Winnats Pass, in the Peak District, is widely regarded as the historic home of British hill climbing: this limestone gorge, lined with dramatic pinnacles, hosted the national championship ten times between 1947 and 1977 before a much-anticipated return in 2021.
A short but brutal climb
From Castleton, the road climbs just 1.9 km for 205 m of elevation gain, at an average of roughly 11% that hides a much harsher reality: past the halfway point, the gradient hardens into a long stretch of around 20%, among the steepest on the British road network. The road winds along the floor of a natural gorge flanked by steep limestone walls, the remains of an ancient tropical coral reef more than 330 million years old.
The home of British hill climbing
Nicknamed the “Home of Hill Climbing,” Winnats Pass hosted the national hill climb championship ten times between 1947 and 1977, before a notable return in 2021 after a 44-year absence. The event’s format itself — an individual time trial up an extreme gradient, watched by crowds packed along the roadside — finds few settings to match the gorge’s natural amphitheatre anywhere else in the UK.
Tackling the climb
A compact or triple chainset paired with a wide-range cassette (32-34T minimum) is strongly recommended: the 20% section leaves little room for gearing mistakes. The narrow road, used by cars connecting Castleton to Sparrowpit ever since the Mam Tor road collapsed in a landslip in 1979, is banned to buses and vehicles over 7.5 tonnes — a limit some lorry drivers still ignore, occasionally getting stuck on the gradient.
Good to know
The road stays open year-round but can close temporarily during snow or ice in winter; April to October is the safest window for a climb without surprises. Castleton, the start town, offers a good choice of accommodation and doubles as a base for exploring the caves and gorge on foot via Cave Dale, just south of the village.
