STOUPE BROW

RAVENSCAR, SCARBOROUGH

What a find this climb was, what an absolute belter – hidden down a dead end road on the very edge of the Yorkshire coast. The only drawback is that you have to descend it first before you climb back up, that is unless you want to carry your bike across a beach then up a flight of rugged steps to reach the base. Setting off from a tiny car park, there’s a little lump up and then a drop down before you pass through a farmyard and see the climb in front of you. The sign at the top warns of a 33% slope; it might not be quite that tough but it’s close once you reach the small tangle of bends. Set between high banks of gorse with spectacular views out over the bay, it’s just majestic as it rises hard, up and across a mini stone bridge. The slope then backs off, climbs a bit more, and then eases again before settling into the solid slog to the top. If you’re lucky, a breeze will be coming off the North Sea to push you along.