TERRACE HILL

VALE OF BELVOIR, LEICESTERSHIRE

Lying across the borders of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, the Vale of Belvoir is an oasis of hilly terrain in a desert of flatland. For those living in Newark, Grantham, or Melton, this is where to head for a tough ride, and of all the hills, Terrace is the best. It satisfies the criteria for a great climb: a quiet road, a couple of twists and turns, varied terrain, and of course a punishing gradient. There’s a sense of trepidation as you ride the long approach to the ridge of this ascent, with the road disappearing into the trees ahead. Climbing as soon as you enter the wood, the first few metres start steady and then head straight up; the good surface leads to a steep right-hand bend and the hardest section, before bearing left. The surface – broken in places with new toppings ripped up to expose those below – gradually deteriorates before you reach the peak round to the left.