Ffordd Penllech in Harlech is the UK's steepest road (Pic: Stephen Elwyn Roddick, via Wiki Commons) Jenkin Road was the final climb of stage two of this year's Tour de France (Pic: Marc, via. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. The Travel App includes many helpful travel tools, including: an itinerary, interactive map with points of interest and all loaded routes as well as navigation to each; a tracking feature that shows participant locations; records statistic for routes completed; post photos and text in real time to blog and map; and a share feature so friends, fans and family can follow you and your adventure on our interactive map. Please check your inbox to complete the sign-up process and ensure you receive emails and offers from us in the future. This climb is breathtaking and we will return and do this one again - its just that unique, inspiring and exceptional. Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. It's a testing drag, with the incline quickly kicking up to 9% and staying there or thereabouts much of the way to the top. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. Between bend three and four the pitch increases to a brutal 30 per cent then backs off slightly so we can recover for an instant before it kicks up again. The Floor is Lava is nothing compared to this road. The bottom of the Abercynafon climb - note the 20% gradient, The open countryside of the Baran Road climb, The open part of the Bedlinog climb, after leaving the village, Looking south from the climb up the Black Mountain, The profile of the Black Mountain, from Brynamman, Looking down at the upper reaches of the Black Mountain climb from Llangadog, Looking north from the top of the Black Mountain, The profile for the Black Mountain from Llangadog, The top of the British, heading out of Abersychan, Steep inclines before leaving Aberdare on the way up Maerdy Mountain, The hairpin on the climb up Maerdy Mountain from Aberdare, Descending from the Bwlch into the Afan Valley, Near the top of the Bwlch, from the Afan Valley, The profile for the climb up the Bwlch from the Afan Valley, Looking up towards the summit of the Bwlch on the way up from Treorchy, The early part of the Caerphilly Mountain climb after leaving Tongwynlais, The steepest part of the climb up Caerphilly Mountain from Tongwynlais, The profile of the climb up Caerphilly Mountain from Caerphilly, The 20% slopes of the Wenallt climb up Caerphilly Mountain, The profile of the Wenallt climb up Caerphilly Mountain, Dan Martin and Nairo Quintana lead up Caerphilly Mountain in the 2013 Tour of Britain, The final kick on the Mountain Road ascent of Caerphilly Mountain, The profile of the climb up Caerphilly Mountain from the centre of the town, The road up Cefn Bryn stretching into the distance, The higher part of the Cimla climb out of Neath, The steep and cobbled slopes of Swansea's Constitution Hill, The long stretch up to Crai reservoir from Pen y Cae, The view down from the top hairpin on the Devil's Elbow, The top section of the Gospel Pass, after the steepest parts, Climbing up alongside dry stone walls and mountain streams on Heol Lan, Looking back down the climb out of Llangattock, Looking back down from the top of Llangynidr Mountain, Llanguicke Road: Almost unimaginably steep, The views from close to the summit of Llangynidr Mountain, The climb from Llangwm towards Shirenewton, The climb to Llanwonno, shortly after leaving the houses of Graigwen Road, The forested section close to the top of the climb to Llanwonno from Pontypridd, Onto more open terrain at the top of the Maerdy Mountain, The profile of the climb up Maerdy Mountain, The Old Black Rock climb from Gilwern to Brynmawr, The relentless gradient to the top of Penrhys, One of the steepest sections of the climb up past Pontypridd Golf Club, Looking back from the top of the Pontypridd Golf Club climb, The profile for the Pontypridd Golf Club climb, The top section of the Rhigos on the north side, The profile of the Rhigos climb from Hirwaun, The profile of the Rhigos from Treherbert, Rhiwr Road is difficult from the very start, Looking back towards Monmouth shortly after leaving Mitchel Troy on the climb to Trelleck, The profile of the climb towards Trelleck from Mitchel Troy. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. The gradient kicks up to 14% as you head through the Cimla area of Neath, before a descent the other side takes you down into the Afan Valley. For more epic hill climbing data, visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Welsh hill . The route is found in Abersychan, Torfaen, where its lower slopes begin on the A4043 and then after a mile turn left and youll begin to climb through a breathtaking gorge. Photograph: John Morrison/Alamy, Warning sign near the Rosedale Chimney in North Yorkshire Photograph: Mark Sunderland/Alamy, Remote pass Bwlch y Groes, Wales Photograph: Keith Morris/Alamy, The road from Cockbridge to Tomintoul, Aberdeenshire. Factoring in a pretty torrid road surface too means reaching the top of this wall is an achievement few will ever accomplish. Thanks to the help of Strava, we've selected the top five hardest climbs in the UK: Fford Penllech - Wales Hardknott Pass - England Bealach-na-Ba - Scotland Rosedale Chimney - England Trooper. Okay - sheep is not the official mascot. World Cycle Tours, Nutterswood Cottage, Nutters Wood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PZ, United Kingdom. The Rhigos is an altogether different proposition from the south, getting straighter rather than more meandering as it climbs. