Anyone know of a top 10 south wales climb list?

amityweb

Thought I'd set myself a little challenge, close to home, to cycle up say the top 10 climbs in south wales. having difficult finding a list online. Wondered if anyone knows or has a list of them? Doesn't have to be the exact top 10, could be personal ones if anyone has them. Doesnt have to be the steepest, but perhaps most challenging climbs (short but steep or long but not so steep). See how that goes before I venture further afield to mid and north wales where the hills are bigger!
Thanks

IanRCarter

Here's a map of the climbs from Simon Warrens 100 Greatest Climbs and Another 100 Greatest Climbs books. Quite a few in south Wales to choose from and you can either Google individual climbs or buy the books to read up on them. Only one I've done myself is The Tumble, good climb, never too steep and eases towards the summit.

ugo.santalucia

I always liked the combination of Gospel Pass + Tumble... they might not be the hardest in south wales, but they come back to back: the first is stunning and the highest pass in Wales (I think), and the second has a solid enough gradient to make it into a contender.

andrewjoseph

bwlch from cymmer/nantymoel/treorchy. Rhigos from trherbert/hirwaun. Cymmer hill from maesteg/cymmer.

glynneath to top of rhigos. Brecon to storey arms.

These are local for me and i do them regularly.

amityweb

Its taking a bit of time to compile a list, hence wondering if anyone had one, but here's what I have so far.. Need to find which way is the most challenging for some...

Tumble
Gospel Pass
Bwlch (dont know which is most challenging, from Treorchy or Bridgend or Blaengwynfi way)
Rhigos (dont know which is most challenging, from Treherbet or Hirwaen)
Caerphilly Mountain (only cos I've done it and its steep from Caerphilly! but not too far)
Llangynidr Mountain
Maerdy Mountain (dont know which is most challenging, from Maerdy or Aberdare)

amityweb

@IanRCarter, is this the link (you didnt add it) https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewe ... QNjs&msa=0. This is very useful.

jameses

A few worth investigating:
North-East out of Bedlinog
East out of Pontypridd, past the golf club
North-West out of Pontypridd to Ferndale
South-West out of Aberdare (Maerdy Road)

All much nicer climbs than Caerphilly Mountain, and more challenging!

jameses

Personally speaking, I think the north approach to the Bwlch is the best; south approach would be better but it's a long drag before you hit the climb proper, west approach is quite pleasant but not especially challenging. Both ways over Rhigos are good, the north being shorter and steeper (but not obscenely so).

craker

There's a cracking climb from Raglan up to Llanishen in Monmouthshire, toughest climb in this part of the world.

https://www.strava.com/segments/8280952

chrisw12

I'll play

I'll give you my top ten of the ones I've done. There's a few I've done but didn't realise I was doing them or there's some confusion over the names. When you do something like the Dragon ride or you're off the back, they tend to merge into one.

1) Rhigos from Glyn neath (Not Hirwaun.) The longest climb of the lot if you go right to the bottom. Lots of different section to this, yes there's a downhill/flat bit but this just adds to the character.Wind direction also adds lot of flavor to this ride and if you're lucky to have good company and the sun is out, it's a really nice climb.

2) Sarn Hellen or 'Devils elbow' absolutely stunning the most picturesque of the lot imho. (Have a look at last years Dragon route for it's location.

3) Black mountain, both sides. Again check out the dragon ride.
5) Llanwono, whole climb from Pontypridd to the top. A few downhill bits and flats but a nice climb with a bit of rough road for extra character.
6) Bwlch from Cymmer. Can be a real pig or a real quick one depending on the weather and where you start.
7) Trebanog hill from Porth. I'm convinced this has the steepest section of all of them.
8) Maerdy Mt from Abrdare. Steep long and the switchbacks make you think you're in the Alps.
9) Wiesemans bridge (Near Saundersfoot) Short but very steep and a nice coastal view.
10) Penrhys from Ystrad. Only scrapes in at 10 as long as its done at the right time of day, just as it's getting dark and all the lights are being put on in the houses in the valley below

gethinceri

Talybont On Usk to Ponsticill. A grinder.

roger_merriman

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I always liked the combination of Gospel Pass + Tumble... they might not be the hardest in south wales, but they come back to back: the first is stunning and the highest pass in Wales (I think), and the second has a solid enough gradient to make it into a contender.

Always found Tumble are fairly dull climb, prefuring Llangynidr Mountain with its choice of two routes up, Gospel Pass bit of a tourist trap so tend to avoid it.

I grew up in the area, and folks still live there so I tend to take the quieter routes.

gethinceri

Interesting, I grew up in the area and can't think of anywhere better in the UK because of those climbs.

Grill

Besides what everyone else has posted, here are a few fun ones I've found:
https://www.strava.com/segments/1312380
https://www.strava.com/segments/2612519
https://www.strava.com/segments/1157575
https://www.strava.com/segments/823580
https://www.strava.com/segments/1409029

andy_s_t

roger merriman wrote:

Always found Tumble are fairly dull climb, prefuring Llangynidr Mountain with its choice of two routes up, Gospel Pass bit of a tourist trap so tend to avoid it.

I'd second that much preferred Llangynidr Mountain. Tumble is okay but I found the fact that a large portion of it is through the trees a but dull considering the scenery around. I enjoyed going up it not long after last years ToB though as it was good to see the writing etc on the road.

dgunthor

that mostly covers it.

there's a steep one from the mini roundabout at the bottom to the top of the penrhys estate

Grill

dgunthor wrote:

that mostly covers it.

there's a steep one from the mini roundabout at the bottom to the top of the penrhys estate

You mean this one? https://www.strava.com/segments/693321

dork_knight

If they do that then they may as well do Ferndale to Llanwonno... depending on the direction they want to take.

chrisw12

Grill wrote:

dgunthor wrote:

that mostly covers it.

there's a steep one from the mini roundabout at the bottom to the top of the penrhys estate

You mean this one? https://www.strava.com/segments/693321

No. 10 on my list

holiver

I'll submit two climbs up to Devauden. One from Tintern and one from St Arvans:

https://www.strava.com/segments/1025081
https://www.strava.com/segments/4900072

These are relatively close to Bristol so I pop over the bridge occasionally to do them.

IanREmery

chrisw12 wrote:

7) Trebanog hill from Porth. I'm convinced this has the steepest section of all of them.

Trebanog Hill touches 20% at one point. Once got stuck in my CAR trying to climb it in an icy downpour.

https://www.strava.com/segments/3401745

Haven't been brave enough to venture up it on a road bike. I do see people doing it, but not all that often.