Hill Road from Watlington

Hill Road is one of the overlooked climbs of the Chilterns, being overshadowed by the likes of Kingston Hill. But Hill Road is a pretty tough climb, and there is some scenery too - initially to the chalk mark, and then off the left as you go up. I did once stop to get a photo looking across towards Aston Rowant. The climbing doesn't let up for a long time, one of those that takes a long time to roll off.

Good old Hill Road. A classic in some ways: straight road, great views and a superb cyclists cafe at the bottom. Just a shame it isn't longer or steeper. Expect to see people doing repeats to get the metres in.

A solid little climb. The steepest section is at the end of the first straight, dipping into double digits. After the gradient eases off, with some view to the left of the Chiltern escarpment, before a steady section to the first summit. From the first straight the “Watlington White Mark” is visible. Dating from 1764, the triangle supposedly aligns with the church to appear like a spire from a certain angle, although changes to the landscape mean it’s no longer possible to see this.