78 | Cycling World
Book Review
Cycling Climbs of Scotland:
A Road Cyclist’s Guide
Author: Simon Warren
Published: Frances Lincoln Limited, 2017
Images: Courtesy of Frances Lincoln
Edition: Paperback £8.99
Review by: Suzanna Hayes-Goldfinch
I
f you need some inspiration for your summer
staycation, this book is full of the possibilities awaiting
the willing cyclist in Scotland. But beware, this is
not one for the apathetic cyclist who baulks at the
sight of an incline and likes to cycle along peaceful,
flat countryside roads. Cycling Climbs of Scotland
does exactly what the name suggests – the author has
searched for the steepest hills, mountains and valleys,
and, rather than avoid them, he has collected them nicely
in paper form, so that those cyclists looking for a real
challenge can find them all in one lace.
Despite each route coming with a rating for how hard
the climb is, the author assures the reader right at the
beginning that ‘All the climbs are tough, therefore 1/10
equals ‘hard’, and 10/10 equals ‘it’s all you can do to
keep your bike moving’.” If you intend on using this
book as the basis of your trip to bonnie Scotland, we
recommend you start with a 1/10 route, for y our own
sanity.
Each route is clearly marked on an accompanying map
with a key to indicate the different road levels. Timings
are included to provide a guide and the length of each
route is also provided, as well as any other information
that Warren believes is essential for the route. At the
back is a convenient checklist to allow the reader to mark
his success by adding the date and time each route has
been ridden.
It is worth noting that the climbs in Scotland are unlike
any others. The truly epic journeys will begin with a warm,
balmy morning, and the weather will slowly deteriorate
the further you climb up the mountains. You can expect
to see sun, rain, wind, hail and snow all on the same day
– so prepare yourself accordingly!
If you do take this book and head over the border, be
sure to drop us a line here at Cycling World – we’d love to
hear about your adventures! Cycling Climbs of Scotland
is actually the sixth book in a series of cycling climbs, so
fans of the books will no doubt be delighted to try out the
inclines noted in this latest instalment.