He wasn't wrong. The Road to Hell - 353m - 3 to 20% - 11km #90. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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. Stay up to date with the latest developments. The full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. 5 Hardest Climbs In The UK - pedalsure.com Still, that's the least of your worries as you pass a 25% sign. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The UK's Hardest Cycling Climbs By Region - pedalsure.com Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-Y-Groes. 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. 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 The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. This intimidating wall achieves virtually all of its 150m altitude gain in the space of a fearsome 1.2km, at an average gradient of nearly 13%. 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. 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. . The Tour of Britain tackled the climb in 2010, when Swiss Michael Albasini attacked up it to take a solo win in Swansea. . Scanuppia 5 Hardest Climbs In The UK - Pedalsure 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 gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . The Netherlands: A trip through the lowlands. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Views and scenery during the middle of the climb. 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. The surface is rough at first and steep from the outset, but improves as you pass over a cattlegrid and approach the double hairpin. Where Head north into the mountains from Ballater on the A939. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. 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. United Kingdom: Wales Hardest and Most Epic Hill Climbs. It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. Gradients of around 30% are generally only found on the inside of tight bends. Essentially every turn is a blind curve. The gradient towards the top is, in the most part, forgiving, with the most taxing stretches found around the villages lower down. Continue on to Fell Foot Farm and start to climb as you turn past the buildings. For more epic hill climbing data, visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Welsh hill . Inspecting my bike it appears my right pedal has partially disintegrated. Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. A headwind, on the other hand, and it can be a real grind. Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN). Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. One for the power climbers. By the time that respite comes, you've climbed nearly 800ft. . The Rhigos is an altogether different proposition from the south, getting straighter rather than more meandering as it climbs. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. El Torneado, and 10. 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. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. The distinctive remnants of an ancient quarry indicate the summit. After leaving the village, you're into open moorland but don't expect a gradient in single figures. Bealach na B is the one most talked about, as one of few category 1 road climbs in the United Kingdom. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. The maximum gradient is 13%. And don't even think about putting a foot down - you'll never get started again. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. Bwlch y Groes (SW #91), 3. Grid Ref: NY 231 014 (OS96). This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. See where the steepest portions of the climb are located by gradient group. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. 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. Ride two miles gaining 1,329 at 12.5% average grade. All rights reserved. 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 you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Bwlch Penbarra to Jubilee Tower, 4. It does not include the hills to the south of Maentwrog. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). Simon has been riding for over 30 years and has a long connection with Cycling Weekly, he was once a designer on the magazine and has been a regular contributor for many years. We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (. ) 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. 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. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. Where Leave the A684 that runs through Hawes and head south on Gayle Lane to Gayle. Mauna Kea, 2. #3 HARDEST WELSH CLIMB -BWLCH PENBARRA TO JUBILEE TOWER, Cycling Bwlch Penbarras to Jubilee Tower, Wales. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! 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. 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. 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. But those who want to do climbs like Penrhys are extreme even within that bracket. 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. But its trajectory means that the damage is done on the brutally steep lower slopes. 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. Receive a selection of the most beautiful climbs we've added. Enter the first of two sets of brutal switchbacks and wrench body and bike through the 25% corners. 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. Best cycling climbs Europe: Top 10 hardest routes - Red Bull Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. The early parts of this mountain road rarely drop below 10% as the route winds its way up through the trees. We rank this monster as #2 most difficult in UK via the Fiets index. 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. Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. Once past an axle weight sign the climb begins. 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. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up Maerdy Mountain. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. The dial might touch 10% at times here, but in reality this is a fairly gentle climb that winds gracefully up for Mitchel Troy, just outside Monmouth, to its summit close to the village of Trelleck through a pleasant mix of open fields and deciduous woodland. The sense of achievement? 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. I slump over the bars. The views? 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. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. When: March 20-27, 2022. 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. It's that steep much of the way. Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our. Sign up with your email address to receive offers, news and updates. This climb was renowned throughout the 1970s and 80s as the most challenging climb used in the Milk Race round-Britain cycle race (, The History of Motor Sport and the Bwlch-y-Groes is nearly as old as motorsport. View epic images taken along the climbing route. It is an incredible climb both ways but the road from Tornapress, heading north-west, is just awesome. Follow the road alongside the river to Llanymawddwy, pass through and begin the climb across the Pont y Pennant. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble Abergavenny. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. 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. On the opposite side of the Blorenge to the more famous Tumble, Rhiwr Road makes that famous climb look like child's play. Riding from Llangadog, you'll be climbing before you realise, but the real business starts after the woodland stops and the open mountainside starts. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. And yet once you get to the top, you'll realise you enjoyed every second. 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. The road levels slightly but the surface is cut up and damaged. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. This gorgeous country road is testing for even the best cyclists, but it provides great views north towards the western Brecon Beacons. 37 beautiful and challenging climbs in South Wales every - WalesOnline It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. The Floor is Lava is nothing compared to this road. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. 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. Leaving Rosedale Abbey, a sign warns you of the one-in-three yes, one-in-three gradient to come. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. 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. Top 100 #86. 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. 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. The traditional Snowdonia thus includes the ranges of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the Profile Tool button. If you want the privilege of having ridden the highest paved road in Wales, you'll need to earn it. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. BA1 1UA. By the time the open mountain top is reached, things are much more benign. If you want to share something you need to create an account. 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. 1. 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 . 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. 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. The UK's Hardest Cycling Climbs By Region - Pedalsure Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. 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. Whatever it is, it makes the stretch of climbing ahead look terrifying. Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (SpeedTrackTails). 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. Below, we detail 10 of the toughest climbs in the UK, and provide links to the Strava segments to help you plan your routes. 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. (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). Turn away from the village of Knock and begin opposite a farm gate. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. Hit the opening 12% slope too hard and you're finished - because it's followed by a sequence of bends with gradients rising above 30%. Start opposite the old red telephone box, past the numerous warning signs, across the cattle grid then bend slightly left. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech 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. The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit.