Top 7 cycling climbs in North Wales and Snowdonia 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. After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge. Now round to the right, the ever steepening, increasingly lumpy surface heads into arguably the hardest section of relentlessly steep tarmac in Britain. 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 . Within a few hundred feet of the start point, a switchback of over 20% warns you of the battle to come. 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. Pen-y-Pass is the climb out of Llanberis on the A4086 up to the Pen-y-Pass lodge where several walking routes to the summit of Snowdon start from. 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. ANDY! I scream, we are coming. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. 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. Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. Constant variations in gradient make finding a rhythm a tough task and there are significant stretches in excess of 10%. for this page: 100 Greatest Climbs - A Road Cyclists Guide To Britains Hills; Cycling Climbs of Wales; see also https://www.100climbs.co.uk/books). Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. 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. 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. Where Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head north east towards Aber-Cywarch. Youll see the Foel Y Gordd formation as you enter the canyon area. Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. The top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. But I have to keep fighting. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? Let us know what you thought of this climb. 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. Thank you for signing up! Best Hill Climbs in the US | Bicycling The 10 Hardest Bike Climbs in Wales - pjammcycling.com Wales treated us quite well on our visit in August 2018. Passo Stelvio, Italy. The UK's Hardest Cycling Climbs By Region - Pedalsure Brutal hill climb in Wales held on newly-crowned - Cycling Weekly 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! Ride two miles gaining 1,329 at 12.5% average grade. What comes next will take your breath away. By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. World Cycle Tours, Nutterswood Cottage, Nutters Wood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PZ, United Kingdom. - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Learn More ALL TRIPS Apagua, 5. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. 100 Greatest cycling climbs list - Cycling uphill Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. Not here. Bath The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. A long, long stretch of wickedly steep tarmac lies ahead, hugging the side of the mountain, with a slight levelling halfway but steeper still after that. Babusar Pass, 4. 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. 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. 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. 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. 1. Weve been crawling skyward for about two minutes, covering just 250m of tarmac as we round bend three. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. Unceremoniously I hit the floor and proceeded to tumble southwards just missing Jess by millimeters (how she stayed upright Ill never know and sincerely I apologise for ruining her QOM attempt). 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. 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. 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. The king of climbs and arguably the hardest road in the land, the legendary Hardknott Pass is an amazing sliver of tarmac. Follow the road alongside the river to Llanymawddwy, pass through and begin the climb across the Pont y Pennant. He wasn't wrong. If you can ride this, you can ride anything. for this page: ). Through the gate, straight over a cattle grid and into more hard work, the road bending left past a stone shelter, a sure-fire signal although you are nowhere near the top yet that you're heading into truly hostile country. TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. Picturesque mountains, hills, valleys and coastland define the landscape, and make the area a dream cycling location. 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. Have we found Britian's steepest cycling climb | Cycling Weekly Below, we detail 10 of the toughest climbs in the UK, and provide links to the Strava segments to help you plan your routes. A few weeks later I arrive with our photographer Andy, Dan and his wife Jess - a hill climb champion in her own right - to share the experience with them and get the local low down on this insane 700 metres of vertical concrete. 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. Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-Y-Groes. It's a very tough mile though, averaging somewhere around 9% as it cuts its way up the side of Maerdy Mountain. (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). In 2021 we contacted Simon Warren requesting his picks for the Top 10 Most Epic and Top 10 Hardest bike climbs in (1) Wales, (2) England, (3) Scotland, and (4) the UK. This was the advice of a local man as I approached the foot of this brutal climb last year. 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. Bwlch y Groes is rich in history and strong on inspiring, if not breathtaking, scenery. The three vicious ascents leaving Woodmancote all offer a fantastic challenge, and of the three it's Bushcombe Lane that stands apart. Al Jaadah Pass, 3. The five toughest cycling sportives in the world - The Telegraph The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). 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. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. The Tumble (SW #97), 8. