Strava tells me it’s 4,000 ft plus climb day, and at the end of it, I can believe it. My muscles are full of lactic acid and I can hardly stand up by the time I reach my accommodation.
It’s taken me into the heart of the Pennines.
Rather than take the shorter Googlemaps route over the A66, which is a busy main road, I went down the ‘Pennine Way’, which is a designated cycle route through the valleys and dales.
I don’t regret it.
There are a million things to recommend taking a cycle route over a main road as a cyclist.
Tan Hill
On my way, I pass the highest Inn in the England. Tan Inn is at 1,725 ft. I stop for a drink, then continue down into the valley.
It really is alone. I’ve reached it by coming up a gravel track off the main road, which I runs parallel to the trail for a short period.
I can see all the trucks and artics passing and feel glad that I took the longer route.
If you look at the Strava, this is one of the steepest climbs today.
But it pales in insignificance compared to the Oxnop…