Cleeve Hill

Difficulty   Easy-Hard
Climb       1000ft and more
Rating      5/5

Time         2hrs - All day

Cleeve Hill near Cheltenham lies on the Oolitic limestone escarpment at the edge of the Cotswold hills. As a result the local riding is dramatic to say the least and with more than a 1000ft elevation gain in less than half a mile the climbs are definitely hard going.

There are, however, superior rewards for those willing to put in the effort required to reach the summit of Cleeve Hill. Alpine-esque trails snake across this grassy highland like yellow ribbons offering multiple lines; plenty of thrills and testing skills. With views to die for, its really quite hard to ever fault a place like this, especially when the sun is shining, warm on your back.

Rather than parking at Cleeve Hill, I have found that Winchcombe is as good a starting point as any. It allows for a number of different xc routes, which incorporate Cleeve Hill and ensures that, after hours spent playing at the top, there is a long and fast descent to finish the ride. Plus, with plenty of tea rooms, there is always the opportunity for some good post ride cake.

One of my favourite trails climbs out of Winchcombe via Gretton Hill (in the opposite direction to Cleeve Hill) and, following a diamond descent in to Prescott, climbs up Nottingham Hill (killer) and across the top to reach Cleeve Common.

After that you will definately need a rest, and with fantastic views out over Cheltenham (racecourse) and the river Severn (with black mountains in the background - on a good day) its hard not to spend too long having a 'little' rest.

Cleeve Hill plays host to an 18-hole golf course so passage along the main bridleways must be done with consideration. Heading towards the '3-masts' the trails then circle back across Cleeve Cloud.  Follow the line past the golf club house and towards the east of Cleeve Common (washpool). There are a number of good lines to explore in and around the old quarries.

Mountain biking is strictly restricted to the bridleways, however, if you are willing to risk it, some of the off piste trails are quite fantastic. Being part of the Cotswold escarpment the trails benefit from being usable all year round.  The base limestone rock is generally littered with smaller fragments making the surface quite loose, but cutting through the gravel the limestone offers good grip; it rolls well and, due to the porous substrate, water tends to drain away quite quickly.

Linking the quarries near to the wash pool in with your ride is highly recommended.

Despite the positive outlook, in wetter climes the hill can be a bit tortuous. Being so exposed the north west side (Cleeve Cloud - towards the three masts) can be extremely depressing. If your heading up then stick to the relative shelter of the eastern (Winchcombe) side.

After a days session, try heading down via bridleways to either Postlip (heading to Winchcombe), Nottingham Hill or Prestbury (via the three masts). Good uninterrupted descents!

Cleeve Hill has everything you would expect on a trail centre ride without being man-made. Neither does it have the traffic common to so many centres. The views are as good as any I've seen. Who needs trail centre's? Well, Cleeve Hill may be epically awesome, but variety is good!