Cycling stops in the Cotswolds

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Permalink Reply by Andy White on January 25, 2012 at 21:36

If you don't want to go too far but want to get some hills in then ....

 

from Mosely head over to Woodgate  to cross the motorway at Frankley services, down to the B road and turn south up to the mast on Romsley Hill, down the lane to Bell Heath, cross the main road to Belbroughton, north to Holy cross and Clent, over St Kenelms pass and then back to Romsley - (repeat until you fall off your bike ;-)

That gives you a couple of really good long climbs  on relatively quiet roads and should improve your climbing ability in pretty short order.

 

On the other hand, if you want to get some Cotswolds Hills in then  a little south of Stratford is Nebsworth Hill - a corker if you approach from Ilmington!

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on January 26, 2012 at 7:20

Broadway Tower, Via Saintbury.

Lygon Arms at Broadway.

Snowshill Lavender.

Hidcot Manor ( National Trust ).

Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe.

 

You'll need these....

 

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Permalink Reply by Philip Whiteman on January 26, 2012 at 13:06

Andy, I am not clear on whether you are asking about hills near Birmingham to use as practice or hill climbs into the Cotswolds. As a person who frequently rides down and around the Cotswolds, hopefully I can help.

 

If you are looking for comparative climbs in the Birmingham area, you cannot go too far wrong with Andy's suggestion on the Clents.  The gradients and amount of ascent are fairly similar to the north escarpment of the Cotswolds.

 

If  you are interested the Cotswolds, then don't be too put off by the climbing involved.  The Cotswolds as whole do not pose too much of a problem as the a relatively undulating with few big climbs.  

 

The only trouble comes with the high escarpment that overlooks the Vale of Berkeley and Vale of Severn (approximately from Bristol up to Ilmington).  Beyond the escarpment, the topography falls away gently towards Wiltshire and Oxon, albeit with valleys cutting through middle.  Quite a few of the ascents between Dovers Hill (north of Broadway) and Cheltenham have been used for national hill climb time trials at some stage.  Most are around 250m of ascent with a gradient of around 17-20%. Plenty of cafes can be found:  Broadway, Broadway Tower, Toddington Station, Chipping Camden and several in Winchcombe.

 

Just as an aside, George Barker is hosting an audax starting in Kings Norton with three routes of 100; 160 & 200km leading to the Cotswolds.  The date is scheduled for 24th June.  Keep an eye open for details at http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/cotswold/index.html over the next few weeks.

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on January 26, 2012 at 13:15

Cheers Philip. They are not on the AUK calendar yet.

King's Norton? Is that the Woodrush RFC start, or a different venue?

 

The other event is Evesham's Audax from Wickhamford, but that's not till August. It has some climbing.

Some good training could be Roaches Revenge on 17th March from Hathersage, Derbys. After that, the Cotswolds is 'flat'.

I'm on The Monyash Monster....the lesser of two evils.

 

Philip Whiteman said:

Andy, I am not clear on whether you are asking about hills near Birmingham to use as practice or hill climbs into the Cotswolds. As a person who frequently rides down and around the Cotswolds, hopefully I can help.

 

If you are looking for comparative climbs in the Birmingham area, you cannot go too far wrong with Andy's suggestion on the Clents.  The gradients and amount of ascent are fairly similar to the north escarpment of the Cotswolds.

 

If  you are interested the Cotswolds, then don't be too put off by the climbing involved.  The Cotswolds as whole do not pose too much of a problem as the a relatively undulating with few big climbs.  

 

The only trouble comes with the high escarpment that overlooks the Vale of Berkeley and Vale of Severn (approximately from Bristol up to Ilmington).  Beyond the escarpment, the topography falls away gently towards Wiltshire and Oxon, albeit with valleys cutting through middle.  Quite a few of the ascents between Dovers Hill (north of Broadway) and Cheltenham have been used for national hill climb time trials at some stage.  Most are around 250m of ascent with a gradient of around 17-20%. Plenty of cafes can be found:  Broadway, Broadway Tower, Toddington Station, Chipping Camden and several in Winchcombe.

 

Just as an aside, George Barker is hosting an audax starting in Kings Norton with three routes of 100; 160 & 200km leading to the Cotswolds.  The date is scheduled for 24th June.  Keep an eye open for details at http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/cotswold/index.html over the next few weeks.

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Permalink Reply by Philip Whiteman on January 26, 2012 at 13:22

Same venue, Woodrush has a Kings Norton address.

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on January 26, 2012 at 13:56

Cheers.

 

For general interest :-)... The longest continuous climb in Birmingham is......

 

The downwards travelator in Latif's.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Reeve on January 26, 2012 at 15:11

thanks guys, lots of climbs to aim for then.

 

james, they are some pretty small cogs!

Phillip, the climb to Broadway tower is the main one on the route I'm doing in september. looking at the elevation graph of that section made me think I need to do some more hill training! most of my routes are udulating at best so just want to get in a few rides which will challenge me before the long ride itself. will try the clents and probably a jaunt into Broadway one day to check it out.

 

not sure I'm ready for Latif's though

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Permalink Reply by Robert Holland on January 26, 2012 at 15:35

Mucklow's Hill.

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Permalink Reply by Malcolm McHenry on January 26, 2012 at 16:19

Romsley, via Farley Lane. It's much worse than St Kenelm's or Shutt Mill Lane

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Permalink Reply by James Russell on January 26, 2012 at 16:36

Try Winwood Heath Road for a real challenge, although Rose Hill in Rednal is my personal nemesis, as there is no respite from the bottom to the top, and it just gets steeper the further you go.

Mucklow Hill can be added onto the loop if you wish.

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Permalink Reply by James Russell on January 26, 2012 at 16:37

Nice to eat is only one choice, and that is the Nimmings NT Car Park and cafe at the top of St Kenelm's Pass. Bacon butties are on lovely thick crusty bread, and are worth the climb alone.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Holland on January 26, 2012 at 18:14

Weatheroak Hill.

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