winding route from Hay you veer right past the turn for Craswall and over a cattle grid.The road steepens here for the hardest part of the climb.After a few hundred yards you are greeted to a fantastic view of Hay Bluff and . Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. When you reach the open mountaintop (after 3.4 miles), the views will take your breath away. This is simply a magnificent cycling experience. "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." This climb truly is beauty and the beast. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Whatever it is, it makes the stretch of climbing ahead look terrifying. 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. 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. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (, Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head into the Afon Dyfi Valley. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . How many have you ridden? The traditional Snowdonia thus includes the ranges of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Where Leave the A66 in Appleby-in-Westmorland, head north past Brampton, and left through Dufton to arrive in Knock. 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 . 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. We parked at the Church in the town of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (try saying that TWO times fast . After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge. Then you hit the switchbacks, where a better surface is cold comfort as you grapple with gravity's pull and attempt to hold your momentum through these vicious bends. This is the story of how he found it and just how painful it is to ride. Cape Epic. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble and line the road as the Tour of Britain cyclist near the finish, Abergavenny. The Floor is Lava is nothing compared to this road. In Wales cyclists can find 74 interesting climbs between 5 and 550 meters above sea level. Theres always a bigger fish. Thats what the ancient proverb says, and just when I thought Id ridden the steepest road in Britain, and put the matter of determining the country's toughest cycling climb to bed once and for all, up popped another hideous incline to further move the goalposts and redefine suffering. What comes next will take your breath away. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline.The park is governed by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, which is made up of local government and Welsh representatives, and its main offices are at Penrhyndeudraeth. Where Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head north east towards Aber-Cywarch. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech Only two miles, but one of those climbs that feels like it goes on forever. She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . Where From the bottom left corner of Rosedale Abbey leave the main road and turn south east on to Gill Lane, pass the giant warning sign, and head up. The distinctive remnants of an ancient quarry indicate the summit. Eventually you'll bend around to the left and the battered, rugged road levels for good. The steepest parts of the climb are before you've even left the edge of the town, but it's long enough to be a real struggle if you've burnt too many matches too soon. Where: Between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil. These bike climbs can be viewed via google maps or by a detailed list of the climbs that can be arranged by difficulty, distance (longest climbs in Wales), altitude gained, highest elevation . It's neither steep or particularly tough, but the constant sequence of false summits can make it a heartbreaking experience for an already fatigued rider. See where the steepest portions of the climb are located by gradient group. Afon Ddu from Trefriw is the toughest ascent with a difficulty score of 621. The Harlech Hell Climb event was held on the excruciating climb on Sunday (August 11), with riders tackling the 330 metre climb, which averages 17 per cent and reaches a maximum gradient of 37.45 . Rhiwr Road (SW #197), and 10. Wales treated us quite well on our visit in August 2018. 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. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. As of 2022, Simon Warren has published 12 cycling climbing books - 10 focusing on the UK, one on TdF and the other on the Giro. Length: 64.8km Maximum gradient: 13% Vertical: 1,785m Hazards: Heat exhaustion and death America's Death Valley is not generally known as a great place to ride. Grid Ref: NY 231 014 (OS96). This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. 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. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. Top 100 #86. 1. The king of climbs and arguably the hardest road in the land, the legendary Hardknott Pass is an amazing sliver of tarmac. 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. . With a maximum gradient of 22% and an average gradient of 8.1% youre afforded great views of Aberdare the higher you climb. There's still plenty of climbing to do along the way, but nothing as ugly as the severe slopes that head straight out of Ponty. Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! Apagua, 5. How many have you suffered on your way up? It's that steep much of the way. Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. If youve ever been to Manhattan and walked the streets straining your neck upwards to admire the skyscrapers, well, for a moment looking up this road it feels like that. