hardest cycling climbs in wales hardest cycling climbs in wales

The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. By the time the open mountain top is reached, things are much more benign. We have had the great fortune of documenting the most epic and hardest climbs in Wales in both 2018 and 2022. Now climbing steeply, this slither of rough road clinging precariously to the mountainside bends hard right to deliver you into a true wilderness. 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. 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. Pass through the village, over the river, turning right to find the base of Beggarmans Road and head for the sky. Where Leave the A684 that runs through Hawes and head south on Gayle Lane to Gayle. 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. You have to pace yourself because as the road progresses you hit a series of bends, coupled with a 30% gradient. On the opposite side of the Blorenge to the more famous Tumble, Rhiwr Road makes that famous climb look like child's play. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs - Britain). (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). Pozza San Glisente (Dos dell'Asino), 8. 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. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). South Wales needs no introduction. North, as editor of the book Snowdonia (1949), states "When the Committee delineated provisional boundaries, they included areas some distance beyond Snowdonia proper." Ride only 600 meters but at a stunning 21.3% average grade. 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. 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. 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. Repeatedly, you'll think you're through the worst - only to be hit again with the next step of the staircase. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. Luckily for us the rain was holding on our expedition. 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. Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. Riding from Llangadog, you'll be climbing before you realise, but the real business starts after the woodland stops and the open mountainside starts. Top 100 #86. From the junction with Station Road, exit the village past the first 25% sign then the road bends left at a second 25% warning as if you need reminding, it's going to be hard. Once past an axle weight sign the climb begins. We decided to opt for an even steeper summit - Cairn O'Mount. For a while there I thought Id settled it. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (FIETS INDEX), This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. If you can ride this, you can ride anything. 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. Wrong. 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. 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. If you want to share something you need to create an account. World Cycle Tours, Nutterswood Cottage, Nutters Wood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PZ, United Kingdom. Whatever it is, it makes the stretch of climbing ahead look terrifying. 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. Please check your inbox to complete the sign-up process and ensure you receive emails and offers from us in the future. Okay - sheep is not the official mascot. It's a very tough mile though, averaging somewhere around 9% as it cuts its way up the side of Maerdy Mountain. The distinctive remnants of an ancient quarry indicate the summit. . Climb the Gospel Pass via Hay on Wye by bike. 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. By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up Maerdy Mountain. 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. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. 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. Sign up with your email address to receive offers, news and updates. 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. 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. A mix of all three? Follow the base of the ridge until you reach Asterton then turn right past the post box and head up. Even though its very short you have to go so slowly at first. #3 HARDEST WELSH CLIMB -BWLCH PENBARRA TO JUBILEE TOWER, Cycling Bwlch Penbarras to Jubilee Tower, Wales. Start opposite the old red telephone box, past the numerous warning signs, across the cattle grid then bend slightly left. 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. 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. United Kingdom: Wales Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs. Afon Ddu, 7. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. All rights reserved. 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. First off, a classic. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. Two miles up a main road at between 4% and 6% might sound easy, but that just depends on how fast you're going. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. With summer temperatures routinely. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (. There's something evil lurking in the woods at the top of this climb in rural Monmouthshire. Eventually you'll bend around to the left and the battered, rugged road levels for good. Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. (If you're cyclist in North, Mid or West Wales, we'll be. I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. [Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest]. . But those who want to do climbs like Penrhys are extreme even within that bracket. Far from any major towns, the starting point is near some very old homesteads. This is largely due to its length of 9.32km. Here there is another leveling, a plateau of sorts before things turn from nasty to insane. 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. A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. How steep? We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. 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. 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. 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. Afon Ddu from Trefriw is the toughest ascent with a difficulty score of 621. 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. Signup for our. Between the narrow road, the rutted surface and the severity of the slope, this is one seriously tough climb. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. The best advice for anyone heading uphill out of Aberdare - don't put yourself in the red too early. The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. 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. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. It does not include the hills to the south of Maentwrog. This climb isn't for the faint-hearted. -- Climbs taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (8.99, . Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. 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 . Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. It is in the Aran Mountains near the south east edge of Snowdonia (The Guardian - Britains top 10 toughest cycle climbs). With a maximum gradient of 22% and an average gradient of 8.1% youre afforded great views of Aberdare the higher you climb. Saw signs of a moose, unstrapped and started walking down the trail and saw her about 100ft up the trail. 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. 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. In many ways, the quintessential Welsh mountain road - wild, remote, desolate and endearingly featureless. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. It's very steep into a small woodland, over a cattle grid and then you will see the enormity of your task. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). Pass Gairnshiel Lodge and Colnabaichin. It's short, steep and fairly hostile all the way to the final left corner that brings you out Caerphilly Mountain's famous snack bar. 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. 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. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! Enter the first of two sets of brutal switchbacks and wrench body and bike through the 25% corners. 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. 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. ), and I recommend parking there and not attempting to traverse any part of the actual climb route in a car. I can see why. The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. "Cycling in south Wales is a completely different story. My bike is creaking. Explore the climbing route via Google Street Views. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. 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. It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. Babusar Pass, 4. I had to go and check it out. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. Within a few hundred feet of the start point, a switchback of over 20% warns you of the battle to come. Scanuppia 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. 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 . 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. 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. The road levels slightly but the. The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. Climb summary by PJAMM Cyclings Brad Butterfield - he climbed this one in 2018 and 2022. I can now hear Jess approaching from behind, her 34 x 32 slightly more suited to the venue than my 34 x 28, judging by her colourful language I assume I am in her way. Im now trapped on a two foot wide strip of rippled 30 per cent concrete fighting for survival. 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. What follows is a brief levelling out but you can't put off what lies ahead for long. Where: Between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . The climb begins as we pass a set of old farm buildings on the left. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. 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. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. 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. The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. 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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 first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. Our preloaded PJAMM Adventure App trip pages Wales and the UK are accessed by clicking the purple PJAMM Trips button above. The gradient kicks up to 14% as you head through the Cimla area of Neath, before a descent the other side takes you down into the Afan Valley. The surface, just wide enough for a single car, is smooth at the edges but little more than gravel and moss in the centre. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. Approaching from either direction you see the radar station's "golf ball" glowing like a beacon on the top of the ridge. Only two miles, but one of those climbs that feels like it goes on forever. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. But as the road heads into the trees, it rears up sharply, and doesn't drop below 12% until the very top. 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. 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. Holding a straight line is becoming all but impossible and the effort needed is simply unsustainable. 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. 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.