Skelton Green Bank

Distance 0.35 miles

Max Gradient 15 %

Where do you find it?

Coming from Guisborough you follow the A173 until you reach the lights just as you enter Skelton (there’s a nasty little bank to get you to this point), go right at the lights through the road marked one way, the climb starts immediately after this. From Marske or Saltburn make your way to Four Lane Ends then drop down into Apple Orchard dip before going up the other side, straight on at the roundabout (Skelton Castle is on your right) and continue until you get to the lights. From the Brotton side go right to the end of the High Street then take the left turn before you get to the lights.

Description

Most people in the area are familiar with the climb up from Apple Orchard but if you go straight on at the lights up the narrow road marked one way you are faced with a tough and little known climb that links the old part of Skelton to Skelton Green. It starts off I would guess at around 8% but about a quarter of the way up the gradient increases before levelling off a bit as you approach a tight left hand bend. Then it gets steeper, up to about 12 to 15% and stays fairly steep round the next sharp right hand bend and then for the last straight section to the top.

The climb has a good feel to it with the tight turns and is sheltered throughout by high stone walls, trees and buildings that are dotted about on the steep slopes. The surface is good and the descent is quite entertaining but be careful of the traffic that might be coming up. Be a bit careful on the tight turns too, in the snowy weather last year a bus crashed into the hedge on the first higher turn and a car went straight on into the house on the bottom turn!

Pictures

Our Ratings and Comments

• Paul – 4. I was the only one doing this, not surprising as I actually live part of the way up the bank so am forced to climb at least part of it every time I go out. It is tougher than you might think, the tight bends help break it up and although it isn’t long enough to really hurt, it’s too long to attack it hard without experiencing extreme pain. If you’re riding it all the way from the bottom of Apple Orchard, and the lights are green so you don’t get a break, it maybe needs taking up a point or two in the difficulty ratings.

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!