Peat Hill

Peat Hill climbs north from Westgate in Weardale, leaving the valley on a road whose opening gives an immediate sense of the hillside above. The lower section rises through the village and turns sharply, concentrating the early effort into a short, demanding passage. The selected ascent is about 3.5 kilometres long, so that first bank is only the beginning of a substantial climb rather than a brief obstacle on an otherwise level road.

Higher up, the gradient settles into a more measured rise. The change makes the road feel less insistent, but there is still a considerable distance to cover and further height to gain towards the upper junction. The broader upland setting gives the climb a different atmosphere from its enclosed opening, with more space around the road and less to divide the remaining ascent into obvious stages. Peat Hill pairs a forceful departure from Weardale with a longer, steadier conclusion.