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. 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. Its found as you head north-west out of Pontardawe. Believe the hype. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. 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 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. 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. (If you're cyclist in North, Mid or West Wales, we'll be preparing similar articles for your area - and there's a form at the bottom to send your suggestions). "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." Length 2.25km Height gain 298m Approx climb time 15 mins, If Hardknott is the king of climbs, then Wrynose is its queen; slightly softer at the edges but no less ruthless. 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. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. 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. 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. Sign up with your email address to receive offers, news and updates. 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. BA1 1UA. 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. There's still plenty of climbing to do along the way, but nothing as ugly as the severe slopes that head straight out of Ponty. Thank you for signing up! Without being too hysterical, this climb is nothing more than a joyless straight line of pain. 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. Apart from the few cars that travel this route, you're more likely to have wary, onlooking deer for company, as they track your slow progress up the mountain. Abercynafon Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. Scotland Bealach Na Ba Bealach na B is arguably the toughest climb in Britain. But one thing's for sure - Wales has some great places to do it. This brutal, bucket list climb invites you to tackle an incredible 48 hairpin bends between Prato and the mountain's summit. View PJAMM Cycling's collection of the highest ranked climbs in Wales. This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel If you want the privilege of having ridden the highest paved road in Wales, you'll need to earn it. Bealach na B is the one most talked about, as one of few category 1 road climbs in the United Kingdom. Up and up, and then mercifully dipping, or is it just levelling? 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! It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. 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. 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. Venture into Scotland or the North of England, and you'll also find some climbs to rival many an Alpine climb too, with England's Mont Ventoux - Great Dun Fell being a particular highlight. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-Y-Groes. Within a few hundred feet of the start point, a switchback of over 20% warns you of the battle to come. The surface, just wide enough for a single car, is smooth at the edges but little more than gravel and moss in the centre. Or should we be asking, how accurate? These days, cyclists have it pretty much to themselves, save for the odd bit of local traffic. If you want to share something you need to create an account. 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. This challenging route is found between between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil and is a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). . Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. Signup for our. I had to go and check it out. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. Luckily for us the rain was holding on our expedition. . Where: Heading north out of Nantymoel in the Ogmore Valley. 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. Maximum gradient: 16%. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). If there's a more brutal stretch of road anywhere in South Wales than Llanguicke Road, then it's definitely best avoided. World Cycle Tours, Nutterswood Cottage, Nutters Wood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PZ, United Kingdom. My veins are ready to explode as I push and pull through each agonising revolution of the pedals. No part of it is easy, but it's the first of two hairpins that makes it notorious. 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!! Heres how it works. Holding a straight line is becoming all but impossible and the effort needed is simply unsustainable. Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. Penbarra ( Bwlch Pen barras / Bwlch Penbarras / Old Bwlch) - 258m - 11 to 25% - 2.3km #89. The Gospel Pass is 548 high. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The climb goes up a ridge to a small parking lot, where we saw two other cyclists. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. 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. Since that first book, he's added 11 more, as well Ride Britain which showcases 40 inspirational road cycling routes. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Grid ref: NJ 252 118 (OS37) Length 3.01km Height gain 245m Approx climb time 21 mins, This is it: the Holy Grail, the toughest and wildest climb in Britain. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. Llangynidr Mountain is very much a climb of two halves. 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. There is still some way to go but you can click through the gears before finishing just after a gaping cattle grid adjacent to a small car park.Where Head east from the A435 through the village of Bishop's Cleeve on Finlay Way. We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (. ) 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. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. 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. Ahead lies 30 metres that has every single ounce of muscle straining like a weight lifter attempting to raise four times their body weight above their heads. First off, a classic. The Rhigos is an altogether different proposition from the south, getting straighter rather than more meandering as it climbs. Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . Just keep going, then head down the terrifying descent. 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. You have to pace yourself because as the road progresses you hit a series of bends, coupled with a 30% gradient. The Gospel Pass is situated in Wales. 2. This page provides an excellent and comprehensive summary of the top, hardest and best bicycling climbs in Wales. An altitude gain of 620ft in just a mile gives a clue about what kind of climb this is. Top 100 #86. 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 top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. You'll find the top, most difficult, epic, scenic, hardest, challenging, extreme, inspiring, bucket list bike climbs located in Wales. Heave yourself round this evil corner and you're through the worst of it. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. Pass through the village, over the river, turning right to find the base of Beggarmans Road and head for the sky. This is simply a magnificent cycling experience. You can also subscribe to the magazine, save on the cover price and get it delivered every Thursday. Afon Ddu from Trefriw is the toughest ascent with a difficulty score of 621. Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. Over the years, I've sought to climb as many hills as possible. Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. The lower half is a meander through pastoral scenery, before suddenly opening out onto exposed mountain top with stunning views of the peaks around Abergavenny. 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. The steepest paved street in Pittsburghand one of the toughest climbs in the USmakes the top spot on our list. Ride only 600 meters but at a stunning 21.3% average grade. 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. Below, we detail 10 of the toughest climbs in the UK, and provide links to the Strava segments to help you plan your routes. This climb is breathtaking and we will return and do this one again - its just that unique, inspiring and exceptional. This climb truly is beauty and the beast. 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 first 200-yard segment averages 15%, so be sure to warm up. This climb isn't for the faint-hearted. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. 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. TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. 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. Explore the climbing route via Google Street Views. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? Far from any major towns, the starting point is near some very old homesteads. . 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. Essentially every turn is a blind curve. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . 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. WOW - enough said! This climb was renowned throughout the 1970s and 80s as the most challenging climb used in the Milk Race round-Britain cycle race (Wikipedia). In front of you is the Alpine-style Ski Centre, a simply awesome ride. 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 climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. 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