#nenthead

Route: Alston, Nenthead, Killhope Cross, Nenthead, Dowgang Hush, Garrigill, Priorsdale, Nenthead, Alston.

Route also includes climbs 9 & 10

This Climb: OS Maps Link

The high point of this ride hasn't qualified for any high road lists I have seen, and even though the high point is not surfaced, and the way out at the other end gated, it should, not only because the surfacing continues to 547m placing in 22nd in Britain and 14th in England, but also because Priorsdale does claim to be the highest dwelling in Britain. So find this rectified in my own list which I will publish next.

Starting at the ford at Garrigill to get the low starting point this climb divides into two sections linked by a flatish run along the main B6277 road. 

The lower section always promised to be tough,  starting at the ford at Garrigill with a sort but sharp 20% unsurfaced ride, however on turning the first corner the road was even more unsurfaced than expected, in fact consisting of loose 6 - 8 inch cobbles. I suspect a torrent, or series of torrents funnelled into the high sided gully in which the track sits had caused this, though. This section does form part of the off-road Coast to Coast  and a friend had been along a couple of years earlier with no  problems. However now, impossible to ride over on anything, and very difficult to even walk over, let alone heave a 29 kg ebike. Having negotiated that, a short 20% smooth and rideable section leads to the B6277.

The main road then served as some relief before tackling the longer but more civilised section up to Priosdale. Once over the first brow there is a good view to the top, where a large lorry served to show where the road went.  Past Mount Pleasant and in and out off Little Gill just a few hundred meters from Priorsdale Farm and the end of the surfaced section, the lorry seems to be struggling to make progress in the far distance, and we eventually meet as the driver has just completed a successful turnabout and tentatively heading back down. Perhaps a dodgy sat nav was involved there somewhere. 

The trip down Shawside on the other side was considerably steeper, and will be the subject of a further trip hopefully, the road condition allowing, terminating at the top of Flinty Fell at 600m plus.

Points of Interest

The trip down from Priorsdale top leads into old lead mine workings mentioned in the previous entry on Dowgang Hush

A nice surprise back in Nenthead is the Miniature Village.

Route: Alston, Nenthead, Killhope Cross, Nenthead, DOWGANG HUSH, Garrigill, Mount Pleasant, Nenthead, Alston.

Also includes Climbs 9 & 11

This Climb:

Back down from Killhope Cross to start this leg at Holmsfoot, being a natural low spot.

The first part of this climb is simple, but on leaving the village, at the GCC 184 official starting point, you are thrust onto a 20% gradient that marks the toughest first stage of this short sharp shock of a climb. I had elected to have the bike in “tour” (setting 2/4) mode, but found myself immediately struggling, the result of not much summer cycling I suppose. Employing  the boost option to get over that, and a brief rest, the 8-15% of the remaining 1km was tackled in “turbo” (3/4) just to preserve my own sanity.

Explanation of ebike settings

Points of Interest

The name Dowgang Hush is derived from a mining operation that was active during the 18th century and possibly earlier. Hushing is a mining technique that employs a dam or sluice from which water is released in a torrent to release loose top layers and expose heavier metal deposits below. Here it was used to extract Lead and probably Zinc, and was also commonly used for tin and gold. The Downgang Mining Company would most likely have taken its name from the valley, rather than the other way round.

Looking at the pic from Google Streetview below the map above you can make out the small steep sided valley (re-entrant in orienteering speak) which has no  associated stream which was carved out by the hushing operation, with the mounds below (indicated by the embankment symbols) being where the spoil was deposited. (I should do this research before the event so I can stop and look at these things and get my own pics!).

Route: Alston, Nenthead, KILLHOPE CROSS, Nenthead, Dowgang Hush, Garrigill, Mount Pleasant, Nenthead, Alston.

Route includes Climbs 9, 10 & 11

This Climb:

OS Link

Back to Alston for a day in which I could get three climbs under by belt, 2 of them in the Greatest Cycling Climbs (GCC) list.

Parking in the Alston Tynedale car park gives the lowest starting point.  And the first climb, up to Killhope Cross, starts here.

(The discrepancy in distance is because I messed about in Nenthead)

Getting through Alston itself is quite a challenge, immediately hit by a 15% gradient on a set (what many people call cobbles but technically aren’t - sets have worked flat tops) paved road up to the market place, just the first of three short sharp shocks before you are barely out of the town.

Its almost 5km of more modest effort before reaching the official start of GCC 185 at a low point at Nenthall. Here the effort winds up with some up and down but increasingly sustained sections of 10-15% sections. After the village of Nenthead the work really starts and, sad to say, the bike in Tour (2nd out of 4) mode to assist with the load.

Points of Interest.

Killhope Cross: Though not as spectacular or steep as the likes of Honister and Hard Knott, Killhope does carry the distinction of being the equal highest paved pass in England, along with Harthope Moss, a minor road pass about 10 miles to the south east, a must visit for a future time. It is surpassed in height and severity, by the one way road up to the “golf ball” on Great Dunn Fell.

Killhope Cross itself is a Grade II listed Sandstone Boundary stone dating back to mediaeval times.