Rhiwr Road (SW #197), and 10. Bwlch y Groes is rich in history and strong on inspiring, if not breathtaking, scenery. Essentially every turn is a blind curve. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Stwlan Dam. Apagua, 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. 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! Where Leaving the A593 just south of Skelwith Bridge head west to Little Langdale. 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. . 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. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. I was to discover that there is absolutely no objection to cyclists riding it, although few would be mad enough. Scanuppia The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. Cwm Eigiau, 6. 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 first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. In front of you is the Alpine-style Ski Centre, a simply awesome ride. Ride 1.8 miles gaining 916 at 10% average grade. Climb the Gospel Pass via Hay on Wye by bike. 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. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. The climb is really unique. Follow the base of the ridge until you reach Asterton then turn right past the post box and head up. I snapped my chain not once but twice in my attempt to conquer this vicious stretch of tarmac. From there it's a steep and tough push to reach the saddle of the pass. You'll find the top, most difficult, epic, scenic, hardest, challenging, extreme, inspiring, bucket list bike climbs located in Wales. World Cycle Tours, Nutterswood Cottage, Nutters Wood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PZ, United Kingdom. If the Tumble is the famous and successful son, the Tyla is his awkward, challenging older brother. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. 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. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up Maerdy Mountain. Please check your inbox to complete the sign-up process and ensure you receive emails and offers from us in the future. It's very steep into a small woodland, over a cattle grid and then you will see the enormity of your task. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. 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. The Tour of Britain tackled the climb in 2010, when Swiss Michael Albasini attacked up it to take a solo win in Swansea. Views and scenery during the middle of the climb. He wasn't wrong. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. Saw signs of a moose, unstrapped and started walking down the trail and saw her about 100ft up the trail. A little bit about Simon Warren - We contacted Simon Warren with our request for his Top 10 lists because we consider him the Gold Standard and cyclist with the most thorough and comprehensive knowledge of hill climbing by bike in the UK. 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. Grid Ref: NY 231 014 (OS96). When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 1. Heres how it works. In 2021 we contacted Simon Warren requesting his picks for the Top 10 Most Epic and Top 10 Hardest bike climbs in (1) Wales, (2) England, (3) Scotland, and (4) the UK. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! 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. The Shelf - 262m - 5 to 15% - 5.1km #87. The Road to Hell - 353m - 3 to 20% - 11km #90. Having left the steep streets of Upper Brynamman behind, the road dissects the open mountainside, tussock-covered hillsides on both flanks. 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. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. 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. Based in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Simon continues to keep riding his bike uphill and guides rides, hosts events and gives talks on climbing hills on bikes! Continue on to Fell Foot Farm and start to climb as you turn past the buildings. This is simply a magnificent cycling experience. From this page you may navigate to the top 10 most difficult bicycling climbs in Wales. The best advice for anyone heading uphill out of Aberdare - don't put yourself in the red too early. And don't even think about putting a foot down - you'll never get started again. 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. If youve ever been to Manhattan and walked the streets straining your neck upwards to admire the skyscrapers, well, for a moment looking up this road it feels like that. A little bit about Simon Warren - We contacted Simon Warren with our request for his Top 10 lists because we consider him the Gold Standard and cyclist with the most thorough and comprehensive knowledge of hill climbing by bike in the UK. 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. Where From the bottom left corner of Rosedale Abbey leave the main road and turn south east on to Gill Lane, pass the giant warning sign, and head up. Below, we detail 10 of the toughest climbs in the UK, and provide links to the Strava segments to help you plan your routes. 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. At the end of this long stretch, as we reach bend four of four. She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . But what is the attraction? WOW - enough said! They are good people out here that enjoy a way of life much slower and unfamiliar to most others I think. Bwlch Penbarra to Jubilee Tower, 4. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . It's that steep much of the way. Simon and Dan get to grips with Pythagoras Theorem. 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. You have to take each and every opportunity to recover when it is presented, no matter how slight he says. Grid ref: SO 403 918 (OS 137)Length 0.96kmHeight gain 163mApprox climb time 7 mins, You're spoilt for choice when it comes to climbing Cleeve Hill. 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. The superlative Bwlch y Groes is coincidentally ranked #2 most epic hill climb in Wales and 3 in all the UK. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (. Okay - sheep is not the official mascot. 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. Cross the cattle grid onto a long straight 7% drag that takes you into the trees. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. 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. This brutal, bucket list climb invites you to tackle an incredible 48 hairpin bends between Prato and the mountain's summit. Eventually you'll bend around to the left and the battered, rugged road levels for good. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. 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. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. But had this happened before I hit the deck or after? 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. Ride only 600 meters but at a stunning 21.3% average grade. The surface is rough at first and steep from the outset, but improves as you pass over a cattlegrid and approach the double hairpin. One for the power climbers. Top 100 #86. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. Bwlch Penbarras from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, The Road to Hell from Denbigh via Nantglyn, Llanberis Pass / Pen-y-Pass from Nant Peris. 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. Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. 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. Since that . Don't let the urban nature of this climb fool you - it's not easy. 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. 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. 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. With a maximum gradient of 22% and an average gradient of 8.1% youre afforded great views of Aberdare the higher you climb. 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. We have twice personally documented the Welsh Top 10 Hardest Climbs. Mauna Kea, 2. The scenery gets more barren as you climb, dispensing with the trees and dry stone walls of the lower stretches and opening out into a classic Brecon Beacons landscape at the summit. 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. Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. Once through, you can pick up some speed before the final steep turns and your new-found momentum will help carry you through these and over the top. - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. 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. 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. If there's a more brutal stretch of road anywhere in South Wales than Llanguicke Road, then it's definitely best avoided. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. My puny cycling arms are shaking like a frightened kitten. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. Up and up, and then mercifully dipping, or is it just levelling? This is largely due to its length of 9.32km. This was the advice of a local man as I approached the foot of this brutal climb last year. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. Bwlch y Groes (SW #91), 3. 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. 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. Where: Heading north out of Nantymoel in the Ogmore Valley. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. It is an incredible climb both ways but the road from Tornapress, heading north-west, is just awesome. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. The road levels slightly but the surface is cut up and damaged. 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. Ffordd Penllech in Harlech is the UK's steepest road (Pic: Stephen Elwyn Roddick, via Wiki Commons) Jenkin Road was the final climb of stage two of this year's Tour de France (Pic: Marc, via. Learn More ALL TRIPS [Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest]. It starts steep from the village of Clydach and beats you up for a whole mile before easing just a touch. 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.