The Stang (SW #57) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

5.5
PDI
2.3 mi
DISTANCE
882 ft
GAINED
7 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

The Stang is a has its ups and downs - three steep sections followed by flats for the first two and the finish for the last. This is #57 of Simon Warren’s Great 100 Cycling Climbs in Britain and is a scenic ride through North Yorkshire farmland. 
7.1% average grade (8.6% climb only).  The grade on this climb varies dramatically - 10% is descent, 31% is at 0-5% grade, 30% is at 5-10%, 22% is at 10-15%, and 7% is at 15-20%.  The steepest 500 meters is 14.2%.  

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway:  Narrow two lane road in good condition with no center stripe.

Traffic:  Minimal.

Parking:  Park at the top and use this as a staging area for both sides of the pass, or park at the start where there is space for one vehicle at the junction (Map; Street View).  Another option is to ask at the CB Inn 650 meters south to use their spacious parking lot (Map).
Provisions:  The closest place for food and drink is the CB Inn 650 meters south of the climb start (Google Map + Reviews). 
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
This is #57  on the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, Britain and is one of nineteen climbs in the Yorkshire section of the book. Use the “Routes in Area” button on the menu bar to see other bike climbs in the region.  Consider viewing or touring Arkengarthdale - Church of Saint Mary the Virgin 1.2 kilometers south of our start and just off the main road (Map). 

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CLIMB SUMMARY

Signs at the finish of The Stang

This is a fairly long Greatest 100 climb at 3.7 kilometers.  The first kilometer is a challenging 12.6% followed by a flat 900 meters, then a brief 250 meter bump back to 10%, followed by a flat 200 meters then the final push to the top for a kilometer at nearly 10%. This is a perfect interval hill where we can push hard, rest, push, rest, push, ride back down.

 

The climb begins near some farms at the bottom, but we are quickly surrounded by open fields for the remainder of the climb.

This climb is all about open space, quiet and livestock.

 

Steepest ½ kilometer begins at 300 meters (14.2%)

The Stang hosted the British National Hill Climb Championships in 2013.  Atop the podium that year was Tejvan Pettinger,  author of the excellent British climbing blog CyclingUphill.com. Note:  although Tejvan won the race, he does not even mention that honor on his blog - now that’s humble!  

 

Tejvan Pettinger, 2013 National Hillclimb victor at The Stang..

 

CyclingUphill.com:

“The Stang is a tough climb with considerable variation in gradient. The hardest section is the first 0.6 miles, where the gradient is constantly above 10% and nudges towards 18%. After 0.75 miles there is the first section of downhill. This will enable you to pick up speed and recover somewhat from the first section.


The middle section is a fairly gentle gradient, and flattens out, with a small downhill towards the end.

However, at around 1.6 miles, the gradient picks up again to around 5-10% for final 1 mile to the line.

The hill requires careful pacing. It is too long to really go flat out at the start, but the steepest section still needs the most effort. The key is to go hard enough on first section to still be strong enough on the remaining 2 miles.

It obviously a climb for gears, and you will be in and out of your big chain-ring.

The hill is quite exposed to the elements which can be either very good (with nice tailwind) but equally if the wind is in the wrong direction, it makes it even tougher.

Traffic is quite light, and I think the road will be closed for the national championships. One thing to be aware of is sheep!”  
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This climb is in the far northern section of Yorkshire Dales National Park, 217,800 hectares (538,195 acres), established in 1954:

“The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a 2,178 km2 (841 sq mi) national park in England covering most of the Yorkshire Dales. The majority of the park is in North Yorkshire, with a sizeable area in Cumbria and a small part in Lancashire. The park was designated in 1954, and was extended in 2016. Over 20,000 residents live and work in the park, which attracts over eight million visitors every year.  The park is 50 miles (80 km) north-east of Manchester; Leeds and Bradford lie to the south, while Kendal is to the west, Darlington to the north-east and Harrogate to the south-east. The national park does not include all of the Yorkshire Dales. Parts of the dales to the south and east of the national park are located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”  Wikipedia - Yorkshire Dales National Park. 

CycleTheDales.org.uk:

“This is a great climb from either side and runs north from Swaledale towards Barnard Castle and the North Pennines. Leaving Reeth you head up Arkengarthdale before turning right shortly after Langthwaite. The road drops down, crosses a stream and then heads uphill. There is an initial steep section which is followed by easier climbing up to the boundary between Yorkshire and County Durham.”  More

There is an alternate route up The Stang from the North (PJAMM Climb Page)