hardest cycling climbs in wales hardest cycling climbs in wales

Not here. You'll find the top, most difficult, epic, scenic, hardest, challenging, extreme, inspiring, bucket list bike climbs located in Wales. F. J. Round the end of Loch Kishorn and follow the signs to Applecross, up and over Bealach-na-Ba. Below, we detail 10 of the toughest climbs in the UK, and provide links to the Strava segments to help you plan your routes. Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. If you were measuring the steepest, hardest, highest or longest climbs in South Wales, this wouldn't be anywhere near it. Climb summary by PJAMM Cyclings Brad Butterfield - he climbed this one in 2018 and 2022. Ahead lies 30 metres that has every single ounce of muscle straining like a weight lifter attempting to raise four times their body weight above their heads. Where: Between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil. You'll be counting each and every pedal rev as you slowly push your way up the scree-littered road to the summit. From bend two the road swings left, kicks up then eases back to rumble across a cattle grid and so far, so pretty ordinary but then, up ahead the road arcs away to the right and here it begins to look serious. I had to go and check it out. Its gradient maxes out at 37 percent, with an . Luckily for us the rain was holding on our expedition. The full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. Bwlch y Groes means Pass of the Cross.. From this page you may navigate to the top 10 most difficult bicycling climbs in Wales. 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. danevanscycling Ffordd Pen Llech La Muerte, 9. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. As Dan waltzes off ahead I am beginning to falter. If a man with legs as strong as Dans struggles up a climb then what chance do us mortals have? The steepest parts of the climb are before you've even left the edge of the town, but it's long enough to be a real struggle if you've burnt too many matches too soon. In many ways, the quintessential Welsh mountain road - wild, remote, desolate and endearingly featureless. 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. Now straightening up, the next stretch is ridiculously hard, the main problem here being just staying upright while either side of the road, sheep wait to see if yet another rider falls victim to the Chimney. Where Turn off the A896 and head east just before Tornapress. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . Grid ref: SO 983 279 (OS 163)Length 1.54kmHeight gain 167mApprox climb time 9 mins, Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-y-Groes is the highest tarmacked pass in Wales. The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. By the time you reach the clock tower in Pricetown, you'll have been climbing fairly constantly since Bryncethin. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. 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. Follow the road alongside the river to Llanymawddwy, pass through and begin the climb across the Pont y Pennant. . But the end of the steep ramp is within touching distance. Anything you have read or been told about this amazing road is likely to be true. Baniamr Aquabah Pass, 6. Im now trapped on a two foot wide strip of rippled 30 per cent concrete fighting for survival. Electric Mountain, 5. Each country has her crowned Jewel and Bwlch y Groes makes a good argument for taking that award for the Welsh territory. Join the road up from Thornhill and things get a little easier before the final wall up to the main road. Is it the suffering? By the end of this section, you'll have ridden c.84km from the coast and will have climbed 2,800m from sea level. Scanuppia Afon Ddu, 7. 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 front of you is the Alpine-style Ski Centre, a simply awesome ride. 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. It's also available via Apple Newsstand and Readly. It starts from the village of Porlock and climbs an average of 10% gradient towards the top of Exmoor. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel Ride 1.8 miles gaining 916 at 10% average grade. This brutal, bucket list climb invites you to tackle an incredible 48 hairpin bends between Prato and the mountain's summit. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. Begin the climb across the bridge at Cock Bridge just past Corgarff Castle. Start opposite the old red telephone box, past the numerous warning signs, across the cattle grid then bend slightly left. Have you tackled the toughest climb in your region? Where Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head north east towards Aber-Cywarch. 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. Where: Heading north out of Nantymoel in the Ogmore Valley. Gwent The toughest climb in south Wales Where Heading west on the A465 from . North, as editor of the book Snowdonia (1949), states "When the Committee delineated provisional boundaries, they included areas some distance beyond Snowdonia proper." 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. South Wales needs no introduction. A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. Since that first book, he's added 11 more, as well Ride Britain which showcases 40 inspirational road cycling routes. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. But amongst the legendary Welsh valleys, beaches and mountains found in the south of the country, where can you find the most challenging climbs on two wheels? For a while there I thought Id settled it. And Lots of them. TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. First off, a classic. 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. Without being too hysterical, this climb is nothing more than a joyless straight line of pain. The road levels slightly but the. Factoring in a pretty torrid road surface too means reaching the top of this wall is an achievement few will ever accomplish. Where Leave the A684 that runs through Hawes and head south on Gayle Lane to Gayle. 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 "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." 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. 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. If there's a more brutal stretch of road anywhere in South Wales than Llanguicke Road, then it's definitely best avoided. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy, The radar station of top of Great Dun Fell. 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. A while later the utterly horrendous Cowlyd in north Wales found its way onto my radar and again the slate was wiped clean and a new standard was set. Soon into the ride we are climbing through a canyon area with dramatic plateaus and hillside formations, particularly on the right side as we climb. (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). Top 100 #86. The second bend here is so steep on the inside that it forces you far right, so take care. Let us know what you thought of this climb. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). 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. Abercynafon Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. 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 climb begins as we pass a set of old farm buildings on the left. The climb is really unique. 