Mott Street Climb, Epping Forest

Number 26 of the UK's top 100 Climbs. Just North of London in the county of Essex lies High Beach and the climb of Mott Sreet.

Studying the topography, it's a surprise to find such a tough ascent in this area, (there are many shorter hills around), but Mott Street is a a proper climb. Begin your ascent at the broken bridleway marker just off the A112. The road bends left, passing the junction to Lipits Hill, and then rises.

A tough opening section flattens where you reach the farm buildings on both sides of the road. A strong whiff of manure is just what you need to propel you up the following lump onto the hardest section. The well-surfaced stretch with a 12% gradient winds past large gated properties on both sides, levelling slightly halfway up. The final sector heads into tree cover and the brow comes opposite a bridleway, after which there are just a few hundred meters of false flat before the climb ends at the junction of Church Road.

Probably the steepest or hardest hill in the area! Go for it and try and set a good time. If you're not happy with it, go back down and try again!

If, like me, you enjoy climbing despite not being an expert and you enjoy tree cover and forest without being totally isolated - cars do go along this road - then this is for you. A really nice climb up into the Epping Forest.