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! Three Cycling UK members have successfully completed an epic challenge to tackle 100 of the UK's most iconic climbs in one mammoth month-long road trip. 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. Cairn O'Mount from the south side is 3.35km with an elevation gain of 319 meters. 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. How many have you suffered on your way up? 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. Through the gate, straight over a cattle grid and into more hard work, the road bending left past a stone shelter, a sure-fire signal although you are nowhere near the top yet that you're heading into truly hostile country. Bedlinog 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. Check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for harsher weather at the top. And don't even think about putting a foot down - you'll never get started again. Up and up, and then mercifully dipping, or is it just levelling? Continue on to Fell Foot Farm and start to climb as you turn past the buildings. 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. The first 200-yard segment averages 15%, so be sure to warm up. "Backcountry riding and we were on a pump track to get back inbounds. Our first relentless climb is Abercynafon, found between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. Turn away from the village of Knock and begin opposite a farm gate. North, as editor of the book Snowdonia (1949), states "When the Committee delineated provisional boundaries, they included areas some distance beyond Snowdonia proper." Simon Warren (100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, UK) ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! This challenging route is found between between Ystrad Mynach and Merthyr Tydfil and is a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). 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. Arguably, though, he is best known as the author of Cycling Climbs series of books. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. 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. TOP 3 MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS IN WALES (SIMON WARREN), Cycling the incomparable Stwlan Dam, Wales. List of - 100 Climbs Total climbing: 21,293m over 322.75km. 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. 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. Bending right the slope immediately kicks up to around 25 per cent but this is mere childs play compared to what lies ahead. 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. For a while there I thought Id settled it. Bwlch Penbarra (SW #88), 9. 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. On our climb, we encountered a car and had to back up nearly a kilometer to find a place where they could pass. This climb has one very steep segment near the beginning of the climb: a full half-mile at 16.5%. Heave yourself round this evil corner and you're through the worst of it. Rounding the corner I spot our photographer Andy ahead and see he isnt in position. 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. - they are the Gold Standard for cycling climbing in the UK. 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). Riding from Llangadog, you'll be climbing before you realise, but the real business starts after the woodland stops and the open mountainside starts. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure. The British is named after the massive old ironworks that once dominated this area above Pontypool. Below is a list of Simons choices for Wales Top 10 Hardest and Top 10 Most Epic. "Take it easy now or you'll never make it." Who knows. United States - Top Bike Climbs - PJAMM Cycling You'll find the top, most difficult, epic, scenic, hardest, challenging, extreme, inspiring, bucket list bike climbs located in Wales. The photos in the collage at the top of this page are of PJAMMs Top 10 Hardest per the Fiets Index. Cyclist and spectators make their way up The Tumble and line the road as the Tour of Britain cyclist near the finish, Abergavenny. Id evaluated the merits of all contenders from Yorkshire's Rosedale Chimney to Ffordd Penllech via Bushcombe Lane and Vale Street but then came that bigger fish, then came a new vision of hell: Afon Ddu, AKA the Baby Zoncolan. Still, that's the least of your worries as you pass a 25% sign. 10 of the UK's Toughest Cycling Climbs - Band of Climbers Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure! Simon ranked Bwlch y Groes as the fourth hardest climb in Wales (7 UK) and second most epic in Wales (after Stwlan Dam). The steep, consistent gradient hovers around 15% all the way, making it one of the most challenging climbs in South Wales. Do not attempt to ride here in unfavourable conditions. The UK's Hardest Cycling Climbs By Region - pedalsure.com It's very steep into a small woodland, over a cattle grid and then you will see the enormity of your task. 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. | 26 regions. Learn More ALL TRIPS The climb begins as we pass a set of old farm buildings on the left. 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. But one thing's for sure - Wales has some great places to do 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. The Great Orme from Llandudno via Marine Drive, The Great Orme from Llandudno via Ty Gwyn Road. The beautiful landscape of the Brecon Beacons. 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. Leave the A470 at Dinas Mawddwy and head into the Afon Dyfi Valley. Also known as Hellfire Pass, Bwich-Y-Groes is the highest paved road in Wales. . But the end of the steep ramp is within touching distance. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Now round to the right, the ever steepening, increasingly lumpy surface heads into arguably the hardest section of relentlessly steep tarmac in Britain. Where Head north into the mountains from Ballater on the A939. The lower half is a meander through pastoral scenery, before suddenly opening out onto exposed mountain top with stunning views of the peaks around Abergavenny. The maximum gradient is 13%. This was the advice of a local man as I approached the foot of this brutal climb last year. 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. This leaves us with a wealth of material describing the setting and condition of the road nearly a 100 years ago (SpeedTrackTails). Moel Arthur - 220m - 10 to 20% - 2.2km #88. ranks this as the hardest climb in Wales and he will get no argument from us on that front! The Most Challenging Climbs in South Wales - World Cycle Tours The bike climbs we have documented are in the slideshow above. WOW - enough said! Two miles up a main road at between 4% and 6% might sound easy, but that just depends on how fast you're going. 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). The road levels slightly but the. The top 10 hardest cycling climbs around the globe, all of which we have personally documented, are: 1. She got all aggressive so we turned around and chilled for 20, walked back up the trail and she was still there . But had this happened before I hit the deck or after? Snowdonia (Welsh: Eryri) is a mountainous region in north west Wales and a national park of 823 square miles (2,130 km2) in area. The sheer length of this steep section is what sets this climb apart, there's just nowhere to recover. The makeup of land ownership at Snowdonia is as follows (Wikipedia - Snowdonia National Park). The hardest part is swinging onto the six or seven kilometre climbs and seeing riders crawling up the hill ahead of you looking like ants . My bike is creaking. 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. 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. Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our. . Where: Between Talybont-on-Usk and Pontsticill. 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 climb up here out of Ferndale is pretty tasty too. The first 10km climbs 800m to a small Visitor Centre, via ever steepening slopes and long 12 - 15% ramps.