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. The base of the climb is on the first right out of the village next to a farm gate. A mix of all three? The road levels slightly but the surface is cut up and damaged. Apagua, 5. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. Climb the Gospel Pass via Hay on Wye by bike. Theres always a bigger fish. Thats what the ancient proverb says, and just when I thought Id ridden the steepest road in Britain, and put the matter of determining the country's toughest cycling climb to bed once and for all, up popped another hideous incline to further move the goalposts and redefine suffering. Stay up to date with the latest developments. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. 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 Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. There, in front of you, painted on to the side of the mountain and looking like a giant flight of stairs, lies the rest of the climb. Far from any major towns, the starting point is near some very old homesteads. When is the first day of spring and when do clocks go forward in 2023? . You start your ascent from the beautiful Corgarff castle and straight away you hit 20% slopes rough, relentlessly steep and twisting a little. 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. ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! 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. From there, there's the option of a fast descent into Defynnog, but a much better alternative is to continue in a straight line uphill and onto the ancient Heol Senni. The top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. 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. 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. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. After all that has preceded it, the finale a set of four hairpin bends may be all too much, but fear not. Photograph: Stephen Dorey/Alamy. After leaving the village, you're into open moorland but don't expect a gradient in single figures. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. This is largely due to its length of 9.32km. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. The Cowlyd, 2. The surface, just wide enough for a single car, is smooth at the edges but little more than gravel and moss in the centre. 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. The bike climbs we have documented are in the slideshow above. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. Something went wrong, please try again later. Rounding the corner I spot our photographer Andy ahead and see he isnt in position. 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. If the Tumble is the famous and successful son, the Tyla is his awkward, challenging older brother. The Tyla rounds The Blorenge Mountain from Gilwern, and its an incredibly challenging climb, mainly because of its steep lower slopes. Bwlch Penbarras from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, The Road to Hell from Denbigh via Nantglyn, Llanberis Pass / Pen-y-Pass from Nant Peris. We relied heavily on Simon Warrens Top UK Climbs Series in ranking and documenting UK bike climbs (https://www.100climbs.co.uk/books) - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. ANDY! I scream, we are coming. 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. 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 . I have purchased and relied heavily on several of these books in deciding what climbs to include on the PJAMM Website for the UK. The Road to Hell - 353m - 3 to 20% - 11km #90. Like being first? It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. 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 climb goes up a ridge to a small parking lot, where we saw two other cyclists. 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. This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. Where From the bottom left corner of Rosedale Abbey leave the main road and turn south east on to Gill Lane, pass the giant warning sign, and head up. Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. What follows is a brief levelling out but you can't put off what lies ahead for long. Where: South of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. It also has a very interesting motorsport history: The History of Motor Sport and the Bwlch-y-Groes is nearly as old as motorsport. 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. Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. Snowdonia (Welsh: Eryri) is a mountainous region in north west Wales and a national park of 823 square miles (2,130 km2) in area. 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. By the time the open mountain top is reached, things are much more benign. Dan is still chatting away but Ive fallen silent - there is no space to fit words in-between breaths. 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 scene of a brilliant double ascent during the 2013 Tour of Britain, this iconic route out of Caerphilly also features as the final climb in the Velothon Wales loop of South Wales. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Let us know your thoughts about this page. 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. Early motoring magazines often mention that editorial staff hand car manufacturers had been testing on the Bwlch y Groes owing to its status of a continual and sever gradient to one of the highest moorland crossings by a road in the UK. The king of climbs and arguably the hardest road in the land, the legendary Hardknott Pass is an amazing sliver of tarmac. Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. Al Jaadah Pass, 3. There is no dress rehearsal for this stretch of road, this is one take and one take only. - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. 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. 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. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. One for the power climbers. Average gradient: 6.5% Another 100 Greatest Cycling hills 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs at Amazon.co.uk Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs at Waterstones Another 100 climbs include: Longest Hill Climb Cragg Vale - The longest continuous ascent in England - 9.1 km. 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. It only takes 1 minute and it's completely free. 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! TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN). We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. Riding alongside Dan with Jess tucked in behind we set off, all three of us understandably apprehensive of what lies ahead. It starts steep from the village of Clydach and beats you up for a whole mile before easing just a touch. 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. 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. The climb lasts for almost a mile and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. View epic images taken along the climbing route. As I force round this wicked right-hander, bend three, the pale, rugged and debris-strewn surface rises up like a wall through the trees. 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.