Grid ref: NY 710 321 (OS 91)Length 7.45kmHeight gain 638mApprox climb time 40 mins, Few climbs have such a fearsome reputation as Rosedale Chimney, and rightly so. Want the best food, film, music, arts and culture news sent straight to your inbox? 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. Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. After a few slight rises the road surface improves dramatically and stretches far into the distance, taking the shortest route over the featureless ridge. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. The Netherlands: A trip through the lowlands. Holding a straight line is becoming all but impossible and the effort needed is simply unsustainable. Let us know your thoughts about this page. Ranking list (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more). The Road to Hell - 353m - 3 to 20% - 11km #90. The beautiful landscape of the Brecon Beacons. Picturesque mountains, hills, valleys and coastland define the landscape, and make the area a dream cycling location. South Wales needs no introduction. The photos in the collage at the top of this page are of PJAMMs Top 10 Hardest per the Fiets Index. The average gradient might "only" be 8.3%, but that's reduced by the steady stretch of false flat that precedes the summit. The second set of switchbacks are steeper still, and these now 30% slopes will have you straining every sinew as your front wheel desperately searches for a kinder gradient and weaves all over the road fighting to stay upright. She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . Climbing for fun requires a particular type of sadism. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The full climb might be 2.4km, but that doesn't even nearly tell the full story. A straight line of unflinching steepness of such monotony that it regularly feels like you're going nowhere. This is a list of all 200 climbs feature in 100 Greatest cycling climbs and also the sequel Is it the suffering? From this page you may navigate to the top 10 most difficult bicycling climbs in Wales. Baran Road is arguably the most beautiful of all the tough climbs were listing here. Summarized above under Fiets Top 10 Hardest], 100 Greatest Climbs - A Road Cyclists Guide To Britains Hills, 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. Gwent The toughest climb in south Wales Where Heading west on the A465 from . Repeatedly, you'll think you're through the worst - only to be hit again with the next step of the staircase. 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. The 10 Hardest Cycling Climbs in the World Youll enjoy unobstructed views of the canyon as you pass Wales mascot - Sheep! The 10 Hardest Bike Climbs in Wales - pjammcycling.com The superlative Bwlch y Groes is coincidentally ranked #2 most epic hill climb in Wales and 3 in all the UK. The Tyla rounds the Blorenge from Gilwern, Heading into the trees on the Wentwood Ridge climb just where it starts to get really steep. Top 7 cycling climbs in North Wales and Snowdonia Only two miles, but one of those climbs that feels like it goes on forever. Mauna Kea, 2. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. Here there is another leveling, a plateau of sorts before things turn from nasty to insane. Im now trapped on a two foot wide strip of rippled 30 per cent concrete fighting for survival. This climb isn't for the faint-hearted. 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. The Gospel Pass is situated in Wales. For a while there I thought Id settled it. I did warn him how bad it was but he was like, yeah, its just another hill. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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. before our second trip to document the UKs top climbs in 2022 -- thus, its The Real Deal! ) The road levels slightly but the. 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. We have twice personally documented the Welsh Top 10 Hardest Climbs. Signup for our. I slump over the bars. But I have to keep fighting. At this point, the climb would get significantly worse! This is the story of how he found it and just how painful it is to ride. 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). Simon Warren has published many books on cycling climbing in the UK (e.g. The climb is really unique. 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 Photograph: Stephen Dorey/Alamy. The UK's Hardest Cycling Climbs By Region - Pedalsure 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. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts. There's something evil lurking in the woods at the top of this climb in rural Monmouthshire. Where To find Hardknott Pass leave the A595 and head east towards Eskdale. 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. Epic Climbs in South Wales - Cardiff By Bike Where: Heading north out of Cymmer in the Afan Valley. View PJAMM Cycling's collection of the highest ranked climbs in Wales. Therefore, after Bealach na Ba (UK #1 Most Epic and #4 hardest), Bwlch y Groes might be the second best bike climb in all the land. But what is the attraction? The Brecon landscape is barren but beautiful as you climb 3.5 miles in Pen-y-Cae. 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. Rising 859ft over 2.7 miles actually makes for a fairly manageable gradient most of the way up, and there's more road on which to gain altitude than it might look initially. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft (1,085 m). If a man with legs as strong as Dans struggles up a climb then what chance do us mortals have? Ride only 600 meters but at a stunning 21.3% average grade. 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. TOP 3 HARDEST BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN). 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. 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. Bath It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km2), and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. 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. Begin the climb across the bridge at Cock Bridge just past Corgarff Castle. Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). As Dan waltzes off ahead I am beginning to falter. 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. As Eryri (see above), this area has a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture. >>> Subscriptions deals forCycling Weeklymagazine. Like being first? Climbs have an average length of 4.2km and 248 meters of total ascent. It's not quite the Alps, but it's a close as it gets in South Wales. Or should we be asking, how accurate? And don't even think about putting a foot down - you'll never get started again. Our preloaded PJAMM Adventure App trip pages Wales and the UK are accessed by clicking the purple PJAMM Trips button above. The climb is tough right away, then gets tougher still as you bend right into what is a small taste of things to come. In a way. 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. 