Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The maximum gradient is 13%. Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. Within a few hundred feet of the start point, a switchback of over 20% warns you of the battle to come. Bwlch Penbarra to Jubilee Tower, 4. Its from here that this road separates itself from its peers, and its from here that everyone will be pushed to their limits. 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. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. 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. With a maximum gradient of 22% and an average gradient of 8.1% youre afforded great views of Aberdare the higher you climb. This is the highest paved road and hardest bike climb in Wales. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). Youre not going to forget the name of this route, nor how it makes you feel! On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." Wales has some gorgeous road bike climbs, and Bwlch y Groes is surely one of them! Scroll down the page to access the full Top 10 Welsh Bike Climbs on the Map below (or switch to "Table" for a detailed list). 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. 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. Named Hellfire Pass by the English but better known by its Welsh name, Bwlch-Y-Groes. If you were measuring the steepest, hardest, highest or longest climbs in South Wales, this wouldn't be anywhere near it. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. It's all a bit of an optical illusion though. South Africa's Cape Epic is the only MTB stage race classed as 'hors categorie' (beyond category) by the UCI, and upon looking at the eight days of riding . Afon Ddu starts abruptly from the main road and youll need just one gear, the lowest you can fit on your bike. The Rhigos is an altogether different proposition from the south, getting straighter rather than more meandering as it climbs. 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 . The Netherlands: A trip through the lowlands. Published 2 March 23. After an age on the opening steep gradient the road banks right to plateau before a brief downhill. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble and line the road as the Tour of Britain cyclist near the finish, Abergavenny. Where Turn off the A896 and head east just before Tornapress. for this page: 100 Greatest Climbs - A Road Cyclists Guide To Britains Hills; Cycling Climbs of Wales; see also https://www.100climbs.co.uk/books). When: March 20-27, 2022. 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. By the end of this section, you'll have ridden c.84km from the coast and will have climbed 2,800m from sea level. One for the power climbers. If any more proof was needed, this road takes no prisoners., it is utterly savage but thats what we love, right? Photos clockwise from top left: Bwlch y Groes (Wales #1, UK #2 hardest); Stwlan Dam (Wales #1, UK #2 most epic); Entering Wales in Llanymynech; Cardiff Castle; Welsh flag flying over Cardiff Castle (center). Youll see the Foel Y Gordd formation as you enter the canyon area. 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 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. View epic images taken along the climbing route. 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. This climb has one very steep segment near the beginning of the climb: a full half-mile at 16.5%. The route hugs the side of the steeply sided valley, following the contours of the hillside as it heads towards the summit. Deep in the dark heart of Wales, climbing nut Simon Warren thinks he has discovered Britains steepest hill. 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. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. 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. I slump over the bars. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. Where: Between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. The gradient towards the top is, in the most part, forgiving, with the most taxing stretches found around the villages lower down. Afon Ddu from Trefriw is the toughest ascent with a difficulty score of 621. 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. Where Leave the A684 that runs through Hawes and head south on Gayle Lane to Gayle. Photograph: Paul White/Alamy, Scotch mist hanging over Bealach na Ba. The base of the climb is on the first right out of the village next to a farm gate. Climbing into the Aran Mountains on the edge of Snowdonia, its a road of outstanding beauty rough, weathered and remorselessly steep. Now on Station Road, take the third left after crossing the rail line on to Bushcombe Lane between the two 25% signs. It starts steep from the village of Clydach and beats you up for a whole mile before easing just a touch. 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. I was to discover that there is absolutely no objection to cyclists riding it, although few would be mad enough. Select a portion of the route to retrieve climb & profile data for that segment. for this page: ). 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 early parts of this mountain road rarely drop below 10% as the route winds its way up through the trees. 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 famous hairpin means you've broken the back of it, and by the time you're onto the tree-lined final straight, you'll virtually be able to taste the ice cream from the van in the layby at the summit. Cwm Eigiau, 6. -- Climbs taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (8.99, . We parked at the Church in the town of Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd (try saying that TWO times fast . 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. Ride only 600 meters but at a stunning 21.3% average grade. Cobbled and super-steep, the infamous Constitution Hill might be less than a quarter of a mile long, but it's more reminiscent of a Belgian berg than a Welsh hill. 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. Bwlch y Groes is rich in history and strong on inspiring, if not breathtaking, scenery. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps. What comes next will take your breath away. The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. But those who want to do climbs like Penrhys are extreme even within that bracket. 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%. 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. The 1.9 mile route is memorable for its scary hairpin climb. Passo Stelvio, Italy. 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. 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. The hardest, most difficult and challenging cycling climbs in Wales are, in order of difficulty, 1. 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. 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. Even though its very short you have to go so slowly at first. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. Turn left after around a mile though, and everything changes. Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. Since that first book, he's added 11 more, as well Ride Britain which showcases 40 inspirational road cycling routes. This route is an area of desolate but beautiful countryside. When is the first day of spring and when do clocks go forward in 2023? The best advice for anyone heading uphill out of Aberdare - don't put yourself in the red too early. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. Thank you for signing up! At this point, the climb would get significantly worse! 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. When we reached this last hairpin though his jaw hit the floor, he recalls. 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. The climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. How many have you ridden? It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. Learn More ALL TRIPS Heres how it works. We have had the great fortune of documenting the most epic and hardest climbs in Wales in both 2018 and 2022. With one and a half pedals and dented pride I manage to make it to the top to join Dan and Jess at the finish outside the water treatment works. This climb was renowned throughout the 1970s and 80s as the most challenging climb used in the Milk Race round-Britain cycle race (Wikipedia). She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . The views? 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. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. 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. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. This climb is simply a monster with several stretches in the red zone - above 16%, including one massive stretch at 20% for 200 yards. How many have you ridden? - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. Sign up with your email address to receive offers, news and updates. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again. The northern ascent of the Black has a very different character to its southern counterpart. . And yet it's easy to forget that it's also one of the toughest. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. You have to take each and every opportunity to recover when it is presented, no matter how slight he says. 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. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. Anything you have read or been told about this amazing road is likely to be true. 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. Now very narrow and lined with snow poles, the climb is so well surfaced it resembles a two-metre-wide carpet. 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. 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. In Wales cyclists can find 74 interesting climbs between 5 and 550 meters above sea level. This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. Windswept and remote this climb begins in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, and goes for 3.7 miles with a 12% gradient. Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! The wooded opening sequence and the first phases on the open hillside are where you'll really suffer. Leaving Rosedale Abbey, a sign warns you of the one-in-three yes, one-in-three gradient to come. It also has a very interesting motorsport history: The History of Motor Sport and the Bwlch-y-Groes is nearly as old as motorsport. 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 Banking right, the surface breaks up and 20% soon turns into 25%. 2. The top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. Ranking list The Gospel Pass is situated in Wales. But as the road heads into the trees, it rears up sharply, and doesn't drop below 12% until the very top. From the long, straight opening stretch, the summit seems scarily close in distance, while worryingly far away in altitude. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (FIETS INDEX), This extraordinary climb is in the northwestern section of Wales in the Snowdonia mountain region. 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. Scanuppia It's that steep much of the way. How steep? It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline.The park is governed by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, which is made up of local government and Welsh representatives, and its main offices are at Penrhyndeudraeth. Stay up to date with the latest developments. 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 . Its found as you head north-west out of Pontardawe. Cape Epic. This gorgeous country road is testing for even the best cyclists, but it provides great views north towards the western Brecon Beacons. Don't let the urban nature of this climb fool you - it's not easy. Ride two miles gaining 1,329 at 12.5% average grade. The landscape is rough, its easy to see how the area gets pounded with rain and freezing temps most of the year. Bryn Du is a very steep climb in Aberdare, up Maerdy Mountain. 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. 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. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. With summer temperatures routinely. 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. Increasing in steepness as it passes old industrial relics, the road winds its way up the side of a breathtaking gorge, with just a few boulders between separating you and the 10% gradient from the edge. Favourite cycling climbs in North Wales 1 - Pen-y-Pass aka Llanberis Pass Pen Y Pass Profile. If the Tumble is the famous and successful son, the Tyla is his awkward, challenging older brother. "Cycling in south Wales is a completely different story. 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. Picturesque mountains, hills, valleys and coastland define the landscape, and make the area a dream cycling location. Here are some of the UK's other toughest ascents. 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. Maximum gradient: 16%. 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 I have to keep fighting. But had this happened before I hit the deck or after? TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. 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. Bwlch y Groes (SW #91), 3. 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. Climb the Gospel Pass via Hay on Wye by bike. You have 50 climbs on your lists, if you want to add more you can do so with climbfinder+. 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