If you live in Ilkley the toughest local climb - as featured on professional Tours - is the climb up to the Cow & Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor. Simon Warren ranks it 5/10. Black Hill from Arthington, near Otley can be interesting - especially when the road is filthy from farm and quarry detritus. Ranking 5/10.
So today I drove to Buckden (of the famous Pike fell race) to remind myself of the joys of the 34 miles of the Buckden/ Aysgarth/ Hawes/ Buckden triangle. This is glorious Richmondshire country which (anti-clockwise) includes the Kidstones Pass climb (5/10) as a loosener to Fleet Moss which climbs south of Hawes. Fleet Moss is the highest road in Yorkshire. It isn't very busy. Is the climb long and hard? Well Simon ranks it 9/10. Go figure.
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