hardest cycling climbs in wales hardest cycling climbs in wales

Gwent The toughest climb in south Wales Where Heading west on the A465 from . 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. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (FIETS INDEX), This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. I can see why. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. . Saw signs of a moose, unstrapped and started walking down the trail and saw her about 100ft up the trail. But we dare you to stand at Broad Pool, look up at the ribbon of road snaking up to Gower's highest point and not want to ride it. 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. 1. We rank this monster as #2 most difficult in UK via the Fiets index. The climb is really unique. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. The early parts of this mountain road rarely drop below 10% as the route winds its way up through the trees. Pass Gairnshiel Lodge and Colnabaichin. Afon Ddu starts abruptly from the main road and youll need just one gear, the lowest you can fit on your bike. Who knows. The full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. Horshoe Pass (Bwlch yr Oernant) - 317m - 7 to 20% - 6.1km #91. Even though its very short you have to go so slowly at first. of course, ride the toughest cycling climbs across the UK and Europe. Turn away from the village of Knock and begin opposite a farm gate. For a while there I thought Id settled it. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! I snapped my chain not once but twice in my attempt to conquer this vicious stretch of tarmac. Bwlch y Groes (SW #91), 3. Photograph: Paul White/Alamy, Scotch mist hanging over Bealach na Ba. Views and scenery during the middle of the climb. The Tyla rounds The Blorenge Mountain from Gilwern, and its an incredibly challenging climb, mainly because of its steep lower slopes. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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 king of climbs and arguably the hardest road in the land, the legendary Hardknott Pass is an amazing sliver of tarmac. As of 2022, Simon Warren has published 12 cycling climbing books - 10 focusing on the UK, one on TdF and the other on the Giro. Its from here that this road separates itself from its peers, and its from here that everyone will be pushed to their limits. Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. 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. Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. This climb has one very steep segment near the beginning of the climb: a full half-mile at 16.5%. 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. For more epic hill climbing data, visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Welsh hill . You'll be counting each and every pedal rev as you slowly push your way up the scree-littered road to the summit. Two miles up a main road at between 4% and 6% might sound easy, but that just depends on how fast you're going. If you can ride this, you can ride anything. After leaving the village, you're into open moorland but don't expect a gradient in single figures. Between bend three and four the pitch increases to a brutal 30 per cent then backs off slightly so we can recover for an instant before it kicks up again. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. This featureoriginally appeared in the September 23 print edition of Cycling Weekly magazine,on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, priced 3.25. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. This climb was renowned throughout the 1970s and 80s as the most challenging climb used in the Milk Race round-Britain cycle race (Wikipedia). Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. On the west coast of Scotland, Bealach na B has the most elevation gain of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level to 626m over a stretch of 9.2km. 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. The less celebrated of two routes up Llangynidr Mountain, the climb from Llangattock is no less difficult. It does not include the hills to the south of Maentwrog. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. 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. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (The Guardian - Britains top 10 toughest cycle climbs). It's also available via Apple Newsstand and Readly. The base of the climb is on the first right out of the village next to a farm gate. 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 Tyla rounds the Blorenge from Gilwern, Heading into the trees on the Wentwood Ridge climb just where it starts to get really steep. 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. Since that . 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. The photos in the collage at the top of this page are of PJAMMs Top 10 Hardest per the Fiets Index. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. 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! Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. Far from any major towns, the starting point is near some very old homesteads. 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. United Kingdom: Wales Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs. Thankfully it eases off as it reaches the higher levels, giving you the chance to recover before the summit while taking in stunning views of Hay Bluff and the English borders. Penbarra ( Bwlch Pen barras / Bwlch Penbarras / Old Bwlch) - 258m - 11 to 25% - 2.3km #89. You start your ascent from the beautiful Corgarff castle and straight away you hit 20% slopes rough, relentlessly steep and twisting a little. Have you tackled the toughest climb in your region? These days, cyclists have it pretty much to themselves, save for the odd bit of local traffic. My veins are ready to explode as I push and pull through each agonising revolution of the pedals. Where: Heading north out of Nantymoel in the Ogmore Valley. Mauna Kea, 2. But the gentle appearance of the hedge-lined opening can be misleading - it's here that the damage can be done if not enough is left in the tank for the slightly more forgiving upper reaches. This challenging route is found between between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil and is a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). Not here. "Backcountry riding and we were on a pump track to get back inbounds. 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. F. J. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Youll enjoy unobstructed views of the canyon as you pass Wales mascot - Sheep! ANDY! I scream, we are coming. 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. 