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Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. Llano de las Animas, 7. Staring with 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs in 2010, Simon has set out to chronicle and, of course, ride the toughest cycling climbs across the UK and Europe. These days, cyclists have it pretty much to themselves, save for the odd bit of local traffic. 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 . A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. 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. Approaching from either direction you see the radar station's "golf ball" glowing like a beacon on the top of the ridge. Heading up the Blorenge from the other side, the climb gains slightly less altitude in slightly greater distance. (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). It's that steep much of the way. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. It's all fairly steady going as the climb starts just off the A449. A flat lakeside hairpin two thirds of the way up should give you the slingshot needed for the last push, with the road cutting through rock on its final approach to the summit. . Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. It only takes 1 minute and it's completely free. The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. 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. 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. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. . 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. Bwlch Penbarra to Jubilee Tower, 4. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. 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. Published 2 March 23. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. Newly formed Denver Disruptors and Miami Nights NCL teams will make their debut at Tucson Bicycle Classic and tackle a full season of NCL and domestic racing, By Anne-Marije Rook 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 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. 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. Pozza San Glisente (Dos dell'Asino), 8. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble Abergavenny. You have to pace yourself because as the road progresses you hit a series of bends, coupled with a 30% gradient. The end of the dry stone wall alongside you signifies the top of the climb, from where there are beautiful views north towards the western Brecon Beacons. In fact, there is a sign at the start warning that the road is Unsuitable for motor vehicles. Although I assume this is mostly to keep tourists away as we intersected multiple residents traveling the road in their cars. Electric Mountain, 5. (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). 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). Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britains steepest hill. The 1.9 mile route is memorable for its scary hairpin climb. The bike climbs we have documented are in the slideshow above. TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. When you reach the open mountaintop (after 3.4 miles), the views will take your breath away. 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? 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. For more epic hill climbing data, visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Welsh hill . I slump over the bars. View epic images taken along the climbing route. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (, Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. In front of you is the Alpine-style Ski Centre, a simply awesome ride. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. [Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest]. 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. Weve been crawling skyward for about two minutes, covering just 250m of tarmac as we round bend three. Whatever it is, it makes the stretch of climbing ahead look terrifying. 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. 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. It starts from the village of Porlock and climbs an average of 10% gradient towards the top of Exmoor. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. Scanuppia Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . The Guardian - Britains top 10 toughest cycle climbs, Rate climbs, post comments and share your experiences on any of our climb pages, Create bucket lists of climbs & mark the dates you complete them, Weather data for all climbs - Start & Finish, Upload photos to your member page to customize your PJAMM Cycling experience, Utilize all of our interactive tools - Profile & Routes in Area. 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. "Backcountry riding and we were on a pump track to get back inbounds. 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. No part of it is easy, but it's the first of two hairpins that makes it notorious. 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 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). 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. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (. Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. In Wales cyclists can find 74 interesting climbs between 5 and 550 meters above sea level. 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. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. Pass through the village, over the river, turning right to find the base of Beggarmans Road and head for the sky. Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. Inspecting my bike it appears my right pedal has partially disintegrated. 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. Heave yourself round this evil corner and you're through the worst of it. Its quite a strange effort needed to try and get the KOM, he explains. Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britain's steepest hill. We parked at the Church in the town of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (try saying that TWO times fast . The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. WOW - enough said! Ranking list This is the story of how he found it and just how painful it is to ride. On my first climb up Bwlch y Groes in 2018 I got a flat tire on my vehicle that was parked in front of one of these homesteads and was assisted in fixing the flat by the old-timer that lived nearby. . . It is an incredible climb both ways but the road from Tornapress, heading north-west, is just awesome. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. 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. Pass Gairnshiel Lodge and Colnabaichin. At the end of this long stretch, as we reach bend four of four. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. 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. 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. 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. "Take it easy now or you'll never make 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. Grid Ref: NY 277 027 (OS90) Length 2.52km Height gain 278m Approx climb time 15 mins, This is the greatest climb in England, this is our Mont Ventoux, it has no peers, there is no comparison: Great Dun Fell is simply unique. The less celebrated of two routes up Llangynidr Mountain, the climb from Llangattock is no less difficult. 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. My veins are ready to explode as I push and pull through each agonising revolution of the pedals. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Afon Ddu, 7. for this page: ). She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. 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 someone built it we will damn well try and ride it, even if it means falling on our ass because. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble and line the road as the Tour of Britain cyclist near the finish, Abergavenny. But I have to keep fighting. 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. The Harlech Hell Climb event was held on the excruciating climb on Sunday (August 11), with riders tackling the 330 metre climb, which averages 17 per cent and reaches a maximum gradient of 37.45 . - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 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. 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!! The 5 hardest cycling climbs in the UK (Please link to Pedalsure.com if using elsewhere) Bealach na B Bealach-na-Ba 9.2km at 6.8% (Grid: 1 km) -25% -10% 0% 10% 25% View full details on 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. Is it the suffering? This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. Visit our corporate site. Heres how it works. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. Bwlch y Groes (SW #91), 3. The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. Photograph: Stephen Dorey/Alamy. Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. 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. Below, we detail 10 of the toughest climbs in the UK, and provide links to the Strava segments to help you plan your routes. The hardest part is swinging onto the six or seven kilometre climbs and seeing riders crawling up the hill ahead of you looking like ants . See where the steepest portions of the climb are located by gradient group. Bwlch Penbarra (SW #88), 9. This climb is breathtaking and we will return and do this one again - its just that unique, inspiring and exceptional. Now climbing steeply, this slither of rough road clinging precariously to the mountainside bends hard right to deliver you into a true wilderness. Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. A headwind, on the other hand, and it can be a real grind. Region: South West Length: 3.1km Average gradient: 10% Elevation: 321m Penbarra ( Bwlch Pen barras / Bwlch Penbarras / Old Bwlch) - 258m - 11 to 25% - 2.3km #89. Have you tackled the toughest climb in your region? 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. 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. 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 . Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest], 100 Greatest Climbs - A Road Cyclists Guide To Britains Hills, Rate climbs, post comments and share your experiences on any of our climb pages, Create bucket lists of climbs & mark the dates you complete them, Weather data for all climbs - Start & Finish, Upload photos to your member page to customize your PJAMM Cycling experience, Utilize all of our interactive tools - Profile & Routes in Area. Essentially every turn is a blind curve. The steepest paved street in Pittsburghand one of the toughest climbs in the USmakes the top spot on our list. See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the Profile Tool button. 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. 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. Over the years, I've sought to climb as many hills as possible. After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge.