Mam Nick hill climb – Peak District UK

Mam Nick hill climb – Peak District UK

One of my favourite hills and only a short ride out of Sheffield where I live, this hill is always challenging but worth it for the amazing scenery.

Snowy Mam Nick photo credit: Simon Walkden.

KEY STATS

  • Distance:2.1 km
  • Elev gain:201 m
  • Starting Elevation:258 m
  • Final Elevation:460 m
  • Avg Grade:9.8 %
  • Max Grade:22.6 %

Difficulty Rating: 7 / 10

THE CLIMB

Leaving Edale heading towards Chapel-en-le-Frith the road dips down and round a left bend opening up to reveal the steep beginning stretch of the climb.

It kicks up quickly but soon settles down undulating at around 9%, this short but challenging climb never gets boring and has some steep ramps up to around 20%.

This is one of the best cycling climbs in the Peak District.

View out towards Edale from the top of Mam Nick
View out towards Edale from the top of Mam Nick, one of my fave post work routes in Summer.
Cycling Mam Nick
View of the final corner before the summit of Mam Nick

 

Mam Nick Hill Climb
The last bend of the Mam Nick climb – image by Brendon Tyree

 

Heading over the summit the road dips down and riders can turn right to head towards Chapel-en-Le-Frith, or as I normally do take the left turn to loop around Mam Tor, from here you can ride down to Castleton descending the fearsome Winatts Pass, another hill that is likely to have a post all of it’s own, or if you have time head towards Dove Holes or Millers Dale.

If you are feeling like really testing yourself, this hill is also the scene of a top hill climb event run by Sheffield’s Rutland CC every October.

 

 

Alternatively if you really want to test yourself go for a Mont Blanc of Mam Nick, this entails 23 reps gaining 4809 metres of elevation. We managed to persuade my good friend Roger to do this, although be warned after completing this challenge I’m not sure he ever wants to ride this hill again!