As well as being the highest point of the Cotswold Hills and the highest point in Gloucestershire, Cleeve Hill has now been named as the UK’s ‘fastest mountain to climb’.
While there is some debate about the definition of ‘mountain’ used, in a new study from Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages, the Gloucestershire hill is the fastest climb in the country, according to average pace per kilometre data from running app, Strava.
It topped the list of the 10 fastest mountains to climb in the UK, beating Caerphilly Mountain in South Wales, High Peak in the Peak District, Pen-y-ghent in Yorkshire and Sugar Loaf in the Brecon Beacons.
But despite being the fastest climb in the UK, the Gloucestershire peak didn’t make the top 10 most popular mountain routes in the UK, with Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons topping that list, alongside Ben Nevis in Scotland, Snowdon in Wales and Helvellyn in the Lake District.
With Gloucestershire hoping to grow its reputation as a holiday destination, keen hikers will want to add Cleeve Hill to their must-visit list – not just to try and achieve a personal best time, but to enjoy the spectacular views from the top too.
For more walking inspiration, check out SoGlos’s pick of the most beautiful walks in Gloucestershire.
