Buttertubs Pass

What to Expect on Buttertubs Pass

Buttertubs Pass sits in the Yorkshire Dales and connects Wensleydale with Swaledale. At 6.3 km with a net elevation gain of 263 m and a total ascent of 349 m, the discrepancy between those two figures is your first clue: this road doesn't just go up. There are undulations, short false flats, and at least one section where the road tips back before resuming the climb proper. That 86 m difference between net and total ascent means you'll spend some of those legs climbing ground you've already earned back.

The average gradient of 4.16% sounds manageable, and across much of the lower half it is. But the 13.11% maximum gradient tells a different story. That peak ramp is nearly three times the mean — which means it's concentrated, not spread out. When you hit it, you'll know.

How the Gradient Unfolds

From the start elevation of 225 m, the road builds gradually. The lower slopes are the place to settle your breathing and establish a sustainable FTP-based effort. Riders who treat the opening kilometres as a flat warm-up and push hard will pay later.

The character of the climb shifts in the upper sections. The gradients tighten, the road narrows, and the ramps that push toward and beyond 10% arrive with limited warning. The signature feature — the Buttertubs limestone potholes beside the road — appears near the top, which also happens to be where the climbing is hardest. Most riders are already deep in their effort when the scenery gets interesting.

The summit sits at 488 m. There's exposure up top; wind is a genuine factor that can make the upper ramps feel harder than the numbers suggest.

Pacing Notes

• Lower third: Keep effort controlled. The average gradient flatters the early kilometres. Resist the urge to motor through the easier ground.
• Middle section: Watch for the gradient fluctuations. Use any flat or downhill micro-segments to briefly recover, not to accelerate.
• Upper ramps: The sections approaching 13% demand either a gear change or a willingness to push well above threshold for a short period. Neither is wrong — know which you prefer before you arrive there.
• Fatigue math: With 349 m of total ascent against 263 m net gain, your legs accumulate more work than a pure altitude gain figure implies. Factor this into your effort if Buttertubs is part of a longer day in the Dales.

Gearing Considerations

For most riders, a compact chainset (50/34) paired with a 28t or 32t rear sprocket covers the full range of this climb without drama. Riders on standard gearing (53/39) who haven't scouted the maximum gradient sections may find themselves grinding or out of the saddle longer than planned on the steepest pitches.

If you're unsure what gearing suits your fitness for a climb like this, the FTP estimator can help you model sustainable power output against the gradient demands before committing to a setup.

Category and Comparative Difficulty

Buttertubs is rated Category 3. That classification reflects its moderate length and overall elevation gain rather than its maximum gradient. The 13.11% peak ramp is steep enough to feature in any climb category — it's the relatively short duration that keeps the overall rating in check. Don't let the category number lower your guard for the upper section.