Hammer Square Bank – Simon Warren Cycling Climbs of the North East
- SW Rating: 4/10
- Wheelygood Rating: Easy
- Length: 0.47 miles
- Avg. gradient: 9%
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/19593630
- Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/993220
In rural County Durham, climbs lurk. As it goes, this one’s pretty benign – it begins by a bridge and pulls up from there in a simple, straightforward, way until you get to the top of the hill. You’re surrounded by trees the whole way so it’s pretty sheltered even if the wind is howling, although it also means that the surface is almost always damp. It’s pretty quiet around there too, so you’re unlikely to run into traffic problems – and the road is reasonably wide so things can get past easily enough.
Despite the short length, you can’t see the top from the bottom, so pick your pace wisely, although, if you’re very strong, you could go for an eyeballs out effort from the bottom and just about get away with it. I took it more steady, but, then, I’m not really your puncheur type! It would make a decent hillclimb hill – in fact, it has some of the character of the 2020 National Hill Climb choice, Streatley, only a bit shorter and not quite as steep.
Nice job for making it to the top!