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (, Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. Anything you have read or been told about this amazing road is likely to be true. 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. 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. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. But one thing's for sure - Wales has some great places to do it. The Cowlyd, 2. 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. Heres how it works. This climb is breathtaking and we will return and do this one again - its just that unique, inspiring and exceptional. 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. Maximum gradient: 16%. That said, Bwlch Penbarra is certainly a top three for US. Where: Between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil. 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. This climb has a maximum gradient of 24% and an average gradient of 6.5%. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. And yet once you get to the top, you'll realise you enjoyed every second. 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. 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 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. This gorgeous country road is testing for even the best cyclists, but it provides great views north towards the western Brecon Beacons. By the end of this section, you'll have ridden c.84km from the coast and will have climbed 2,800m from sea level. There is no dress rehearsal for this stretch of road, this is one take and one take only. 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). And Lots of them. 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. 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. The first 200-yard segment averages 15%, so be sure to warm up. This brutal, bucket list climb invites you to tackle an incredible 48 hairpin bends between Prato and the mountain's summit. | 26 regions. The faint summit can be seen straight in front for a large part of the climb, making it easy to set an impatient tempo that'll come back to bite you later on. One for the power climbers. Want the best food, film, music, arts and culture news sent straight to your inbox? By the time that respite comes, you've climbed nearly 800ft. From there, there's the option of a fast descent into Defynnog, but a much better alternative is to continue in a straight line uphill and onto the ancient Heol Senni. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble Abergavenny. 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. How steep? After an age on the opening steep gradient the road banks right to plateau before a brief downhill. But had this happened before I hit the deck or after? From this page you may navigate to the top 10 most difficult bicycling climbs in Wales. Second hardest bike climb in the UK (#1 Wales) - PJAMM Cycling 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. Over the years, I've sought to climb as many hills as possible. We parked at the Church in the town of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (try saying that TWO times fast . The Hardest Climbs - The Steepest Roads in the World - Bicycling Dan is still chatting away but Ive fallen silent - there is no space to fit words in-between breaths. Who knows. . 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 . Bwlch Penbarra (SW #88), 9. Where: Between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Region: South West Length: 3.1km Average gradient: 10% Elevation: 321m I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britain's steepest hill. Height gain 286m Youre not going to forget the name of this route, nor how it makes you feel! 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. Hardest cycle climbs: 6 of the world's toughest hills - Red Bull Only two miles, but one of those climbs that feels like it goes on forever. Leaving Rosedale Abbey, a sign warns you of the one-in-three yes, one-in-three gradient to come. First built in 2nd century by the Romans, the pass is unbelievably tough from both directions. Between the narrow road, the rutted surface and the severity of the slope, this is one seriously tough climb. We rank this monster as #2 most difficult in UK via the Fiets index. Heading up the Blorenge from the other side, the climb gains slightly less altitude in slightly greater distance. Whatever it is, it makes the stretch of climbing ahead look terrifying. 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. BA1 1UA. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. Bwlch Penbarras from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, The Road to Hell from Denbigh via Nantglyn, Llanberis Pass / Pen-y-Pass from Nant Peris. We decided to opt for an even steeper summit - Cairn O'Mount. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. 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!! You have to take each and every opportunity to recover when it is presented, no matter how slight he says. VIDEO: Snowboarder Climbs Tree To Avoid Angry Moose 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. The maximum gradient is 13%. See where the steepest portions of the climb are located by gradient group. How many have you suffered on your way up? Please check your inbox to complete the sign-up process and ensure you receive emails and offers from us in the future. F. J. . You are eventually rewarded with a blissful flat stretch, but it's not over yet; round a left-hand bend is yet more 20% gradient, a final zig-zag and a few last kicks take you to what feels like the top of the world. Follow the base of the ridge until you reach Asterton then turn right past the post box and head up. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. "Cycling in south Wales is a completely different story. 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. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. 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. This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel