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. The makeup of land ownership at Snowdonia is as follows (Wikipedia - Snowdonia National Park). 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. 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. 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! WOW - enough said! What follows is a brief levelling out but you can't put off what lies ahead for long. 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. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? . Youre not going to forget the name of this route, nor how it makes you feel! 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. View epic images taken along the climbing route. Ride only 600 meters but at a stunning 21.3% average grade. The road to get to this climb is brutally narrow with thick shrubs blocking the views ahead. The surface is rough at first and steep from the outset, but improves as you pass over a cattlegrid and approach the double hairpin. 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. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. 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. 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. 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 . 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. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. and climbs through roadside fields. Leaving Rosedale Abbey, a sign warns you of the one-in-three yes, one-in-three gradient to come. When we reached this last hairpin though his jaw hit the floor, he recalls. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. 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. The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. 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 Turn left after around a mile though, and everything changes. This featureoriginally appeared in the September 23 print edition of Cycling Weekly magazine,on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, priced 3.25. The lodge helpfully is a decent cafe stop too as it happens. Since that first book, he's added 11 more, as well Ride Britain which showcases 40 inspirational road cycling routes. South Wales needs no introduction. 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. 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 . Having featured as a summit finish for the Welsh Nationals and the Tour of Britain, as well as being the signature climb for Velothon Wales, the Tumble is easily one of the most famous climbs in Wales. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. 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. How many have you ridden? How steep? 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. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . Stwlan Dam. Just keep going, then head down the terrifying descent. Okay - sheep is not the official mascot. 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. 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. Height gain 286m But amongst the legendary Welsh valleys, beaches and mountains found in the south of the country, where can you find the most challenging climbs on two wheels? 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 road levels slightly but the. Let us know your thoughts about this page. 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. The British is named after the massive old ironworks that once dominated this area above Pontypool. 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. And Lots of them. Anything you have read or been told about this amazing road is likely to be true. Even though its very short you have to go so slowly at first. 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. 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. But I have to keep fighting. 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. 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. 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. Turn away from the village of Knock and begin opposite a farm gate. 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. Read next: This spectacular virtual fly-through shows the stunning route of the 2016 Velothon Wales. La Muerte, 9. You'll probably wish you were enjoying a sedate stroll along the fairways of the adjacent golf club by the time you reach the lung-crushing gradients at the top of this punchy climb out of Pontypridd. 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. Factoring in a pretty torrid road surface too means reaching the top of this wall is an achievement few will ever accomplish. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, You'll find the top, most difficult, epic, scenic, hardest, challenging, extreme, inspiring, bucket list bike climbs located in Wales. Constant variations in gradient make finding a rhythm a tough task and there are significant stretches in excess of 10%. El Torneado, and 10. The climb begins as we pass a set of old farm buildings on the left. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. This brutal, bucket list climb invites you to tackle an incredible 48 hairpin bends between Prato and the mountain's summit. We parked at the Church in the town of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (try saying that TWO times fast . On the opposite side of the Blorenge to the more famous Tumble, Rhiwr Road makes that famous climb look like child's play. Now climbing steeply, this slither of rough road clinging precariously to the mountainside bends hard right to deliver you into a true wilderness. The second bend here is so steep on the inside that it forces you far right, so take care. The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. 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. 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. 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. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs - Britain). Bwlch y Groes is rich in history and strong on inspiring, if not breathtaking, scenery. Its quite a strange effort needed to try and get the KOM, he explains. 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). Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! WOW - enough said! Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. 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. Where Turn off the A896 and head east just before Tornapress. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. Let us know what you thought of this climb. 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. Published 2 March 23. Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. Where: Between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil. But what is the attraction? The king of climbs and arguably the hardest road in the land, the legendary Hardknott Pass is an amazing sliver of tarmac. The Tyla rounds the Blorenge from Gilwern, Heading into the trees on the Wentwood Ridge climb just where it starts to get really steep. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. We believe we have located and thoroughly documented the Top 10 Hardest (by Fiets and by Simon Warren) and 10 Most Epic (Simon Warren) and these are accessed via the Map or List above on the Wales Home page just above this Climb Area Summary. 