DORSTONE HILL

BREDWARDINE, HEREFORDSHIRE

One look at the Strava leaderboard and you can instantly tell this climb’s been used in a big race, as proper riders have laid down some proper times and placed the KOM (King of the Mountain title) well out of the reach of us mortals. Although a kilometre shorter than its neighbour Bredwardine Hill (see here), it still gains close to the same gradient, so you know it will hurt. Never easy, the slope steps up the ridge, the pitch alternating between a manageable 7–8% and a more substantial 15%, and in places hitting close to 20%. The further you climb up through the woods, the tougher the steep bits become. As you pass a turn on your right the sky opens. From here you’ve one last sweeping stretch right before a plateau, where you’ll assume it’s all over until you glance up to see yet another little ramp. This is the last thing you need as the legs will be jelly, but dig deep and give it one last effort to crest the summit.