TAN HILL

LANGTHWAITE, RICHMOND

Striking north from Langthwaite and the banks of Arkle Beck, the road up to the Tan Hill Inn is an epic climb by UK standards. Draped like a ribbon across the vast expanse of wild grass and gorse, this road is in many places the only sign of man’s presence in the surrounding wilderness. Following a lumpy section, the climb truly begins after the right-hand turn to the village of Whaw. The gradient is gentle, punctuated with the odd dip or brief bite of 12%, a few bridges, and numerous sheep. Windswept and open, this isn’t a climb to be taken on in bad weather – the featureless Arkengarthdale Moor to your left and Sleightholme Moor to your right can become very hostile in adverse conditions. Climbing on and at times flattening out, you’ll realise just how high you are when snow markers come to line the road on the final steep section. Up over the last crest sits the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Britain.