(sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). 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. The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. (If you're cyclist in North, Mid or West Wales, we'll be. F. J. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. Stunning and rugged, the Black Mountain (and you) are open to the elements. 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. On my first climb up Bwlch y Groes in 2018 I got a flat tire on my vehicle that was parked in front of one of these homesteads and was assisted in fixing the flat by the old-timer that lived nearby. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. Its found as you head north-west out of Pontardawe. 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. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. ), and I recommend parking there and not attempting to traverse any part of the actual climb route in a car. 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). Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. Is it the suffering? This spectacular virtual fly-through shows the stunning route of the 2016 Velothon Wales, Huge vintage clothing warehouse where you can get designer brands at a fraction of the price, The Thrift operates over a huge 12,000 sq ft and stocks big brands as well as a value section, Superdrug anti-aging cream called 'botox in a tub' by shoppers, Optimum Collagen Day cream is priced at 14.99. 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. 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. 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. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. 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. When you reach the open mountaintop (after 3.4 miles), the views will take your breath away. Riding alongside Dan with Jess tucked in behind we set off, all three of us understandably apprehensive of what lies ahead. The first time I went up was on a mountain bike and even that proved almost impossible, however, once I got to the top I knew I had to return on a road bike to see how fast I could ride it, he recalls. I can see why. It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. 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. Anything you have read or been told about this amazing road is likely to be true. We begin this climb in the midst of lush pastureland. Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. Turn left after around a mile though, and everything changes. Dan tells me he brought none other than Andrew Feather (current national hill climb champion) here a few weeks back. 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. Visit our corporate site. Without being too hysterical, this climb is nothing more than a joyless straight line of pain. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. If someone built it we will damn well try and ride it, even if it means falling on our ass because. . Rounding the corner I spot our photographer Andy ahead and see he isnt in position. Region: South West Length: 3.1km Average gradient: 10% Elevation: 321m It's that steep much of the way. By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. My bike is creaking. For a while there I thought Id settled it. 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. The Gospel Pass is 548 high. Then you hit the switchbacks, where a better surface is cold comfort as you grapple with gravity's pull and attempt to hold your momentum through these vicious bends. 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. is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs - Britain). The best advice for anyone heading uphill out of Aberdare - don't put yourself in the red too early. Pass the clock tower, and things step up a notch, with a straight 16% ramp taking you (via a flatter terrace section) onto the climb proper. And yet once you get to the top, you'll realise you enjoyed every second. Once the gradient kicks in it just gets steeper and steeper, 20% past the last of the houses, then the fun really starts. 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. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. 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. Let us know your thoughts about this page. Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. Continue on to Fell Foot Farm and start to climb as you turn past the buildings. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. World Cycle Tours, Nutterswood Cottage, Nutters Wood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PZ, United Kingdom. . This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). Here there is another leveling, a plateau of sorts before things turn from nasty to insane. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. Ride two miles gaining 1,055 at 10.3% average grade. 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. By the end of this section, you'll have ridden c.84km from the coast and will have climbed 2,800m from sea level. The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. 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. Snowdonia (Welsh: Eryri) is a mountainous region in north west Wales and a national park of 823 square miles (2,130 km2) in area. Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our. On the opposite side of the Blorenge to the more famous Tumble, Rhiwr Road makes that famous climb look like child's play. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel The Floor is Lava is nothing compared to this road. 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. 1. In Wales cyclists can find 74 interesting climbs between 5 and 550 meters above sea level. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. 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Stay up to date with the latest developments. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. 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. The road levels slightly but the. There's a choice towards the top between turning right down towards Llangynidr or carrying on along the road to Rassau to complete the full climb. Populated by wandering sheep, the road steepens relentlessly, offering nowhere to hide as you click through the gears hoping to find a large enough sprocket just to keep moving. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. Don't let the urban nature of this climb fool you - it's not easy. He wasn't wrong. The steepest paved street in Pittsburghand one of the toughest climbs in the USmakes the top spot on our list. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. (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). There is no dress rehearsal for this stretch of road, this is one take and one take only. Abercynafon Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Apagua, 5. Ride 1.8 miles gaining 916 at 10% average grade. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. But those who want to do climbs like Penrhys are extreme even within that bracket. The three vicious ascents leaving Woodmancote all offer a fantastic challenge, and of the three it's Bushcombe Lane that stands apart. Another climb with a fair bit of ascent to even get to the start. This is simply a magnificent cycling experience. The top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. 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. The 10 hardest hill climbs in Wales can be viewed on this page via the map (zoom in to view climbs in particular areas), by Climb Cards (photo and stats) or by a detailed list of the climbs that can be arranged in metric or imperial units by difficulty, distance (longest climbs in the area), altitude gained, highest elevation (highest summit), average grade (sort the grades by varying distances), lowest start point, etc. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Thanks to Strava for the route maps and climb profiles. We completed this jewel in August 2018 and because it is so epic, came back for a second go in June 2022. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech The British is named after the massive old ironworks that once dominated this area above Pontypool. 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. La Muerte, 9. Where Leave the A66 in Appleby-in-Westmorland, head north past Brampton, and left through Dufton to arrive in Knock. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. View PJAMM Cycling's collection of the highest ranked climbs in Wales. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. 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. 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%. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . If you were measuring the steepest, hardest, highest or longest climbs in South Wales, this wouldn't be anywhere near it. It never relents, never lets up until you reach the bend in the shadow of a rocky outcrop, you've still got a fair bit of climbing to reach the top, but it's not as hard now. There's something evil lurking in the woods at the top of this climb in rural Monmouthshire. Up and up, and then mercifully dipping, or is it just levelling? 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.