Street to Glaisdale Rigg (Great Fryup Dale)

Distance 0.85 miles

Max Gradient 20%

Where do you find it?

It is a tough and undulating route just to get to the foot of the climb. After making your way to Castleton turn left towards Danby but turn right and follow the signs for Ainthorpe. Once in Ainthorpe turn right and head up Little Fryup past Danby Castle, you will pass the foot of the ‘New Way’ climb, here take the road that bears left. This road twists and undulates its way towards Fryup Hall where the road enters a wooded section and dips sharply before turning left and then going uphill. You will reach a junction shortly after you leave the wooded section, turn right here downhill towards Street, above Street you should be able to make out the route of the climb.

Description

This is a very remote and little known climb of real character. It’s one of the toughest there is and although quite a trek to get there it is well worth the effort. Viewed across the valley on the approach you can make out the line of the climb as it zigzags its way up to the top of Glaisdale Rigg. From here it looks like a serious undertaking, this is not an optical illusion, it’s a brute! The climb starts near a small wind turbine in a hamlet called Street, you are now in for about half a mile of relentless sustained steep climbing, good luck! It rears up straight away to 18-20% as it goes straight up to a junction, at the junction take the right turn signposted for Rosedale going past a 20% sign (alternatively you could escape left here towards Lealholm!). The suffering isn’t over yet as the road then goes left at another junction. On it goes staying at around 20% and this section is probably the most challenging as fatigue will now be setting in. The road then turns right at a cattlegrid where dry stone walls and hedgerows give way to open moor. The gradient eases here and this saves you to an extent but don’t think that the climb is over yet. You will get some recovery but then it curves to the right and steepens again to around 15-18% for a final section which takes you to the summit, a great finale to a great climb. A spectacular view now unfolds across Glaisdale and Egton Moor all the way to Black Brow (this is another climb that will be covered on this site) to the East of Grosmont.

Descent

I’ve not been down this, the surface seems quite good for a minor road and it’s more or less traffic free but the lower section is so steep that I would imagine that it’s difficult to enjoy it. Be careful on the tight corners.

Dave’s Sheep Rating (out of 5)

Plenty of sheep around on the upper section but not too many near the road itself, Dave gives it a middling:

Photos

 

Our Ratings and Comments

• Paul -8. Tough, very tough, I’ve done it a couple of times and I would rate it just marginally easier than Carlton Bank, but there’s not much in it. Its sustained steepness on the initial section is a true test, probably only five climbs on this site will be harder (once they’re all written up and actually on the site). A must do for any local Grimpeurs!
• Dave – 8. Well it is in Fryup Dale and you will have earned your fry up at your café stop afterwards!

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!