Boulby Bank
Max Gradient around 20%
Where do you find it?
Yet another tough coastal climb. It starts near the entrance to the Potash Mine more or less where the Potash Bank climb starts, just north of Staithes. Heading north on the A174 you turn right off the main road at the base of the Potash Bank climb and head up what appears to be a bank that goes straight up a very steep hill, unfortunately that is exactly what it is doing!
Description
This climb starts steep at about 15-18% and stays like that until you reach the first houses of the wonderfully situated Boulby Village at 0.25 miles. By this point you will already be puffing and hoping that you have got gears in reserve. I hope you have because it now gets even steeper, probably to 20%, stay with it and if you have a head wind (a high likelihood in this area I’m afraid) grimace as I find it always helps. At 0.4 miles you really start to feel ‘this is really getting a bit too much’ or at least I did, but then you finally crest this steepest bit and you are saved! From here a lovely 3-4% slope takes over and after what you have just done it actually seems like downhill. The top part of the climb is actually quite pleasurable as it makes its way to the picturesque buildings at the top that make up the sprawling Boulby Village. It’s a great view from up here and you are now just a short distance from the highest sea cliffs in England at 667ft if you have any time to explore. If not enjoy the great road that takes you down to Skinningrove.
Descent
If you have the best brakes known to man and nerves of steel I suspect that heroic speeds could be achieved on the descent, if only there wasn’t a sharp right at the very bottom, but there is, unfortunately, so please bear this in mind!
Sheep Rating
Similar to Skinningrove the risk is low but they are there in the surrounding land and could potentially make their way onto the road!
Photos
The view from the approach on the A174 – it’s the road to the right you’re going up!
The start of the climb proper, it takes no prisoners!
Nearing the steepest section, the house gives you an idea of the gradient
Nearing the top
Great view as you summit, now carry on to follow a great stretch of road to Skinningrove
Our Ratings and Comments
Paul – 7. Another coastal killer, very steep and long enough to hurt. Not one to attack, is it as bad as the Skinningrove climb? Depends on wind direction I think.
Note the ratings are :-
- Where’s the slope?
- No problem
- Big ring
- Spinning a gear
- It’s a difficult one (a homage to Sean Kelly)
- Light up all the boilers!
- Handlebar snapper
- Licking the front wheel
- Dinner plate required
- Fetch a nurse!
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