Key Green (Egton Bridge)

Distance 0.71 miles

Max Gradient 20%

Where do you find it?

First you need to get to Egton Bridge, a challenge in itself. You can approach it via the coast, maybe taking in the climb through Roxby first, or by the main moor road, though this is busy and we wouldn’t really recommend following it all the way from Guisborough to the Egton turn off. So tough though it may seem we would advise following the Esk Valley to Lealholm, then heading up towards Glaisdale before ascending Limber Hill then taking a left and dropping down into Egton Bridge. When you get to the junction turn right and follow the river continuing on the main road, rather than taking the minor road right to Delves.

Description

If you were airlifted into Egton Bridge complete with your bike there are four ways to get out, all of them a tough proposition. This climb up past Key Green is the second hardest, not quite as tough as the way out through Delves but it will test you. It starts really steeply at around 20% and sustains this for a couple of hundred metres as you go through a wooded section, easing just before it starts to get you in real difficulty. But it’s not over as another tough section of at least 12% follows just after Key Green as the moor starts to open up. Now it’s almost over but not quite as after a flattish section it rears up again before the summit is reached. A typical moors climb in many ways, steep, direct and difficult to find a rhythm.

A couple of great options are now open to you if you want to carry on and do an epic route (assuming you have started from the Teesside area). One is to continue on the Roman Road and do a large circular via Cropton Forest. The other is to take a left then a right and head out towards Goathland, returning by Sleights or Grosmont.

The Descent

A tricky descent, care is needed on the bottom section as it is very steep and has a tight right hand bend at the bottom.

Dave’s Sheep Rating (out of 5)

‘Nowt doing’ said Dave

Sheep

Photos

The start, 20% slopes lurk just around the corner
The start, 20% slopes lurk just around the corner
The steep bottom section
The steep bottom section
The upper section after Key Green, probably around 12%, Dave or Ian right at the top.
The upper section after Key Green, probably around 12%, Dave or Ian right at the top.

Our Ratings and Comments:

  • Dave 7 – Tough!
  • Ian 7 – Ditto!
  • Paul 6/7 – It is hard and you will probably already have ridden 30 odd miles over tough terrain before you get there, so if you’re not in shape it will make you suffer. Then you’ve got to get home of course!

Note the ratings are :-

  1. Where’s the slope?
  2. No problem
  3. Big ring
  4. Spinning a gear
  5. It’s a difficult one (a homage to Sean Kelly)
  6. Light up all the boilers!
  7. Handlebar snapper
  8. Licking the front wheel
  9. Dinner plate required
  10. Fetch a nurse!

Paul Christon