MG- V Hilly! - Via Chapel Hill, Helsby Top +

by Neil Tanner
4 years ago
Near Milton Green, GB

36 views

This route is aimed at the toughest hilly Out and back route not exceeding 45 miles ( close at 46, so can just be done without a coffee stop, but tough and ideally a spring / autum ride with nice temp) and involving my favourite Sandstone ridge.
As you can quess it includes Chapel Hill ( steap & 1.4 k) and also the climb to the top of Helsby and the loop around Helsby, both have 16% peak. There is also nothing but small hills in between chapel lane and Helsby, including what I call Roman hill ( Yeld lane, peaks at 16% on return leg, but only 10% when heading out)
However, the ride starts easy to get the legs warm before Chapel Hill, after 12 miles and then it is pretty much up and down for the next 20 miles, however, there is a lovely scenic flat 12 miles home.
This route can be broken for a coffee at Manley Mere, which is only 1 mile detour and a great cafe, although pricey.
There is also Rose farm cafe at Ukington and Tillies at Bunbary.
The nice thing about this route is that it can easily be shortened in various places, but still include biggest bits of the ride.
It is also one of the most scenic, with really good lanes, but is not a ride for really poor wet weather, especially the leg up to Helsby, as several floods can occur on the lanes.