This Perm can be ridden with the eBrevet app and can count towards the Peak Audax Round The Year award (PARTY). You can start from train stations at Marple, Godley, Hyde or Woodley (with customised eBrevets version available via the Peak Audax page.

Both Ventoux and Werneth Low are hills. One towers over Provence at 1,910m and is a landmark for miles around; known as “le Géant de Provence”. Werneth Low only tops out at only 279m but it still offers extensive views over the Cheshire Plains towards the Welsh Mountains and the Lancashire moorlands, or over to the Peak District.

Ventoux is frequently visited by the Tour de France while the Tour of Britain occasionally races over Werneth Low. From Werneth Low you can even see where the TdF climbed Holme Moss in 2014. You’ve never been able to see the Tour of Britain from Ventoux!

Both hills can be climbed by bike using multiple routes. There are three ways of reaching the summit of Ventoux by road bike. Werneth Low offers seven!

1) Chadkirk (4km / 173m / 12%)
The longest climb starts from the River Etherow at Chadkirk Chapel. There’s a short sharp climb to start with, but the rest of the way through Romiley and Greave shouldn’t be too challenging. It shares the last stretch with the Greave climb.

2) Joel Lane (2.8km / 116m / 12%)
This climb is residential all the way, so spare a thought for any cyclist who chooses to live on Joel Lane.

3) Beacon Lane (2.8km / 180m / 18%)
This is my favourite of the 7 climbs, even if it does come straight after a possible café stop at the Etherow Visitor Centre. The surface is tarmac to start with, becoming compacted gravel from Hyde’s Farm but it should still be fine for skinny road tyres.

4) Greave (2.1km / 111m / 14%)
This is a steady climb out of Woodley on residential roads until the turn opposite Greave Primary School. From there you are on a narrow lane with sharp bends. The climb levels off at the grass triangle where Queen Elizabeth planted some trees in 1967.

5) Apple Street (1.6km / 111m / 24%)
The toughest of the climbs. The route first takes you over Ludworth Moor from where you can take in a fine view Werneth Low. We take the easy way out of Broadbottom to Mottram, but by all means to the detour up Gorsey Brow should you feel (steeply) inclined. The Apple Street climb proper includes a textured concrete surface.

6) Cowlishaw Brow (2.8km / 124m / 25%)
The steepest of the climbs! It’s not too bad as you first turn onto Cowlishaw Road but soon turns into a 1 in 4 monster. The Tour of Britain came up here in 2019, and made it look easy if that helps.

7) Higham Lane (2.3km / 116m / 12%)
This climb starts at Ricki Hatton’s gym, opened by Mohamed Ali. It is as gentle as a butterfly to begin with but stings like a bee by the end.

You pass the Hare and Hounds Pub at each summit in case you need liquid assistance.