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. 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 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. Having left the steep streets of Upper Brynamman behind, the road dissects the open mountainside, tussock-covered hillsides on both flanks. Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. . Baniamr Aquabah Pass, 6. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . The gradient towards the top is, in the most part, forgiving, with the most taxing stretches found around the villages lower down. But as the road heads into the trees, it rears up sharply, and doesn't drop below 12% until the very top. Llano de las Animas, 7. 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. . Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. We rank this monster as the #3 most difficult in Britain via the Fiets index - #2 in Wales! It only takes 1 minute and it's completely free. 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. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. 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. In Wales cyclists can find 74 interesting climbs between 5 and 550 meters above sea level. 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. 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 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. Explore the climbing route via Google Street Views. This climb has one very steep segment near the beginning of the climb: a full half-mile at 16.5%. Over the years, I've sought to climb as many hills as possible. A mix of all three? Repeatedly, you'll think you're through the worst - only to be hit again with the next step of the staircase. Not here. The base of the climb is on the first right out of the village next to a farm gate. 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. 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. In front of you is the Alpine-style Ski Centre, a simply awesome ride. 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). Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. Where: Heading north out of Nantymoel in the Ogmore Valley. ), and I recommend parking there and not attempting to traverse any part of the actual climb route in a car. 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. 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. Rhiwr Road (SW #197), and 10. 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. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. We begin this climb in the midst of lush pastureland. Babusar Pass, 4. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble and line the road as the Tour of Britain cyclist near the finish, Abergavenny. Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. . The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). Up ahead, eventually the final bends come into view, just as the gradient gets brutal on the long weather-beaten 20% slope that tests your legs to the limit. We have had the great fortune of documenting the most epic and hardest climbs in Wales in both 2018 and 2022. See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the Profile Tool button. Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. 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. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. The first 200-yard segment averages 15%, so be sure to warm up. You'll be counting each and every pedal rev as you slowly push your way up the scree-littered road to the summit. The bike climbs we have documented are in the slideshow above. My bike is creaking. | 26 regions. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. Scotland Bealach Na Ba Bealach na B is arguably the toughest climb in Britain. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. 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. Signup for our. . Only two miles, but one of those climbs that feels like it goes on forever. The superlative Bwlch y Groes is coincidentally ranked #2 most epic hill climb in Wales and 3 in all the UK. 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. Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. Join the road up from Thornhill and things get a little easier before the final wall up to the main road. You have to pace yourself because as the road progresses you hit a series of bends, coupled with a 30% gradient. 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. A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. You will, however, be able to reacquaint your backside with the saddle for the final push to summit on the approach to the gliding club.Where To reach the base turn north away from the A489 at Plowden. The Tour of Britain tackled the climb in 2010, when Swiss Michael Albasini attacked up it to take a solo win in Swansea. 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. Within a few hundred feet of the start point, a switchback of over 20% warns you of the battle to come. Wales has some gorgeous road bike climbs, and Bwlch y Groes is surely one of them! Grid Ref: SE 720 945 (OS94) Length 1430m Height gain 179m Approx climb time 9 mins, Fleet Moss, the highest road in Yorkshire, is a beast from either direction but the greater challenge lies in the route south from Hawes. 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. Get info and context about new features. These days, cyclists have it pretty much to themselves, save for the odd bit of local traffic. The photos in the collage at the top of this page are of PJAMMs Top 10 Hardest per the Fiets Index. Bedlinog England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 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 very steep into a small woodland, over a cattle grid and then you will see the enormity of your task. 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. With summer temperatures routinely. What comes next will take your breath away. Top 100 #86. 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. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (, Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. It's all fairly steady going as the climb starts just off the A449. Is it the suffering? Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. 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. Luckily for us the rain was holding on our expedition. The top few miles of the Swansea Valley take you up the steady slopes of a wide and straight main road up to the beautiful Crai Reservoir. Like being first? Have you tackled the toughest climb in your region? Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. When you reach the open mountaintop (after 3.4 miles), the views will take your breath away. 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. Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. The Tumble (SW #97), 8. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). "Backcountry riding and we were on a pump track to get back inbounds. of course, ride the toughest cycling climbs across the UK and Europe. It also has a very interesting motorsport history: The History of Motor Sport and the Bwlch-y-Groes is nearly as old as motorsport.

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