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 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. -- Climbs taken from 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (8.99, . Where Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head north east towards Aber-Cywarch. Heave yourself round this evil corner and you're through the worst of it. This climb has the steepest 500 meter segment in all the UK. The road to get to this climb is brutally narrow with thick shrubs blocking the views ahead. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. My bike is creaking. . Signup for our. 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. Pass Gairnshiel Lodge and Colnabaichin. Watch a gorgeous open up before your eyes as you tackle this country road that rises straight out of Pontardawe. 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. After all that has preceded it, the finale a set of four hairpin bends may be all too much, but fear not. Now round to the right, the ever steepening, increasingly lumpy surface heads into arguably the hardest section of relentlessly steep tarmac in Britain. Bwlch Penbarra to Jubilee Tower, 4. With the wind on your back, it's one that can be tackled in the big ring on a good day. Wales is a wonderful country with great people, extraordinary scenery and EPIC bike climbs!! The early parts of this mountain road rarely drop below 10% as the route winds its way up through the trees. 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. 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. 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. Over the course of the slog, you'll climb . 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 top few miles of the Swansea Valley take you up the steady slopes of a wide and straight main road up to the beautiful Crai Reservoir. Something went wrong, please try again later. Still, that's the least of your worries as you pass a 25% sign. Afon Ddu, 7. I snapped my chain not once but twice in my attempt to conquer this vicious stretch of tarmac. Best Hill Climbs in the US | Bicycling Start opposite the old red telephone box, past the numerous warning signs, across the cattle grid then bend slightly left. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. Mauna Kea: Cycling the Hardest Climb in the World 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 bottom of the Abercynafon climb - note the 20% gradient, The open countryside of the Baran Road climb, The open part of the Bedlinog climb, after leaving the village, Looking south from the climb up the Black Mountain, The profile of the Black Mountain, from Brynamman, Looking down at the upper reaches of the Black Mountain climb from Llangadog, Looking north from the top of the Black Mountain, The profile for the Black Mountain from Llangadog, The top of the British, heading out of Abersychan, Steep inclines before leaving Aberdare on the way up Maerdy Mountain, The hairpin on the climb up Maerdy Mountain from Aberdare, Descending from the Bwlch into the Afan Valley, Near the top of the Bwlch, from the Afan Valley, The profile for the climb up the Bwlch from the Afan Valley, Looking up towards the summit of the Bwlch on the way up from Treorchy, The early part of the Caerphilly Mountain climb after leaving Tongwynlais, The steepest part of the climb up Caerphilly Mountain from Tongwynlais, The profile of the climb up Caerphilly Mountain from Caerphilly, The 20% slopes of the Wenallt climb up Caerphilly Mountain, The profile of the Wenallt climb up Caerphilly Mountain, Dan Martin and Nairo Quintana lead up Caerphilly Mountain in the 2013 Tour of Britain, The final kick on the Mountain Road ascent of Caerphilly Mountain, The profile of the climb up Caerphilly Mountain from the centre of the town, The road up Cefn Bryn stretching into the distance, The higher part of the Cimla climb out of Neath, The steep and cobbled slopes of Swansea's Constitution Hill, The long stretch up to Crai reservoir from Pen y Cae, The view down from the top hairpin on the Devil's Elbow, The top section of the Gospel Pass, after the steepest parts, Climbing up alongside dry stone walls and mountain streams on Heol Lan, Looking back down the climb out of Llangattock, Looking back down from the top of Llangynidr Mountain, Llanguicke Road: Almost unimaginably steep, The views from close to the summit of Llangynidr Mountain, The climb from Llangwm towards Shirenewton, The climb to Llanwonno, shortly after leaving the houses of Graigwen Road, The forested section close to the top of the climb to Llanwonno from Pontypridd, Onto more open terrain at the top of the Maerdy Mountain, The profile of the climb up Maerdy Mountain, The Old Black Rock climb from Gilwern to Brynmawr, The relentless gradient to the top of Penrhys, One of the steepest sections of the climb up past Pontypridd Golf Club, Looking back from the top of the Pontypridd Golf Club climb, The profile for the Pontypridd Golf Club climb, The top section of the Rhigos on the north side, The profile of the Rhigos climb from Hirwaun, The profile of the Rhigos from Treherbert, Rhiwr Road is difficult from the very start, Looking back towards Monmouth shortly after leaving Mitchel Troy on the climb to Trelleck, The profile of the climb towards Trelleck from Mitchel Troy. Stay up to date with the latest developments. Penbarra ( Bwlch Pen barras / Bwlch Penbarras / Old Bwlch) - 258m - 11 to 25% - 2.3km #89. Essentially every turn is a blind curve. 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. But its trajectory means that the damage is done on the brutally steep lower slopes. 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 Cowlyd, 2. Cross the cattle grid onto a long straight 7% drag that takes you into the trees. I can see why. Cycling climbs: UK's top 5 road climbs - Red Bull Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. Without being too hysterical, this climb is nothing more than a joyless straight line of pain. It's all fairly steady going as the climb starts just off the A449. 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. When you reach the open mountaintop (after 3.4 miles), the views will take your breath away. Most local riders know its here, we gave it the nickname the Baby Zoncolan but we all avoid it like the plague. 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. This climb is along the southeastern edge of Snowdonia National Park (established 1951 - third national park in Britain after Peak District and Lake District). Before the construction of the Heads of the Valleys road, this was the main road between Gilwern and Brynmawr. We've collected 37 of the hardest, most beautiful, steepest, highest and longest climbs in South Wales. 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 traditional Snowdonia thus includes the ranges of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. We have had the great fortune of documenting the most epic and hardest climbs in Wales in both 2018 and 2022.