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. Scanuppia Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. The second bend here is so steep on the inside that it forces you far right, so take care. Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. The average gradient might "only" be 8.3%, but that's reduced by the steady stretch of false flat that precedes the summit. Heave yourself round this evil corner and you're through the worst of it. 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 . Join the road up from Thornhill and things get a little easier before the final wall up to the main road. (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). 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. This climb is breathtaking and we will return and do this one again - its just that unique, inspiring and exceptional. The Cowlyd, 2. Signup for our. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. Begin the climb across the bridge at Cock Bridge just past Corgarff Castle. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. At the end of this long stretch, as we reach bend four of four. This is largely due to its length of 9.32km. It's that steep much of the way. 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. Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. 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 mini monster was brought to my attention by hill climb master and double National Champion Dan Evans after I noticed a string of expletives in his Strava feed. Bath The road to get to this climb is brutally narrow with thick shrubs blocking the views ahead. 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. 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. | 26 regions. In Wales cyclists can find 74 interesting climbs between 5 and 550 meters above sea level. Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. 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. [Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest]. before our second trip to document the UKs top climbs in 2022 -- thus, its The Real Deal! ) VIDEO: Snowboarder Climbs Tree To Evade Angry Moose. 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. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. Dan is his normal chatty self as we hit the first ramp, our wheels getting their first taste of the ribbed and abrasive concrete surface that would do its best to hinder our progress the entire way up. Grid ref: SD 862 843 (OS98)Length 5.34km Height gain 323m Approx climb time 22 mins, On the eastern edge of the Long Mynd lies the infamous Asterton Bank, also known by many other names that I could not print here. 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. I asked. Learn More ALL TRIPS 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 . North, as editor of the book Snowdonia (1949), states "When the Committee delineated provisional boundaries, they included areas some distance beyond Snowdonia proper." Published 2 March 23. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (. ) The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. 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. 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. 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. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. 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. 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. 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. Luckily for us the rain was holding on our expedition. Pass through the village, over the river, turning right to find the base of Beggarmans Road and head for the sky. To climb from the east, begin at the warning sign at Jubilee Bridge. 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. 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. Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. 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. We rank this monster as the #3 most difficult in Britain via the Fiets index - #2 in Wales! And it's so steep, close to 25% at the point where the tall valley walls disappear and the radar slowly rises over the horizon to sit above you, tracking the remainder of your progress. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You have to take each and every opportunity to recover when it is presented, no matter how slight he says. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. WOW - enough said! View epic images taken along the climbing route. 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. The road levels slightly but the surface is cut up and damaged. If you want to share something you need to create an account. Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. 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. . When: March 20-27, 2022. 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. 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. 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 . This page provides an excellent and comprehensive summary of the top, hardest and best bicycling climbs in Wales. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. With this in mind, I put my eyes to work scanning the gradients ahead looking for any stretch of reprieve, no matter how short, where I can take a break from the infernal torment. La Muerte, 9. Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britain's steepest hill. Where Leave the A66 in Appleby-in-Westmorland, head north past Brampton, and left through Dufton to arrive in Knock. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). Height gain 286m 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! She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . Heading up the Blorenge from the other side, the climb gains slightly less altitude in slightly greater distance. Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. Passo Stelvio, Italy. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, By the time that respite comes, you've climbed nearly 800ft. 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. Abercynafon Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. The climb begins as we pass a set of old farm buildings on the left. Riding alongside Dan with Jess tucked in behind we set off, all three of us understandably apprehensive of what lies ahead. On the opposite side of the Blorenge to the more famous Tumble, Rhiwr Road makes that famous climb look like child's play. 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. As Dan waltzes off ahead I am beginning to falter. Bedlinog Having left the steep streets of Upper Brynamman behind, the road dissects the open mountainside, tussock-covered hillsides on both flanks. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. How many have you ridden? This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel