The cycling climbs of the Midlands tend to be underrated. In Simon Warren’s 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs book there are only really a couple of options. Jiggers Bank near Ironbridge is one (but not a climb of note really), Dover’s Hill is only a couple of miles into Gloucestershire. Mow Cop is in the North part of the Midlands, Terrace Hill and Michaelgate are in the East Midlands. Other than that, there’s not much else!
I’d like to put some of my local knowledge into play and show off a list of some of the Midlands cycling climbs that seem to go unheralded. I grew up near Stratford upon Avon, which is where I started riding. After there, I’ve moved into Birmingham, over to Leicestershire for a bit, back to Birmingham and now find myself in Staffordshire. So I thought I’d collect some of the hill climbs near me into one post.
Cycling Climbs of the South Midlands
Saintbury
https://www.strava.com/segments/3111103
A once popular venue for the National Hill Climb championships, Saintbury hosted the event in 1951, 1956 and 1960. An initial tough section past the church then levels out a little bit before a few ramps to kill speed after the crossroads.
Dover’s Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/8459161
An even more regular National Hill Climb venue (1968, 1973, 1978, 1982, 1998 & 2010) and only a couple of miles from Saintbury. Both hill climb the same ridge but Dover’s Hill is a bit more relentless with no easing up in the middle. Weirdly, I actually raced a hill climb here too.
Bushcombe Lane
https://www.strava.com/segments/16290484
Bushcombe Lane is infamous locally for reaching a max gradient of 25%. The main road climbs up and over Cleeve Hill are relatively gentle but Bushcombe Lane attacks the hill from the side and goes straight up. The middle bit is brutal!
Larkstoke
https://www.strava.com/segments/4373857
Larkstoke isn’t the steepest or worst climb in the world but is certainly one to be respected. One local sportive puts it into their route after 90 miles, where tired legs struggle to crest the summit.
Edge Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/14969543
Edge Hill is another ridge with a couple of different ways to tackle it. The next climb on this list – Sun Rising Hill also goes up the same edge.
This climb was used in the 2018 Women’s Tour of Britain.
Sun Rising Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/1319627
Sun Rising starts off with a little bump to kill your speed before climbing up to a hairpin. after the hairpin it’s a slog up to the house at the top of the hill. It’s just a shame it’s on a busy road.
The 2019 Men and Women’s Tour of Britain races used this climb.
Burton Dassett
https://www.strava.com/segments/5882971
A cattle grid early on makes things interesting before a slow grind up between the green lumps of hill to the beacon. It’s deceptively hard, especially as it feels almost easy enough to race your club mates on it.
The Men’s Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour of Britain races used this climb repeatedly in 2019.
Little Malvern
https://www.strava.com/segments/7334260
I did this climb on a hot day during an Audax. The first part was a challenge but then the relative rest of the middle section lulled me into a false sense of security. The only upside of the final steep kicker is that there’s often a shop open at the time for an ice cream.
Cycling Climbs of Birmingham & Surrounding Area
St Kenelm’s Pass
https://www.strava.com/segments/1328676
St Kenelm’s Pass was used in the first Velo Birmingham where someone had the bright idea to put a feed station at the base of the climb on a narrow road. Riders went all over the place! A gradual climb with ramps that can expose poor pacing strategies, it’s a tough one to do after 85 odd miles.
Winwood Heath
https://www.strava.com/segments/1572327
An infamously steep climb for Birmingham locals towards the south west of the city. It’s used for some of the local hill climb races near me. Its initial steep section comes after a turn and riders often find themselves in the wrong gear.
Beacon Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/820308
A climb that takes out of the suburbia of the city and into the countryside. A tough but manageable start soon leads into steep sections around the bend. The overarching trees can leave the road slippery too for out of saddle efforts.
Rose Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/2621224
Not the prettiest road to ride on but it’s rare to find such a long climb around Birmingham. The first section is but a warm-up, yet can expose the overexcited. Wiser, calmer heads know to wait until later. After a mile of effort, the climb turns up a gear and with a brief respite, ensures a tough finish.
Maxstoke
https://www.strava.com/segments/1048162
I got quite excited when I saw the route for the 2nd Velo Birmingham as I thought it would go up Maxstoke. Instead we turned off and away, right at the bottom of it! It’s a tough one to find a rhythm for as it gets tough and then backs off repeatedly.
Cycling Climbs of the North/West Midlands & Cannock Chase
Stile Cop
https://www.strava.com/segments/2723709
Stile Cop is probably known more for its mountain biking trails but does get used for local hill climbs as well. It’s toughness comes mainly from its dead straight layout. Riders can see the top from a long long way off and it feels like a torture with how slow the finish comes.
Camp Road
https://www.strava.com/segments/6497939
Included for its length for than anything, the initial section is reasonably steep and is a great hill climb near me for 5 minute power PB efforts. The full longer version though has a couple more ramps to suck energy before popping out by the German military cemetery.
Waltonberg
https://www.strava.com/segments/7065491
A little bit of Flanders in the West Midlands! Used by the Tour of the Black Country sportive, the climb features steepness and cobbles for good measure on what is basically a farm track.
Brick Kiln Lane
https://www.strava.com/segments/9371225
After my dismissal of Jiggers Bank in the introduction, this is my favourite climb out of Ironbridge Gorge. The first section feels like Roche-aux-Faucons from Liege Bastogne Liege. Its steepest begs you to take a risk on the opening bend to carry speed through. The left-hander is the agonisingly steep and the final ramp will show just how much you have left in the tank.
Cycling Climbs of the East Midlands
Merevale
https://www.strava.com/segments/1755259
I had no idea this hill was coming when I first rode it. Each of the ramps felt like it was going to be the last so I paced it absolutely awfully. I was toast by the top of the second ramp and the long drag to the final top was a killer on the already maxed out legs.
Breedon on the Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/771736
It’s a dead end road up to the church but it’s worth it. A hill that’s been half mined away over the years, it’s a prominent local landmark. Once turning off the road at the base, it’s a short sharp stab up to the car park with the views.
Terrace Hill
https://www.strava.com/segments/635950
Terrace Hill finds itself in the Greatest 100 Climbs book, but it’s certainly not as challenging as some of the others in this list. There’s a gentle ramp up early before a tough middle section that then flattens out gracefully.
Michaelgate
https://www.strava.com/segments/2486089
Another Greatest 100 Climb, this one is in the middle of Lincoln and gets its reputation from being featured in the Lincoln GP race. Sort of cobbled but not brutally so, riders would repeatedly sprint up this climb or be spat out the back of the peloton.