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Unlike national parks in other countries, Snowdonia (and other such parks in Britain) are made up of both public and private lands under central planning authority. The bike climbs we have documented are in the slideshow above. Zig-zag past cascading waterfalls, amidst the brief protection of rocky outcrops to exit this tangle of tarmac and round one final left hand to finish. Afon Ddu from Trefriw is the toughest ascent with a difficulty score of 621. Just keep going, then head down the terrifying descent. The famous hairpin means you've broken the back of it, and by the time you're onto the tree-lined final straight, you'll virtually be able to taste the ice cream from the van in the layby at the summit. The second set of switchbacks are steeper still, and these now 30% slopes will have you straining every sinew as your front wheel desperately searches for a kinder gradient and weaves all over the road fighting to stay upright. The average gradient might "only" be 8.3%, but that's reduced by the steady stretch of false flat that precedes the summit. The Cowlyd, 2. Riding alongside Dan with Jess tucked in behind we set off, all three of us understandably apprehensive of what lies ahead. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. The Hardest Climbs - The Steepest Roads in the World Bikes & Gear Health & Nutrition Training Repair Exclusives Subscribe Sign In 1 Five Black Women Who Rode From NYC to DCin 1928 2 18 Best. Named after the river beside it, the Afon Ddu (Welsh for black river) which flows down from Llyn Cowlyd I ask Dan how he first came across it. The surface, just wide enough for a single car, is smooth at the edges but little more than gravel and moss in the centre. In many ways, the quintessential Welsh mountain road - wild, remote, desolate and endearingly featureless. Where: Heading north-west out of Pontardawe. Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. Youll enjoy unobstructed views of the canyon as you pass Wales mascot - Sheep! for this page: ). I cant say for sure but I decide to stick with before to salvage what I can of my fragile ego. How many have you ridden? Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. Thank you for signing up! Receive a selection of the most beautiful climbs we've added. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. The superlative Bwlch y Groes is coincidentally ranked #2 most epic hill climb in Wales and 3 in all the UK. The road levels slightly but the. There's something evil lurking in the woods at the top of this climb in rural Monmouthshire. If you want the privilege of having ridden the highest paved road in Wales, you'll need to earn it. Length 2.25km Height gain 298m Approx climb time 15 mins, If Hardknott is the king of climbs, then Wrynose is its queen; slightly softer at the edges but no less ruthless. When we reached this last hairpin though his jaw hit the floor, he recalls. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Saw signs of a moose, unstrapped and started walking down the trail and saw her about 100ft up the trail. Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. Soon into the ride we are climbing through a canyon area with dramatic plateaus and hillside formations, particularly on the right side as we climb. Photos clockwise from top left: Bwlch y Groes (Wales #1, UK #2 hardest); Stwlan Dam (Wales #1, UK #2 most epic); Entering Wales in Llanymynech; Cardiff Castle; Welsh flag flying over Cardiff Castle (center). Pozza San Glisente (Dos dell'Asino), 8. Where Leave the A684 that runs through Hawes and head south on Gayle Lane to Gayle. The road levels between the sharp bends giving you a chance to attack each wicked corner then gather yourself in time for the next. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. BA1 1UA. Where: Between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Dan is still chatting away but Ive fallen silent - there is no space to fit words in-between breaths. I was to discover that there is absolutely no objection to cyclists riding it, although few would be mad enough. She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . Since that . It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. First off, a classic. For a while there I thought Id settled it. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. A little bit about Simon Warren - We contacted Simon Warren with our request for his Top 10 lists because we consider him the Gold Standard and cyclist with the most thorough and comprehensive knowledge of hill climbing by bike in the UK. Horshoe Pass (Bwlch yr Oernant) - 317m - 7 to 20% - 6.1km #91. This climb was renowned throughout the 1970s and 80s as the most challenging climb used in the Milk Race round-Britain cycle race (Wikipedia). Things start off fairly easily, but get harder and harder and harder again by the time you near the summit of Cefn Eglwysllan, with a lovely 20% ramp greeting you to the very top. Its so incredibly steep that even 10 seconds of going too hard early on and youll blow it, you really have to measure it just right., Dan Jones's climbing prowess and local knowledge showing on the steeper sections of Abdon Ddu. Top 100 #86. A great alternative to the Cray climb (see above) - this starts from the same point, but instead of taking the main road, bears left up a narrow lane into a desolate moment top. Enter the first of two sets of brutal switchbacks and wrench body and bike through the 25% corners. A commonly held belief is that the name is derived from eryr ("eagle"), and thus means 'the abode/land of eagles',but recent evidence is that it means quite simply Highlands, and is related to the Latin oriri (to rise) as leading Welsh scholar Sir Ifor Williams proved. Cwm Eigiau, 6. View epic images taken along the climbing route. Rising 859ft over 2.7 miles actually makes for a fairly manageable gradient most of the way up, and there's more road on which to gain altitude than it might look initially. Llangynidr Mountain is very much a climb of two halves. See where the steepest portions of the climb are located by gradient group. Between the narrow road, the rutted surface and the severity of the slope, this is one seriously tough climb. Bwlch Penbarras from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, The Road to Hell from Denbigh via Nantglyn, Llanberis Pass / Pen-y-Pass from Nant Peris. My bike is creaking. - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. This climb has a maximum gradient of 24% and an average gradient of 6.5%. The first 200-yard segment averages 15%, so be sure to warm up. Or should we be asking, how accurate? Inspecting my bike it appears my right pedal has partially disintegrated. To climb from the east, begin at the warning sign at Jubilee Bridge. But what is the attraction? Friends Dominic Millar, Graham Salisbury and James Findlater have returned home triumphant having completed 3,300 miles and climbed around 50 vertical miles in month-long endurance cycling . Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. This is one of the toughest bits of road anywhere in the UK and, through the next left-hand bend, it touches 30% at the apex. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. You start your ascent from the beautiful Corgarff castle and straight away you hit 20% slopes rough, relentlessly steep and twisting a little. Something went wrong, please try again later. This featureoriginally appeared in the September 23 print edition of Cycling Weekly magazine,on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, priced 3.25. Continue on to Fell Foot Farm and start to climb as you turn past the buildings. This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. The 10 hardest hill climbs in Wales can be viewed on this page via the map (zoom in to view climbs in particular areas), by Climb Cards (photo and stats) or by a detailed list of the climbs that can be arranged in metric or imperial units by difficulty, distance (longest climbs in the area), altitude gained, highest elevation (highest summit), average grade (sort the grades by varying distances), lowest start point, etc. Passo Stelvio, Italy. What comes next will take your breath away. Three Cycling UK members have successfully completed an epic challenge to tackle 100 of the UK's most iconic climbs in one mammoth month-long road trip. Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! Baran Road is arguably the most beautiful of all the tough climbs were listing here. Not only is this listed as the #1 most epic bike climb in Wales and #2 in the UK, we consider it a Top 25 Most Epic World Climb - its THAT AMAZING!! The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. Even though its very short you have to go so slowly at first. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. The majority of Scotland's roads stick to valleys as there's no need to cross the mountains but here they link the village of Applecross with the rest of the world by taking the route over the top of Bealach-na-Ba. He was in north Wales pinching some of my best KOMs so I thought he deserved some punishment. This page provides an excellent and comprehensive summary of the top, hardest and best bicycling climbs in Wales. The first time I went up was on a mountain bike and even that proved almost impossible, however, once I got to the top I knew I had to return on a road bike to see how fast I could ride it, he recalls. The British is named after the massive old ironworks that once dominated this area above Pontypool. Simon has been riding for over 30 years and has a long connection with Cycling Weekly, he was once a designer on the magazine and has been a regular contributor for many years. VIDEO: Snowboarder Climbs Tree To Evade Angry Moose. La Muerte, 9. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble Abergavenny. While our Fiets list overlaps Simons for some climbs, the 2 lists do give you a nice sense of the objective and subjective Top 10 hardest Welsh climbs. ), and I recommend parking there and not attempting to traverse any part of the actual climb route in a car. If you survive the absolute wall out of Pontypridd along Graigwen Road, you'll be treated to one of the most beautiful routes in this part of South Wales as the road follows a ridge high above Taff Valley to the historic church of Llanwonno. The three vicious ascents leaving Woodmancote all offer a fantastic challenge, and of the three it's Bushcombe Lane that stands apart. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs - Britain). Now climbing steeply, this slither of rough road clinging precariously to the mountainside bends hard right to deliver you into a true wilderness. Signup for our. At the end of this long stretch, as we reach bend four of four. The Gospel Pass is situated in Wales. This is the story of how he found it and just how painful it is to ride. [Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest]. 2. Dan tells me he brought none other than Andrew Feather (current national hill climb champion) here a few weeks back. Cobbled and super-steep, the infamous Constitution Hill might be less than a quarter of a mile long, but it's more reminiscent of a Belgian berg than a Welsh hill. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. Scroll down the page to access the full Top 10 Welsh Bike Climbs on the Map below (or switch to "Table" for a detailed list). We have twice personally documented the Welsh Top 10 Hardest Climbs. Simon Warren lists this as the third hardest climb in Wales, and sixth toughest in all the UK. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Thankfully it eases off as it reaches the higher levels, giving you the chance to recover before the summit while taking in stunning views of Hay Bluff and the English borders. Grid ref: NY 710 321 (OS 91)Length 7.45kmHeight gain 638mApprox climb time 40 mins, Few climbs have such a fearsome reputation as Rosedale Chimney, and rightly so. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. The distinctive remnants of an ancient quarry indicate the summit. Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. Scotland Bealach Na Ba Bealach na B is arguably the toughest climb in Britain. Our preloaded PJAMM Adventure App trip pages Wales and the UK are accessed by clicking the purple PJAMM Trips button above. The Tyla rounds the Blorenge from Gilwern, Heading into the trees on the Wentwood Ridge climb just where it starts to get really steep. Stick with it, as eventually the one-in-three does turn into a relatively gentle one-in-six, allowing you to build a little momentum to drag your bike up on to the moor. Early motoring magazines often mention that editorial staff hand car manufacturers had been testing on the Bwlch y Groes owing to its status of a continual and sever gradient to one of the highest moorland crossings by a road in the UK. The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. By the end of this section, you'll have ridden c.84km from the coast and will have climbed 2,800m from sea level. It might be less than a mile, but make no mistake - this is the one of the toughest climbs in South Wales, with the gradient hovering around 15% virtually all the way until it finally shows some mercy in the last couple of hundred metres. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (, Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. Average gradient: 6.5% Another 100 Greatest Cycling hills 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs at Amazon.co.uk Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs at Waterstones Another 100 climbs include: Longest Hill Climb Cragg Vale - The longest continuous ascent in England - 9.1 km. The 5 hardest cycling climbs in the UK (Please link to Pedalsure.com if using elsewhere) Bealach na B Bealach-na-Ba 9.2km at 6.8% (Grid: 1 km) -25% -10% 0% 10% 25% View full details on The closest to an Alpine mountain climb that the UK has to offer is Bealach na B ("Pass of the Cattle" in Scottish Gaelic) on the west coast of Scotland. El Torneado, and 10. Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britains steepest hill. An altitude gain of 620ft in just a mile gives a clue about what kind of climb this is. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech Wrong. We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (. ) . We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Moel Arthur - 220m - 10 to 20% - 2.2km #88. Early motoring magazines often mention that editorial staff hand car manufacturers had been testing on the Bwlch y Groes owing to its status of a continual and sever gradient to one of the highest moorland crossings by a road in the UK. Hit the opening 12% slope too hard and you're finished - because it's followed by a sequence of bends with gradients rising above 30%. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. South Africa's Cape Epic is the only MTB stage race classed as 'hors categorie' (beyond category) by the UCI, and upon looking at the eight days of riding . The Tour of Britain tackled the climb in 2010, when Swiss Michael Albasini attacked up it to take a solo win in Swansea. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Simon Warren for his books generally and for his contribution of Top 10 lists for PJAMM Cycling. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. I had to go and check it out. I dare not look up and in a situation like this it is best not to concentrate on the finish but just live in the moment, trying to stay on two wheels, preserving forward momentum.
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