NORTH EAST COUNTY DURHAM

If you love relentless climbing, this is one of the greatest loops anywhere in Britain. Taking St John’s Chapel as your base, head west, turning north after just 2km to take on Well Bank. With some back-breaking 20 per cent corners, it’ll warm the legs up so that they can tackle the next succession of climbs over White Edge and Cuthbert’s Hill.

Dropping down from the isolation of the fell, head towards Blanchland, then turn right to climb back over Bale Hill and down into Stanhope. Wind up through the bends of Unthank Bank, swoop down through the gully and start the climb over the magnificent Bollihope Common. This is an area of Britain that takes your breath away, so soak it in as you grind over its summit before descending into Middleton-inTeesdale to begin the push for home.

First up is the giant climb of Newbiggin Common, back into St John’s Chapel. Here you could head for the cafe, but seeing as you’re at the base of Chapel Fell, Britain’s highest paved pass, it would be rude not to tag it onto the end of the ride, wouldn’t it?