HARDWICK HILL

HARDWICK HALL, CHESTERFIELD

Now, to ride this little climb legitimately you’ll have to do so in a race. Why? Because the road is one-way, and its ascent involves passing through no entry signs and riding against the traffic. Set in the beautiful grounds of the grand Hardwick Hall, the whole road system runs in one direction: from north to south. So, why include it in the book then? Well, as I go to press, it’s the venue for an annual floodlit hill climb up the short yet punishing rise. Organised by the Bolsover and District Cycling Club, this innovative night-time format makes for a fantastic spectacle and is well worth knowing about; hopefully it’s an event that will run and run. The ride starts gradually, picks up to the tight left-hand bend, eases back slightly afterwards, and then finishes with more steep stuff to the plateau in front of the Hall – it’s over in a flash.