Leaving Rosedale Abbey, a sign warns you of the one-in-three – yes, one-in-three – gradient to come. Through Gayle, the road flat, hugging the river, soon rises sharply for a short 17% lung-opener. All rights reserved. Climb high in Wales. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. A long, long stretch of wickedly steep tarmac lies ahead, hugging the side of the mountain, with a slight levelling halfway but steeper still after that. After all that has preceded it, the finale – a set of four hairpin bends – may be all too much, but fear not. The majority of Scotland's roads stick to valleys as there's no need to cross the mountains but here they link the village of Applecross with the rest of the world by taking the route over the top of Bealach-na-Ba. Fleet Moss, the highest road in Yorkshire, is a beast from either direction but the greater challenge lies in the route south from Hawes. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a sample early so that we can bring you our first impressions.… What’s shown is the Bealach na Ba, looking down the hill to Loch Kishorn. Now climbing steeply, this slither of rough road clinging precariously to the mountainside bends hard right to deliver you into a true wilderness. At There is light relief with a one-in-six section but the short but difficult climb is revered as a major toughie.The gradient starts at 20%, builds to 25% and then hits 30% over just 1.5km of short, sharp hill climbing agony on Acclaimed as one of the toughest and wildest hill climbs for cyclists in the UK, the The road is one of few in the UK that is engineered in a similar way to roads through the great mountain passes in the Alps, with very tight hairpin bends that switch back and forth up the hillside and with gradients that approach 20%.Bealach-na-Ba  – which means Pass of the Cattle – boasts the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level at Applecross to 626m and is the third highest road in Scotland.Bealach-na-Coire (image: undiscoveredscotland.co.uk)A short flat section ramps upwards, then levels again and then heads upwards again. Apart from the few cars that travel this route, you're more likely to have wary, onlooking deer for company, as they track your slow progress up the mountain. ), amended now – thanks for pointing it out.Trek have been playing with the scales once again, today launching their brand new Emonda SLR.
What comes next will take your breath away. Enter the first of two sets of brutal switchbacks and wrench body and bike through the 25% corners.

Try it if you dare.Bwlch Penbarras (image: SimonPix @ CreativeCommons)With an average gradient of “just” 7.7% you might imagine that this 7.5km hill is simply one long slog. A short flat section ramps up hard, then almost levels before ramping hard again.

The three vicious ascents leaving Woodmancote all offer a fantastic challenge, and of the three it's Bushcombe Lane that stands apart. WITH three sons to amuse, we are experts in camping or renting cottages to seek out adventurous holidays exploring Scotland every year. You will, however, be able to reacquaint your backside with the saddle for the final push to summit on the approach to the gliding club.You're spoilt for choice when it comes to climbing Cleeve Hill. 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.
But Both sides of the hill include gruelling gradients.From the east, the road heads upwards very steeply, over a cattle grid and then features two sets tight and testing hairpins each with 25% gradients.

You start your ascent from the beautiful Corgarff castle and straight away you hit 20% slopes – rough, relentlessly steep and twisting a little. 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. There’s a short flatter section followed by two more corners will massive 30% inclines.But this hasn’t stopped some riders, and plenty of Strava users, from giving the 0.3km road with an elevation of 51m a quick but strenuous blast. 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. 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.

If you can ride this, you can ride anything. Just keep going, then head down the terrifying descent. After an age on the opening steep gradient the road banks right to plateau before a brief downhill. The road levels slightly but the surface is cut up and damaged.