Longest down hill in the UK?

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boink
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Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by boink »

My mate and I were hearking back to our lejog of 2008 today on a nice little run out is Shropshire, when he recalled the descent down from the high ground (Rannoch moor?) to Glencoe through the pass. Seemed to last forever as can be seen here via his daredevil/stupid film-making: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjCZ4-uutEg&feature=related

Is there a longer descent for fans of freewheeling anywhere in the UK? Sorry if this ones been covered before.
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fausto copy
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by fausto copy »

I always thought it was the whole of J.o' G. to Lands End.
Everyone tells me it's uphill all the way, t'other way around. :wink:
thirdcrank
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by thirdcrank »

There's a thread somewhere on here about Crag Vale, running down from the A 58 to Mythomroyd. It certainly has a sign at the bottom caliming the honour, and it's an excellent ride down.

+++++++++++++++++++

Found it

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=16000&p=126189&hilit=cragg+vale#p126189
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Badger
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by Badger »

You could take a look at http://www.climbbybike.com/

I can't vouch for its accuracy. This only gives details of climbs though. I'm not sure if there's an equivalent website for descents :?
thirdcrank
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by thirdcrank »

Badger wrote:... I'm not sure if there's an equivalent website for descents :?


Why would you need one :?:

:wink:
mw3230
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by mw3230 »

Do you mean long in distance or long in time - sadly I find that the hill is never as long on the descent as it is on the ascent
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boink
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by boink »

Got to be distance I think as time is of course relative...
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timmitchell
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by timmitchell »

Crag Vale

5.5 miles dropping 968 feet

Crag Vale claims to be the longest continuous ascent/decent

There might be some longer ones but they must flatten out at some point - will post picture of the sign later 8)
Last edited by timmitchell on 19 Oct 2009, 12:54pm, edited 1 time in total.
Big T
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by Big T »

Top of Rannoch Moor to Glencoe is getting on for 9 miles and you're dropping from about 1100 feet to almost sea level. Quite a drop off the other side of Rannoch Moor via Tyndrum, Crianlarich to Ardlui on the shore of Loch Lomond, but you have to climb up Tyndrum hill.

Glen Convinith on the A833 towards Beauly (west of Inverness) is about 7 miles. The Via Gellia in the Peak District, from Newhaven to Cromford is also a long descent, about 10 miles, but there are a couple of uphill bits.
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Kirst
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by Kirst »

Badger wrote:You could take a look at http://www.climbbybike.com/

I can't vouch for its accuracy. This only gives details of climbs though. I'm not sure if there's an equivalent website for descents :?

Surely it's the same but backwards?
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ChrisButch
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by ChrisButch »

If you really wanted to calculate this accurately, you'd need a formula including both altitude loss and gradient, the point being that you need the gentlest downhill gradient which would allow freewheeling, sustained over the greatest possible altitude loss. Altitude loss on its own is no good - thus the 626 metre drop from the Bealach na Ba to sea level at Applecross wouldn't count, as it's too steep.
bikepacker
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by bikepacker »

Top of Longdown down to Chudleigh Knighton has got to be close to 9 miles. I do it on the way to my son's in Torquay and it is always a good freewheel.
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PW
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by PW »

The Bealach may be steep and with a big height gain/loss but neither side is anywhere near 9 miles long, it just feels that way as you flog uphill into the wind, cloud and rain! :cry:
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Tonyf33
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by Tonyf33 »

I'd like to know which is the longest with the smoothest bit of tarmac, no good having a lovely high speed freewheel if you come a cropper because the local highways are not on the ball :(
toontra
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Re: Longest down hill in the UK?

Post by toontra »

Yad Moss southbound towards Middleton in Teesdale has a 12-mile downhill section (with a couple of tiny flats) and drops 1200 feet. I've only done is once (LEL this year) and that was at night into a driving headwind and rain so I can't say whether it's particularly enjoyable or not - I was having to pedal!
Last edited by toontra on 19 Oct 2009, 7:35pm, edited 1 time in total.
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