A brutally steep (28%) climb to Winnats Pass in England
England, europe
9.33 km
416 m
hard
Year-round
Winnats Pass! Picture this: you're cruising through the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, and suddenly you're surrounded by towering limestone cliffs. This mountain pass climbs to 416m (1,364ft), and believe me, you feel every meter!
Located just west of Castleton, at the edge of the Hope Valley, this isn't your average Sunday drive. The name "Winnats Pass" comes from the swirling winds ("wind gates") that whip through the natural amphitheater.
The road is paved, but don't let that fool you. It's only 9.33km (5.8 miles) from Hope to Sparrowpit, but the average grade is over 10%, with sections hitting a whopping 28%! It’s a favorite for motorcyclists exploring the Peak District.
Prepare for a challenging drive. The road is narrow, steep, and can get a bit crowded. Watch out for rock slides! Because of the slope and width, buses, coaches, and vehicles over 7.5 tons aren’t allowed.
Open year-round (weather permitting, of course – winter can be tricky!), Winnats Pass isn't just a scenic drive. Local legend says a young couple was murdered here in the 1750s. Spooky!
The climb is intense, with a 1.6km (0.99 miles) stretch gaining 188 meters at an average gradient of 11.7%. It was tough enough to be a regular feature in the Tour of the Peak cycle race.
Where is it?
A brutally steep (28%) climb to Winnats Pass in England is located in England (europe). Coordinates: 53.8965, -2.2238
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.33 km
- Max Elevation
- 416 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 53.8965, -2.2238
Related Roads in europe
hardRoad 626 is an awe-inspiring drive in the peninsula Westfjords
🇮🇸 Iceland
Road 626, or Hrafnseyrarvegur, is a coastal gem nestled in Iceland's Westfjords, specifically the Dýrafjörður fjord area. Think breathtaking scenery as you wind 30.6 km (19 miles) from Þingeyri to Dynjandi, passing by Hrafnseyri. Now, heads up, this isn't your typical paved road. It's all gravel, but most cars can handle it, though a 4x4 definitely makes things easier. This route can get feisty when the tide's high! Prepare for seriously stunning views of the coastline, mountains, and Hrafnseyrarheiði from both sides of the road. Plus, it's your access point for the gorgeous Gljúfurárfoss Waterfall. Just a heads-up: the road has some tight squeezes, a bumpy surface, steep climbs (up to a crazy 20% grade!), and drop-offs. You'll climb to a whopping 551m (1807ft) at the Hrafnseyrarheiði plateau. Because of the altitude, it's only open in the summer. Quick note: as of October 2020, the Dýrafjarðargöng tunnel (part of Road 60) offers an alternative route.
moderateFfordd Pen Llech is the steepest road in the UK (37.45%)
🇬🇧 Wales
Yo, adventure seekers! Ever heard of Ffordd Pen Llech? This insane road is nestled in the totally charming medieval castle town of Harlech, North Wales. You'll find it in Gwynedd county, chilling on Tremadog Bay within Snowdonia National Park - picture-perfect Wales at its finest! This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a fully paved, single-track road clinging to the side of Harlech Castle (a seriously cool medieval fortress). Prepare for one of the steepest, gnarliest, and most breathtaking climbs you can find in the UK. How steep? At its toughest, it hits a staggering 37.45% gradient! Seriously, it's so intense that vehicles were once banned from driving *up* certain sections! To avoid gridlock chaos, the top half is now a one-way descent. FYI - it briefly held the Guinness World Record for the Steepest Street in the World. The road is short but savage: just 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long, but you'll gain 170 feet (52 meters) in elevation. The average gradient? A leg-burning 17.33%! Cyclists, this climb is not for the faint of heart! If you're feeling less hardcore, there's an alternative route with a "milder" 25% gradient. Trust me, the views are worth the challenge!
extremeWhere is Hochtannberg Pass?
🇦🇹 Austria
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through western Austria, right where the Lechquellen Mountains meet the Lech and Bregenzer Ach Valleys. You're smack-dab on the Hochtannberg Pass, which is also part of Europe's main watershed! At the summit, you're hanging out at a cool spot with Lake Kalbele and Lake Körber nearby. This beauty of a pass lives in the western part of Austria, near the headwaters of the Bregenzerwald. Up top, there are parking lots and some buildings. You'll be winding along the Bregenzerwaldstraße (B 200), a paved road with plenty of twists, turns, and seriously steep sections—we're talking a maximum gradient of 14%! This route is fairly long and heads west-east. Keep an eye out, because that landslide a few years back did a number on the road. Good news is, they repaired and expanded it! The old road used to have insane hairpin bends and steep inclines. Now, they've built a whole new section that is three kilometers long, with tunnels and eight bridges. For a bit of history, check out the old pack trail that runs parallel, leading to the Lech Valley, and it's still used for hiking today. This pass has been used since the 15th and 16th centuries. Get ready for curves, steep ramps, and gorgeous alpine views! The road is fully paved now, so it's smoother than it used to be. One last thing: heads up, because the Hochtannberg Pass is usually closed in winter due to snow and weather conditions.
extremeHow To Drive The Defiant Pista de la Estiva in Bielsa
🇪🇸 Spain
# Pista de la Estiva: A Wild Alpine Adventure in Spain Ready for one of Spain's most thrilling mountain drives? Head to northeastern Aragon, where you'll find Pista de la Estiva (also called Pista de la Espierba) snaking through the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. This isn't your typical Sunday drive—it's an adrenaline-pumping adventure through the Pyrenees that'll test your nerves and your vehicle. Here's the lowdown: you'll need a 4x4 to tackle this beast, and it'll cost you just 3.5 euros for the privilege. Starting from the paved HU-V-6402, you've got 11.7 km (7.27 miles) of mostly unpaved road ahead, climbing 918 meters in elevation. That might not sound like much until you realize the average gradient is 7.84%—with some sections hitting a jaw-dropping 15%. The road climbs to Pico de la Estiva at 2,107 meters (6,912 feet), making it one of Spain's highest drivable peaks. The views? Absolutely spectacular. But here's the catch: the road gets *narrow*—like, dangerously narrow. Two cars can't pass each other, and the drop-offs plunge over 600 meters straight down. Not for the faint of heart. Fair warning: expect snow, fog, freezing temperatures, and rain even in summer. The mountain typically closes from November through June, so plan accordingly. Near the summit sits a humble mountain cabin, Caseta de la Estiva, a perfect spot to catch your breath after conquering this beast.