of Bowland.
There have already been some big days on this ride, not least yesterday's epic efforts, but day 12 might just eclipse everything so far. That's not only because there are seven feature climbs on today's route, but because among them are two of the most famous hills in English cycling.
Head north-west from Penistone to the first challenge of the day: Jackson Bridge, a variable, winding climb that alters its gradient but never seems to get any easier. Then it’s on to Holmfirth, where the route detours south-west and you’ll climb and then descend the much more open, wide and well-surfaced Holme Moss.
Back through Holmfirth you go and onwards, north to the outskirts of Halifax where it’s time to face Shibden Wall. This incredible cobbled climb combines a hugely difficult surface with almost-impossible gradients for an experience it’s hard to forget. Survive it, and after passing through Halifax, you’ll detour to Luddenden for Halifax Lane, another cobbled monster with 25% hairpin bends and moss-covered stones.
From here, head to Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and then New Hall Hey for another detour, this time to Ramsbottom where you’ll face The Rake – “A road so steep at the top it has a handrail fixed to the wall to assist pedestrians,” Simon Warren says.
All the climbs so far have been fantastic in their own way, and yet still you haven’t got to the real highlights of today's route.
Those come after retracing your pedal strokes north and onwards, around the edge of Burnley. Then, just after Sabden you’ll encounter Nick of Pendle. This legendary climb is far from being the hardest hill among the book’s chosen 100, but the lower slopes are tricky while the upper slopes are super rewarding.
Onto Clitheroe, then into the wilds, and eventually you’ll come to the second legend on today’s route, the Trough of Bowland. The Trough itself is a picturesque natural basin of hills, while the climb is on a smooth surface and features a gradient of ‘only’ 1-in-6. Which means you can enjoy the experience.
If you only have the opportunity to cycle one day from this tour – if you have the endurance and fitness to do it – this is one of the best to choose.
