Increasing in steepness as it passes old industrial relics, the road winds its way up the side of a breathtaking gorge, with just a few boulders between separating you and the 10% gradient from the edge. Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! By the time the open mountain top is reached, things are much more benign. If you can ride this, you can ride anything. Bedlinog Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . Far from any major towns, the starting point is near some very old homesteads. Approaching 20%, you crawl through harsh, boulder-littered scenery, a massive slog to the briefest of levels where the classification of the road changes public cars are allowed no further. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. When: March 20-27, 2022. Stwlan Dam. Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. 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. If you were measuring the steepest, hardest, highest or longest climbs in South Wales, this wouldn't be anywhere near it. A while later the utterly horrendous Cowlyd in north Wales found its way onto my radar and again the slate was wiped clean and a new standard was set. Photograph: Paul White/Alamy, Scotch mist hanging over Bealach na Ba. 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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. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. We parked at the Church in the town of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (try saying that TWO times fast . We have twice personally documented the Welsh Top 10 Hardest Climbs. The Gospel Pass is 548 high. Do not attempt to ride here in unfavourable conditions. It's a long drag, but not particularly taxing in the most part, rising through the trees with the rumbling of vehicles on the adjacent main road in the distance. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The best advice for anyone heading uphill out of Aberdare - don't put yourself in the red too early. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. 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 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 English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. 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. Start opposite the old red telephone box, past the numerous warning signs, across the cattle grid then bend slightly left. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. Scotland Bealach Na Ba Bealach na B is arguably the toughest climb in Britain. WOW - enough said! 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!! 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. 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. 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. This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel 1. How many have you ridden? The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. From there it's a steep and tough push to reach the saddle of the pass. The average gradient of the climb is 2.9% and the maximum gradient is 13%. This challenging route is found between between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil and is a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). How many have you suffered on your way up? The traditional Snowdonia thus includes the ranges of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. The bike climbs we have documented are in the slideshow above. The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. 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. 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. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. It's also available via Apple Newsstand and Readly. Pass Castell Coch on your left, feel the smooth false flat underneath your wheels and the scent of wild garlic in the air, and you'll think you're in for an easy couple of miles. With summer temperatures routinely. This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (, Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-Y-Groes. 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. 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%. After all that has preceded it, the finale a set of four hairpin bends may be all too much, but fear not. The three vicious ascents leaving Woodmancote all offer a fantastic challenge, and of the three it's Bushcombe Lane that stands apart. "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." All rights reserved. The average gradient might "only" be 8.3%, but that's reduced by the steady stretch of false flat that precedes the summit. Baran Road is arguably the most beautiful of all the tough climbs were listing here. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. This brutal, bucket list climb invites you to tackle an incredible 48 hairpin bends between Prato and the mountain's summit. The surface is rough at first and steep from the outset, but improves as you pass over a cattlegrid and approach the double hairpin. Cycling apparel brand, Rapha today launched the Rapha Film Fund, a program designed to help support creatives bring their life lived by bike stories to life on Raphas YouTube. I say a big thank you to Dan and Jess for joining me for the morning its then that they point out to me, if you thought it was hard on the way up, just wait until you go back down. I had to go and check it out. After an age on the opening steep gradient the road banks right to plateau before a brief downhill. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? Riding from Llangadog, you'll be climbing before you realise, but the real business starts after the woodland stops and the open mountainside starts. The Shelf - 262m - 5 to 15% - 5.1km #87. 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. Electric Mountain, 5. 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. Its found as you head north-west out of Pontardawe. Grid Ref: NG 775 423 (OS24) Length 8980m Height gain 623m Approx climb time 37 mins, Extracts taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs and Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs by Simon Warren, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Cyclist climbing Hardknott Pass, The Lake District National Park, Cumbria Photograph: Peter Oliver/Alamy, Cyclists on Wrynose Pass in the Lake District. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. 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 . This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (SpeedTrackTails). But, I like to think its a Sheep in Dragons clothing. . There's something evil lurking in the woods at the top of this climb in rural Monmouthshire. F. J. Al Jaadah Pass, 3. 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. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. The base of the climb is on the first right out of the village next to a farm gate. Read next: This spectacular virtual fly-through shows the stunning route of the 2016 Velothon Wales. 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. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. Bath Youll enjoy unobstructed views of the canyon as you pass Wales mascot - Sheep! It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (. The Cowlyd, 2. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. 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. As I force round this wicked right-hander, bend three, the pale, rugged and debris-strewn surface rises up like a wall through the trees. 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. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. 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. At the end of this long stretch, as we reach bend four of four. This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). 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 Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. 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. 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. When we reached this last hairpin though his jaw hit the floor, he recalls. First built in 2nd century by the Romans, the pass is unbelievably tough from both directions. The Gospel Pass is situated in Wales. The Tumble (SW #97), 8. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Please check your inbox to complete the sign-up process and ensure you receive emails and offers from us in the future. We decided to opt for an even steeper summit - Cairn O'Mount. Simon Warren lists this as the third hardest climb in Wales, and sixth toughest in all the UK. If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (FIETS INDEX), This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. Heave yourself round this evil corner and you're through the worst of it. 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. It is an incredible climb both ways but the road from Tornapress, heading north-west, is just awesome. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. There's a choice towards the top between turning right down towards Llangynidr or carrying on along the road to Rassau to complete the full climb. . Wales has some gorgeous road bike climbs, and Bwlch y Groes is surely one of them! 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). Wrong. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up 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 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. Cape Epic. The scene of a brilliant double ascent during the 2013 Tour of Britain, this iconic route out of Caerphilly also features as the final climb in the Velothon Wales loop of South Wales.