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. ALL CLIMBS PJAMM TRIPS MEMBER COMMENTS Climb List: (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more) PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. Constant variations in gradient make finding a rhythm a tough task and there are significant stretches in excess of 10%. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up Maerdy Mountain. Afon Ddu starts abruptly from the main road and youll need just one gear, the lowest you can fit on your bike. Read next: This spectacular virtual fly-through shows the stunning route of the 2016 Velothon Wales. Up and up, and then mercifully dipping, or is it just levelling? Bwlch Penbarra (SW #88), 9. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . 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!! To climb from the east, begin at the warning sign at Jubilee Bridge. Moel Arthur - 220m - 10 to 20% - 2.2km #88. It does not include the hills to the south of Maentwrog. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). 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. Electric Mountain, 5. Signup for our. This was the advice of a local man as I approached the foot of this brutal climb last year. And yet once you get to the top, you'll realise you enjoyed every second. The road to get to this climb is brutally narrow with thick shrubs blocking the views ahead. Simon Warren lists this as the third hardest climb in Wales, and sixth toughest in all the UK. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs - Britain). Newly formed Denver Disruptors and Miami Nights NCL teams will make their debut at Tucson Bicycle Classic and tackle a full season of NCL and domestic racing, By Anne-Marije Rook Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. This mini monster was brought to my attention by hill climb master and double National Champion Dan Evans after I noticed a string of expletives in his Strava feed. Pass the clock tower, and things step up a notch, with a straight 16% ramp taking you (via a flatter terrace section) onto the climb proper. Scotland Bealach Na Ba Bealach na B is arguably the toughest climb in Britain. The Tour of Britain tackled the climb in 2010, when Swiss Michael Albasini attacked up it to take a solo win in Swansea. The Tyla rounds the Blorenge from Gilwern, Heading into the trees on the Wentwood Ridge climb just where it starts to get really steep. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). This climb is breathtaking and we will return and do this one again - its just that unique, inspiring and exceptional. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. And Lots of them. Riding alongside Dan with Jess tucked in behind we set off, all three of us understandably apprehensive of what lies ahead. A mix of all three? Begin the climb across the bridge at Cock Bridge just past Corgarff Castle. Inspecting my bike it appears my right pedal has partially disintegrated. 1. Dan is still chatting away but Ive fallen silent - there is no space to fit words in-between breaths. before our second trip to document the UKs top climbs in 2022 -- thus, its The Real Deal! ) Best time to cycle J F M A M J J A S O N D Ranking list Wales Difficulty points Gradient Length Total ascent At the end of this long stretch, as we reach bend four of four. You have to pace yourself because as the road progresses you hit a series of bends, coupled with a 30% gradient. 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. Bwlch Penbarras from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, The Road to Hell from Denbigh via Nantglyn, Llanberis Pass / Pen-y-Pass from Nant Peris. There is still some way to go but you can click through the gears before finishing just after a gaping cattle grid adjacent to a small car park.Where Head east from the A435 through the village of Bishop's Cleeve on Finlay Way. The climb goes up a ridge to a small parking lot, where we saw two other cyclists. You're now face to face with the vicious 25% corner which delivers you on to the cruel slopes that cling to the side of the sheer bank. Follow the road alongside the river to Llanymawddwy, pass through and begin the climb across the Pont y Pennant. 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. Rounding the corner I spot our photographer Andy ahead and see he isnt in position. It's also available via Apple Newsstand and Readly. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. This challenging route is found between between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil and is a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). Repeatedly, you'll think you're through the worst - only to be hit again with the next step of the staircase. Turn left after around a mile though, and everything changes. 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 maximum gradient is 13%. When I first tackled Hardknott Pass in the Lake District I assumed nothing could ever beat that, but then a few years after I discovered the road up to Abdon Burf in the Shropshire Hills and my perception of torture was changed. | 26 regions. Cairn O'Mount from the south side is 3.35km with an elevation gain of 319 meters. The sign reading 20% as you cross a stream on the beautiful valley road from Talybont-on-Usk is the first hint of the lung-busting effort that awaits you. Photograph: Paul White/Alamy, Scotch mist hanging over Bealach na Ba. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. But as the road heads into the trees, it rears up sharply, and doesn't drop below 12% until the very top. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. You'll be counting each and every pedal rev as you slowly push your way up the scree-littered road to the summit. Is it the suffering? Dan tells me he brought none other than Andrew Feather (current national hill climb champion) here a few weeks back. The hardest part is swinging onto the six or seven kilometre climbs and seeing riders crawling up the hill ahead of you looking like ants . The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. One for the power climbers. Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. Bwlch y Groes is rich in history and strong on inspiring, if not breathtaking, scenery. It starts steep from the village of Clydach and beats you up for a whole mile before easing just a touch. They are good people out here that enjoy a way of life much slower and unfamiliar to most others I think. A pretty stone bridge over a stream takes you across the side of the hill, before a further hairpin spins you back towards the exposed top section. Straining to reach each successive crest burns more matches then to further compound the difficulty the act of zig zagging, (the practice where the cyclist tries to marginally reduce the severity of the slope by riding left to right) is rendered impossible by the unbroken line of slippery debris that runs along the roads centre. Photograph: Stephen Dorey/Alamy. What follows is a brief levelling out but you can't put off what lies ahead for long. 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. This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (SpeedTrackTails). Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. Its from here that this road separates itself from its peers, and its from here that everyone will be pushed to their limits. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. With this in mind, I put my eyes to work scanning the gradients ahead looking for any stretch of reprieve, no matter how short, where I can take a break from the infernal torment. 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. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. The second bend here is so steep on the inside that it forces you far right, so take care. 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. If you can ride this, you can ride anything. This gorgeous country road is testing for even the best cyclists, but it provides great views north towards the western Brecon Beacons. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. The gradient towards the top is, in the most part, forgiving, with the most taxing stretches found around the villages lower down. That said, Bwlch Penbarra is certainly a top three for US. It's a very tough mile though, averaging somewhere around 9% as it cuts its way up the side of Maerdy Mountain. Get the arrow-straight, slightly soul-destroying drag past Tower Colliery out the way and enjoy the way this climb gently curves its way across the front of the mountain. The Gospel Pass is 548 high. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Where Head north into the mountains from Ballater on the A939. On my first climb up Bwlch y Groes in 2018 I got a flat tire on my vehicle that was parked in front of one of these homesteads and was assisted in fixing the flat by the old-timer that lived nearby. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? . In an attempt to move right, my front wheel lifts, there is a bang, my right foot instinctively unclips and that was it, I am gone. Explore the climbing route via Google Street Views. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. #3 HARDEST WELSH CLIMB -BWLCH PENBARRA TO JUBILEE TOWER, Cycling Bwlch Penbarras to Jubilee Tower, Wales. Based in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Simon continues to keep riding his bike uphill and guides rides, hosts events and gives talks on climbing hills on bikes! 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. The superlative Bwlch y Groes is coincidentally ranked #2 most epic hill climb in Wales and 3 in all the UK. Without being too hysterical, this climb is nothing more than a joyless straight line of pain. Since that . The road if you can call it that was built so vehicles could access the giant pipelines that draw water from Llyn Cowlyd and Llyn Eigiau to feed the Dolgarrog hydroelectric power Station and the water treatment plant that sits on its slopes. This climb was renowned throughout the 1970s and 80s as the most challenging climb used in the Milk Race round-Britain cycle race (, The History of Motor Sport and the Bwlch-y-Groes is nearly as old as motorsport. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. I was to discover that there is absolutely no objection to cyclists riding it, although few would be mad enough. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. Just keep going, then head down the terrifying descent. With one and a half pedals and dented pride I manage to make it to the top to join Dan and Jess at the finish outside the water treatment works. A headwind, on the other hand, and it can be a real grind. The makeup of land ownership at Snowdonia is as follows (Wikipedia - Snowdonia National Park). Through a second gate it's easy for a while then bending right once again it's leg-breakingly tough to the finish at the station, where, looking around you, you might as well be on top of the world. The surface is rough at first and steep from the outset, but improves as you pass over a cattlegrid and approach the double hairpin. Named after the huge old ironworks that once dominated this hillside above Pontypool, there's little to suggest the majesty of this climb's top section when you turn onto its lower slopes off the A4043 through Abersychan. Dan is his normal chatty self as we hit the first ramp, our wheels getting their first taste of the ribbed and abrasive concrete surface that would do its best to hinder our progress the entire way up. Wrong. