Stunning and rugged, the Black Mountain (and you) are open to the elements. 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. Gradients of around 30% are generally only found on the inside of tight bends. 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. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. Where: Heading north out of Cymmer in the Afan Valley. Cross the cattle grid onto a long straight 7% drag that takes you into the trees. Get info and context about new features. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. By the end of this section, you'll have ridden c.84km from the coast and will have climbed 2,800m from sea level. I say a big thank you to Dan and Jess for joining me for the morning its then that they point out to me, if you thought it was hard on the way up, just wait until you go back down. We rank this monster as #2 most difficult in UK via the Fiets index. . If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? I cant say for sure but I decide to stick with before to salvage what I can of my fragile ego. Rhiwr Road (SW #197), and 10. 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. Where Leaving the A593 just south of Skelwith Bridge head west to Little Langdale. I dare not look up and in a situation like this it is best not to concentrate on the finish but just live in the moment, trying to stay on two wheels, preserving forward momentum. Dan is still chatting away but Ive fallen silent - there is no space to fit words in-between breaths. Signup for our. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. 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. 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. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). 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 is simply a magnificent cycling experience. Maximum gradient: 16%. Is it the suffering? When is the first day of spring and when do clocks go forward in 2023? As Dan waltzes off ahead I am beginning to falter. Since that . 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. 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. (If you're cyclist in North, Mid or West Wales, we'll be. This was the advice of a local man as I approached the foot of this brutal climb last year. 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. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. Still, that's the least of your worries as you pass a 25% sign. See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the Profile Tool button. 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. It's a very tough mile though, averaging somewhere around 9% as it cuts its way up the side of Maerdy Mountain. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. The best advice for anyone heading uphill out of Aberdare - don't put yourself in the red too early. The sense of achievement? Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. Scanuppia 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. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Since that first book, he's added 11 more, as well Ride Britain which showcases 40 inspirational road cycling routes. A pretty stone bridge over a stream takes you across the side of the hill, before a further hairpin spins you back towards the exposed top section. Between the narrow road, the rutted surface and the severity of the slope, this is one seriously tough climb. Best time to cycle J F M A M J J A S O N D Ranking list Wales Difficulty points Gradient Length Total ascent Do not attempt to ride here in unfavourable conditions. 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. 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 . The Tyla rounds the Blorenge from Gilwern, Heading into the trees on the Wentwood Ridge climb just where it starts to get really steep. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. After leaving the village, you're into open moorland but don't expect a gradient in single figures. A headwind, on the other hand, and it can be a real grind. The Cowlyd, 2. Abercynafon Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. 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. 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%. The top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. 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. 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. Snowdonia (Welsh: Eryri) is a mountainous region in north west Wales and a national park of 823 square miles (2,130 km2) in area. If you want to share something you need to create an account. 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. 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. The British is named after the massive old ironworks that once dominated this area above Pontypool. Youll see the Foel Y Gordd formation as you enter the canyon area. Ride two miles gaining 1,329 at 12.5% average grade. It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. 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. Join the road up from Thornhill and things get a little easier before the final wall up to the main road. Riding from Llangadog, you'll be climbing before you realise, but the real business starts after the woodland stops and the open mountainside starts. Learn More ALL TRIPS 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 Most Challenging Climbs in South Wales, West Sicily: A Journey Through Ancient Culture & History, Wales: Cycling From The Border To The Brecon Beacons, Sweden: The Kattegattleden & Halland Coast. Having left the steep streets of Upper Brynamman behind, the road dissects the open mountainside, tussock-covered hillsides on both flanks. of course, ride the toughest cycling climbs across the UK and Europe. ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! Picturesque mountains, hills, valleys and coastland define the landscape, and make the area a dream cycling location. I snapped my chain not once but twice in my attempt to conquer this vicious stretch of tarmac. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. Weve been crawling skyward for about two minutes, covering just 250m of tarmac as we round bend three. Like being first? It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. 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%. Something went wrong, please try again later. Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. The road levels between the sharp bends giving you a chance to attack each wicked corner then gather yourself in time for the next. After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge. But had this happened before I hit the deck or after? It's not too steep to begin with but as the road bends hard left at the base of an almighty tower of rock, then the gradient increases. 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. We rank this monster as the #3 most difficult in Britain via the Fiets index - #2 in Wales! 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. Two miles up a main road at between 4% and 6% might sound easy, but that just depends on how fast you're going. By the time the open mountain top is reached, things are much more benign. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. for this page: ). 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 full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. "Cycling in south Wales is a completely different story. If you want the privilege of having ridden the highest paved road in Wales, you'll need to earn it. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. 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 Shelf - 262m - 5 to 15% - 5.1km #87. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. 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. 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. Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. Up and up, and then mercifully dipping, or is it just levelling? 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. From there it's a steep and tough push to reach the saddle of the pass. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. Climb summary by PJAMMs Brad Butterfield who documented this climb in 2018 and again in 2022 (Wales is one of 27 countries Brad has cycled and documented for PJAMM in addition to 16 US states). It does not include the hills to the south of Maentwrog. It is really tough to crown just one climb in Wales as a favorite after riding so many over our few weeks of riding in June 2022. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Electric Mountain, 5. Cape Epic. This is apparent in books published prior to 1951, such as the classic travelogue Wild Wales by George Borrow (1862) and The Mountains of Snowdonia by H. Carr & G. Lister (1925). The climb goes up a ridge to a small parking lot, where we saw two other cyclists. First off, a classic. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up Maerdy Mountain. | 26 regions. 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. I had to go and check it out. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. Follow the road alongside the river to Llanymawddwy, pass through and begin the climb across the Pont y Pennant. 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. If you can ride this, you can ride anything. Grid ref: NJ 252 118 (OS37) Length 3.01km Height gain 245m Approx climb time 21 mins, This is it: the Holy Grail, the toughest and wildest climb in Britain. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Heres how it works. The second bend here is so steep on the inside that it forces you far right, so take care. ANDY! I scream, we are coming. The road to get to this climb is brutally narrow with thick shrubs blocking the views ahead. I was to discover that there is absolutely no objection to cyclists riding it, although few would be mad enough. Where Leave the A66 in Appleby-in-Westmorland, head north past Brampton, and left through Dufton to arrive in Knock. 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. Taking your bike up a steep climb next to Welsh dry stone walls and mountain streams on Heol Lan is an experience that will stay with you. And yet once you get to the top, you'll realise you enjoyed every second. One for the power climbers. 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. 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. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1.