Cycle sports and recreation
Cragg Road Hill Climb
Calderdale is home to the ‘longest continuous incline in England’.
The sign is just outside Mytholmroyd on the B6138. The road takes you south up Cragg Vale out of Mytholmroyd, east of Hebden Bridge, and offers a long and well-graded climb up onto the wilds of Blackstone Edge. The first few kilometres climb through wooded villages before the road finally emerges out onto open moorland. The last 4 km keep climbing relentlessly until the summit is finally reached at Blackstone Edge Reservoir.
As well as being a popular cycling challenge, the climb is home to a well contested Hill Climb Time Trial. Run by Yorkshire Velo, the time trial runs at the end of the season, and usually attracts a big turnout.
The route has a total ascent of 272 metres over the course distance of 8 km with an average gradient of 3.4%.
The course record is currently held by Matt Clinton with an astonishing time of 16.39 minutes.
Yorkshire Velo gives the following advice for the climb:
'The steepest part of the climb is the 1-in-10 section round the bends in Cragg Village. The remainder is a long steady climb up to the top of the moors. Geared bikes are recommended with gears in the range 60-120. The last couple of miles can be quite fast with the wind in the right direction. The hill can be ridden comfortably on a Time Trial machine.'
Official details
Cragg Vale (B6138)
Mytholmroyd
Start on Cragg Road, Mytholmroyd (B6138), approximately 0.5 miles south of railway bridge, at telegraph pole no.2, adjacent to entrance to Townson & Thornber (Oils & Lubricants). Proceed south on B6138, through Cragg Vale, to Finish at southern end of wooden fence over drain, on left hand side of road, and opposite wooden signpost for Whiteholme Reservoir, and Pennine Way, approx 0.5 miles north of junction with A58 (4.812 miles).