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN). I snapped my chain not once but twice in my attempt to conquer this vicious stretch of tarmac. The full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. Passo Stelvio, Italy. The lower half is a meander through pastoral scenery, before suddenly opening out onto exposed mountain top with stunning views of the peaks around Abergavenny. We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (. ) Grid ref: SO 983 279 (OS 163)Length 1.54kmHeight gain 167mApprox climb time 9 mins, Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-y-Groes is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales. In fact, there is a sign at the start warning that the road is Unsuitable for motor vehicles. Although I assume this is mostly to keep tourists away as we intersected multiple residents traveling the road in their cars. South Wales needs no introduction. How steep? 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. I'd waited a long time to ride this road, initially put off by its "private" status. For more epic hill climbing data, visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Welsh hill . Whether it's the pine trees, the hairpin close to the top, or the meadows at the summit, but there always seems something slightly alpine about this little climb at the top of the Rhondda - even though it's less than a mile long. Grid ref: NJ 252 118 (OS37) Length 3.01km Height gain 245m Approx climb time 21 mins, This is it: the Holy Grail, the toughest and wildest climb in Britain. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. Join the road up from Thornhill and things get a little easier before the final wall up to the main road. Babusar Pass, 4. This spectacular virtual fly-through shows the stunning route of the 2016 Velothon Wales, Huge vintage clothing warehouse where you can get designer brands at a fraction of the price, The Thrift operates over a huge 12,000 sq ft and stocks big brands as well as a value section, Superdrug anti-aging cream called 'botox in a tub' by shoppers, Optimum Collagen Day cream is priced at 14.99. It starts from the village of Porlock and climbs an average of 10% gradient towards the top of Exmoor. In many ways, the quintessential Welsh mountain road - wild, remote, desolate and endearingly featureless. Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. Baran Road is arguably the most beautiful of all the tough climbs were listing here. Like being first? United Kingdom: England's Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs, United Kingdom: Hardest and Epic Bike Climbs, United Kingdom: Scotland's Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs. One of the hardest climbs in the South West (Credit: Mark Percy) Dunkery Beacon is one of the toughest climbs in the south west of England with 321m of climbing over 3.1km. Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. After around 50 metres the second bend arrives where on the corner there is a slight leveling, Dan immediately heads to the shallower part of the corner here to catch a few seconds respite. By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. 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. The Guardian - Britains top 10 toughest cycle climbs, Rate climbs, post comments and share your experiences on any of our climb pages, Create bucket lists of climbs & mark the dates you complete them, Weather data for all climbs - Start & Finish, Upload photos to your member page to customize your PJAMM Cycling experience, Utilize all of our interactive tools - Profile & Routes in Area. Get through this, the first of many brutal stretches, and things back off for a while before ramping up to the first of two gates. After an age on the opening steep gradient the road banks right to plateau before a brief downhill. Cross the cattle grid onto a long straight 7% drag that takes you into the trees. Baniamr Aquabah Pass, 6. You start your ascent from the beautiful Corgarff castle and straight away you hit 20% slopes rough, relentlessly steep and twisting a little. The 5 hardest cycling climbs in the UK (Please link to Pedalsure.com if using elsewhere) Bealach na B 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. . This climb is ranked #3 on PJAMMs FIETS formula-based difficulty index, as well as the UK Top Hardest Climbs list provided to us by. If you want the privilege of having ridden the highest paved road in Wales, you'll need to earn it. Grid Ref: NY 277 027 (OS90) Length 2.52km Height gain 278m Approx climb time 15 mins, This is the greatest climb in England, this is our Mont Ventoux, it has no peers, there is no comparison: Great Dun Fell is simply unique. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Want the best food, film, music, arts and culture news sent straight to your inbox? Published 2 March 23. 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.
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