When you reach the open mountaintop (after 3.4 miles), the views will take your breath away. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. for this page: ). This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. The traditional Snowdonia thus includes the ranges of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. 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. 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 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. After all that has preceded it, the finale a set of four hairpin bends may be all too much, but fear not. From bend two the road swings left, kicks up then eases back to rumble across a cattle grid and so far, so pretty ordinary but then, up ahead the road arcs away to the right and here it begins to look serious. . Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. Views and scenery during the middle of the climb. If someone built it we will damn well try and ride it, even if it means falling on our ass because. Staring with 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs in 2010, Simon has set out to chronicle and, of course, ride the toughest cycling climbs across the UK and Europe. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge. Enter the first of two sets of brutal switchbacks and wrench body and bike through the 25% corners. 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 . La Muerte, 9. Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. Is it the suffering? 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. 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. If the Tumble is the famous and successful son, the Tyla is his awkward, challenging older brother. We asked Simon Warren to provide us with lists of both the Top 10 Hardest, and Top 10 Most Epic bike climbs in England, Wales, Scotland, and the UK. He wasn't wrong. Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. It only takes 1 minute and it's completely free. What comes next will take your breath away. 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. 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. This is apparent in books published prior to 1951, such as the classic travelogue Wild Wales by George Borrow (1862) and The Mountains of Snowdonia by H. Carr & G. Lister (1925). The hardest ascent is from the west, beginning at Fell Foot Farm, where straight away you have a 20% right-hander and that's just a taste of what lies ahead. I slump over the bars. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! It never relents, never lets up until you reach the bend in the shadow of a rocky outcrop, you've still got a fair bit of climbing to reach the top, but it's not as hard now. But what is the attraction? How many have you suffered on your way up? 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. Baniamr Aquabah Pass, 6. The full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. Llangynidr Mountain is very much a climb of two halves. Begin the climb across the bridge at Cock Bridge just past Corgarff Castle. Pass through the large orange gates used to close the road in winter proof, if you hadn't twigged already, that you're heading into serious country. This was the advice of a local man as I approached the foot of this brutal climb last year. When: March 20-27, 2022. 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. View epic images taken along the climbing route. You'll find the top, most difficult, epic, scenic, hardest, challenging, extreme, inspiring, bucket list bike climbs located in Wales. Visit our corporate site. Now on Station Road, take the third left after crossing the rail line on to Bushcombe Lane between the two 25% signs. TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. Grid ref: SO 403 918 (OS 137)Length 0.96kmHeight gain 163mApprox climb time 7 mins, You're spoilt for choice when it comes to climbing Cleeve Hill. In front of you is the Alpine-style Ski Centre, a simply awesome ride. -- Climbs taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (8.99, . Continue on to Fell Foot Farm and start to climb as you turn past the buildings. Babusar Pass, 4. 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. There is also now a Welsh Climbs book 100 greatest cycling climbs is a list of some of the hardest climbs in the UK from Constitution Hill to Kirkstone Pass and Ditchling Beacon. Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest], 100 Greatest Climbs - A Road Cyclists Guide To Britains Hills, 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. Having left the steep streets of Upper Brynamman behind, the road dissects the open mountainside, tussock-covered hillsides on both flanks. 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. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. 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. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. If you want to share something you need to create an account. "Cycling in south Wales is a completely different story. The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. Electric Mountain, 5. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (The Guardian - Britains top 10 toughest cycle climbs). Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, 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 Simon Warrenbefore our second trip to document the UKs top climbs in 2022 -- thus, its The Real Deal! . Just keep going, then head down the terrifying descent. Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. But as the road heads into the trees, it rears up sharply, and doesn't drop below 12% until the very top. This intimidating wall achieves virtually all of its 150m altitude gain in the space of a fearsome 1.2km, at an average gradient of nearly 13%. If a man with legs as strong as Dans struggles up a climb then what chance do us mortals have? 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. 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. Llano de las Animas, 7. Mauna Kea, 2. We have twice personally documented the Welsh Top 10 Hardest Climbs. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. 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. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. You have to take each and every opportunity to recover when it is presented, no matter how slight he says. WOW - enough said! Bwlch Penbarra (SW #88), 9. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. Whatever it is, it makes the stretch of climbing ahead look terrifying. Stunning and rugged, the Black Mountain (and you) are open to the elements. 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. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (. Anything you have read or been told about this amazing road is likely to be true. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. 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. Snowdonia National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) was established in 1951 as the third national park in Britain, following the Peak District and the Lake District. Taking your bike up a steep climb next to Welsh dry stone walls and mountain streams on Heol Lan is an experience that will stay with you. This climb comes with the steepest 500 meters in all of the UK at 25%, and it comes at the beginning of the climb so be prepared to strain at the outset. WOW - enough said! The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. The Tour of Britain tackled the climb in 2010, when Swiss Michael Albasini attacked up it to take a solo win in Swansea. Now climbing steeply, this slither of rough road clinging precariously to the mountainside bends hard right to deliver you into a true wilderness. It then all but levels off as you pass various farm buildings, where the surface is broken and covered with the mud and debris from passing tractor tyres. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. It's short, steep and fairly hostile all the way to the final left corner that brings you out Caerphilly Mountain's famous snack bar. The scenery gets more barren as you climb, dispensing with the trees and dry stone walls of the lower stretches and opening out into a classic Brecon Beacons landscape at the summit. The distinctive remnants of an ancient quarry indicate the summit. But we dare you to stand at Broad Pool, look up at the ribbon of road snaking up to Gower's highest point and not want to ride it. The steepest paved street in Pittsburghand one of the toughest climbs in the USmakes the top spot on our list. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. Cwm Eigiau, 6. Heres how it works. 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. Inspecting my bike it appears my right pedal has partially disintegrated. Scanuppia They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. 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. 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. Wales has some gorgeous road bike climbs, and Bwlch y Groes is surely one of them! Turn away from the village of Knock and begin opposite a farm gate. We have had the great fortune of documenting the most epic and hardest climbs in Wales in both 2018 and 2022. The gradient towards the top is, in the most part, forgiving, with the most taxing stretches found around the villages lower down. Therefore, after Bealach na Ba (UK #1 Most Epic and #4 hardest), Bwlch y Groes might be the second best bike climb in all the land. I had to go and check it out. Scotland Bealach Na Ba Bealach na B is arguably the toughest climb in Britain. Signup for our. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. 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. And Lots of them. In a way. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. Far from any major towns, the starting point is near some very old homesteads. 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. After leaving the village, you're into open moorland but don't expect a gradient in single figures. The less celebrated of two routes up Llangynidr Mountain, the climb from Llangattock is no less difficult. It's not too steep to begin with but as the road bends hard left at the base of an almighty tower of rock, then the gradient increases. Afon Ddu, 7. 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 . Have you tackled the toughest climb in your region? "Backcountry riding and we were on a pump track to get back inbounds. Simon Warren (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, UK) ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). Thank you for signing up! Climbing up through Bedlinog is such a challenge because its so deceptive. What follows is a brief levelling out but you can't put off what lies ahead for long. Saw signs of a moose, unstrapped and started walking down the trail and saw her about 100ft up the trail. Passing farm buildings and trees, the road veers left, then a very sharp 25% right a taste of what's to come before easing as the last of the trees disappear beneath you. A headwind, on the other hand, and it can be a real grind. Over the years, I've sought to climb as many hills as possible. 1. (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). Still, that's the least of your worries as you pass a 25% sign. 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. A wide right-hand bend signifies the end of the toughest part, from where it's a lovely, if exactly, ride up to the top, with a hairpin halfway up affording a great view of the town you've just left. Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. Id evaluated the merits of all contenders from Yorkshire's Rosedale Chimney to Ffordd Penllech via Bushcombe Lane and Vale Street but then came that bigger fish, then came a new vision of hell: Afon Ddu, AKA the Baby Zoncolan. The Netherlands: A trip through the lowlands. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. How many have you ridden? We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (https://www.100climbs.co.uk/books) - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. The gradient on the inside of the bend is estimated to be somewhere in excess of 30%, and while you'd be daft to try riding over that bit, the outside isn't exactly a piece of cake either. And it's so steep, close to 25% at the point where the tall valley walls disappear and the radar slowly rises over the horizon to sit above you, tracking the remainder of your progress. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech (If you're cyclist in North, Mid or West Wales, we'll be. It starts from the village of Porlock and climbs an average of 10% gradient towards the top of Exmoor. Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN). It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. Since that . How steep? . Leave the head of Loch Kishorn, turn left and you're on your way, soon passing the large sign warning of the various dangers that lie ahead. For more epic hill climbing data, visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Welsh hill . 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. 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. . The Road to Hell - 353m - 3 to 20% - 11km #90. 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. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. 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. Where Leave the A66 in Appleby-in-Westmorland, head north past Brampton, and left through Dufton to arrive in Knock.