Inspecting my bike it appears my right pedal has partially disintegrated. 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%. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. This is largely due to its length of 9.32km. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). It only takes 1 minute and it's completely free. 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. The road to get to this climb is brutally narrow with thick shrubs blocking the views ahead. Bealach na B is the one most talked about, as one of few category 1 road climbs in the United Kingdom. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. Without being too hysterical, this climb is nothing more than a joyless straight line of pain. Leaving Rosedale Abbey, a sign warns you of the one-in-three yes, one-in-three gradient to come. 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. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. . "Backcountry riding and we were on a pump track to get back inbounds. 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 . 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. Bath The Most Challenging Climbs in South Wales, West Sicily: A Journey Through Ancient Culture & History, Wales: Cycling From The Border To The Brecon Beacons, Sweden: The Kattegattleden & Halland Coast. What follows is a brief levelling out but you can't put off what lies ahead for long. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. 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. I had to go and check it out. If you want the privilege of having ridden the highest paved road in Wales, you'll need to earn it. 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. 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. | 26 regions. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. 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. 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. You have to pace yourself because as the road progresses you hit a series of bends, coupled with a 30% gradient. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. -- Climbs taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (8.99, . My bike is creaking. Rhiwr Road (SW #197), and 10. 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. Grid Ref: SH 913 232 (OS125)Length 3.56km Height gain 385m Approx climb time 23 mins, A true monster of a climb through the heart of the Cairngorms, the road up to the Lecht Ski Centre is a simply stunning ride. 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). There's something evil lurking in the woods at the top of this climb in rural Monmouthshire. Saw signs of a moose, unstrapped and started walking down the trail and saw her about 100ft up the trail. As Dan waltzes off ahead I am beginning to falter. Populated by wandering sheep, the road steepens relentlessly, offering nowhere to hide as you click through the gears hoping to find a large enough sprocket just to keep moving. BA1 1UA. . She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . 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. It's also available via Apple Newsstand and Readly. Join the road up from Thornhill and things get a little easier before the final wall up to the main road. 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. It does not include the hills to the south of Maentwrog. This is the story of how he found it and just how painful it is to ride. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. The gradient towards the top is, in the most part, forgiving, with the most taxing stretches found around the villages lower down. Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. 1. Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. Let us know your thoughts about this page. If someone built it we will damn well try and ride it, even if it means falling on our ass because. There is no dress rehearsal for this stretch of road, this is one take and one take only. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). Region: South West Length: 3.1km Average gradient: 10% Elevation: 321m Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. If you want to share something you need to create an account. 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. Electric Mountain, 5. 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). 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! It's a brave soul who doesn't find the site of the Bwlch summit towering above them as they set out from Treorchy slightly daunting. Holding a straight line is becoming all but impossible and the effort needed is simply unsustainable. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. 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. Here there is another leveling, a plateau of sorts before things turn from nasty to insane. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge. 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. After all that has preceded it, the finale a set of four hairpin bends may be all too much, but fear not. It starts steep from the village of Clydach and beats you up for a whole mile before easing just a touch. 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. Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britains steepest hill. 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By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. Visit our corporate site. If a man with legs as strong as Dans struggles up a climb then what chance do us mortals have? 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. 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. The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. 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.The term Eryri first appeared in a manuscript in the 9th-century Historia Brittonum, in an account of the downfall of the semi-legendary 5th-century king Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern).In the Middle Ages the title Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdonia (Tywysog Cymru ac Arglwydd Eryri) was used by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; his grandfather Llywelyn Fawr used the title Prince of north Wales and Lord of Snowdonia.Before the boundaries of the national park were designated, "Snowdonia" was generally used to refer to a smaller area, namely the upland area of northern Gwynedd centred on the Snowdon massif, whereas the national park covers an area more than twice that size extending far to the south into Meirionnydd. Penbarra ( Bwlch Pen barras / Bwlch Penbarras / Old Bwlch) - 258m - 11 to 25% - 2.3km #89. . Repeatedly, you'll think you're through the worst - only to be hit again with the next step of the staircase. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. 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. 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. Having left the steep streets of Upper Brynamman behind, the road dissects the open mountainside, tussock-covered hillsides on both flanks. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. Do not attempt to ride here in unfavourable conditions. The climb goes up a ridge to a small parking lot, where we saw two other cyclists. Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (SpeedTrackTails). The 1.9 mile route is memorable for its scary hairpin climb. Almost imperceptibly, the gradient rises up until you'll suddenly feel like you're pedaling through treacle - probably just before the turn-off for Fforest Fawr. But as the road heads into the trees, it rears up sharply, and doesn't drop below 12% until 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. 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. At this point, the climb would get significantly worse! 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 . It's mentally taxing rather than a top-level physical challenge - the four miles of climbing are largely gentle in gradient terms, but difficult because of the scale of the landscape. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. 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. 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. 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. Receive a selection of the most beautiful climbs we've added. Simon Warren lists this as the third hardest climb in Wales, and sixth toughest in all the UK. Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. 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. Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. 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. 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. This climb truly is beauty and the beast. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. 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. (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). And Lots of them. Picturesque mountains, hills, valleys and coastland define the landscape, and make the area a dream cycling location. This climb isn't for the faint-hearted. . This climb has a maximum gradient of 24% and an average gradient of 6.5%. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. 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. But the end of the steep ramp is within touching distance. Heading up the Blorenge from the other side, the climb gains slightly less altitude in slightly greater distance. Climb summary by PJAMMs Brad Butterfield who documented this climb in 2018 and again in 2022 (Wales is one of 27 countries Brad has cycled and documented for PJAMM in addition to 16 US states). In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. The traditional Snowdonia thus includes the ranges of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. North, as editor of the book Snowdonia (1949), states "When the Committee delineated provisional boundaries, they included areas some distance beyond Snowdonia proper." Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. Abercynafon Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. Simon and Dan get to grips with Pythagoras Theorem. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all 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. Where Leaving the A593 just south of Skelwith Bridge head west to Little Langdale. 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. 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. 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. If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Even though its very short you have to go so slowly at first. 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 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. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. Youll see the Foel Y Gordd formation as you enter the canyon area. The photos in the collage at the top of this page are of PJAMMs Top 10 Hardest per the Fiets Index. Mauna Kea, 2. We decided to opt for an even steeper summit - Cairn O'Mount. My knees are ready to snap. The makeup of land ownership at Snowdonia is as follows (Wikipedia - Snowdonia National Park). The first 200-yard segment averages 15%, so be sure to warm up. "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. I asked. Turn left after around a mile though, and everything changes. 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. Like being first? Let us know what you thought of this climb. Bwlch y Groes (SW #91), 3. Follow the base of the ridge until you reach Asterton then turn right past the post box and head up. 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. 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. One of the longest climbs in South Wales, the road through the Afan Valley is generally in an upward direction from the time it leaves Port Talbot, but it's after going through Cymmer that the climb begins in earnest. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. It's very steep into a small woodland, over a cattle grid and then you will see the enormity of your task. The views? 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. Ride over Irton Pike and pass through Eskdale Green and Beckfoot to reach the base of the climb next to the warning sign at Jubilee Bridge. 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).
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