steep hills

Since no one has replied to this in nearly 10 days,  I'll stick my five penneth in! No I haven't towed up that particular hill but if you're asking is it possible / advisable, it really depends on what you're towing - and what with.

The incline - as per Google Maps (as a guide), doesn't look that different from the B1248 between Fimber roundabout and Wharram-Le-Street in East / North Yorkshire and I travel that route regularly with a 2 tonne van on the back. Abbotsbury Hill might be a bit longer, but not much. That said, I do have a 3 litre V6 Touareg which churns out almost 270 BHP but it romps up there with van in tow with no problems whatsoever getting into 7th gear just before the top. Just don't look at the fuel consumption!!

Coming down is a different matter and I take it very steadily, using engine braking all the way.

As I said - depends on what your rig is. 

Once we were committed there was no turning back but I wouldn’t go again  - it’s the Col de Tende .

It depends on the power to weight ratio of your outfit. Like Richard I looked on Google Maps/Street View and whilst long it seemed a steady gradient. 10 years since I have towed but I think I have towed up more challenging roads than that in Europe. The A75 in France coming north springs to mind and of the two your route seems easier?

David

It all depends on the climb, the weight, the power you have. Straight up a very steep incline, (Abbotsbury) over a shortish distance can often be far harder than a long winding incline with a lower average over a much longer distance. Stick a hairpin bend in at the highest point of the steepest bit, such as on some UK roads and you can end up coming to a dead stop. (Sutton Bank) Car towing capabilities, and of course the weight they are towing varies enormously.

Thats why a great deal of Continental roads wind about, whereas UK roads often go straight up. Some of the TdeF riders, used to going up things like Tourmalet, Alpe de Huez  etc…that wind about got a bit of a short shock on some of Yorkshire’s roads and hill climbs back in 2014.

If some of those windy roads went straight up, they would be impossible. Always best to know the beast solo, rather than towing first👍

If memory serves Abbotsbury hill is no more challenging than some hills in Devon but the village has a very tight and very narrow ninety degree turn.  Just hope you don't meet the coastal double decker there as it will be you that has to reverse.