Staggering 2026 Hillgrimage

Tobes
Aug 11
2 min read

In early August 2026 we set off groups of cyclists on 110km, 80km and 45km routes from Sedbergh, Tebay and Kings Meaburn respectively for our annual Hillgrimage. If you're new here, that's our (at least) annual ascent of the highest road in Britain - the dead end track to the air traffic control tower(s) at the summit of Great Dun Fell. This year we mixed things up with a staggered start. After 6 weeks of almost not a drop of rain as heat wave after heat wave rolled through the UK, finally, on the day we'd chosen, IT RAINED...

This year's Hillgrimage was no different in format to most of our group rides - "we're going for a bike ride, it'd be lovely if you want to join us". Over 40 riders assembled in our three start points - the rain had meant that (thankfully) the 150 folks in the WhatsApp group for this ride didn't all arrive! But it was still probably our biggest annual crowd yet...

Regardless of the start point chosen the first section of the ride up to Knock was punctuated with plenty of stabby little climbs that had been conspicuously flattened out of the profile by the Big Hill in the middle. But they were there!

Once we'd made the right turn onto Great Dun Fell, it was brilliant having 40-odd riders all ascending and descending at different speeds and supporting each other on the way up and down. Visibility was fine until about a third of the way up and then absolutely zero. It was windy, wet and cold at the summit (we're not made of sugar, etc). When we got to the summit we couldn't even see the new golf ball. Dang. Another reason to return next year!

This year's highlight was the moment we arrived out of the clouds to a glorious view of the sun drenched Eden Valley. It was like they forgot to fill in about half the sky. Weird and wonderful...

After a brief stop in Dufton at the excellent Post Box Pantry (where one rider's entire order was just crumble and custard. Superb), we clipped on over Orton Fell and back to respective starts at Tebay and Sedbergh. It was again much harder than the profile suggested it would be, but a stunning roll past Sunbiggin Tarn made up for the struggles to get there. By the end, we were grateful to return to our cars parked up at Lyon Equipment in Tebay (thanks again to them for the the loan of their car park for the day!).

How did we stay dry all day?