Driving the brutal road to Hellfire Pass in Wales
Wales, europe
19.79 km
545 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, because Bwlch y Groes – the "Pass of the Cross" – is about to blow your mind! Perched high in Gwynedd, Wales, at a cool 545m (1,788ft), it's one of the UK's highest roads, period.
You'll find this beast nestled in the Aran Mountains, practically on Snowdonia's doorstep in north-west Wales.
Clocking in at almost 20km (12.3 miles) between Minllyn and Llanuwchllyn, this isn't just a pass, it's an *experience*. They don't call it "Hellfire Pass" for nothing! The length and the incline of this climb are seriously hardcore – think one of the UK's most brutal ascents.
The road's paved, sure, but hold on tight: it gets crazy narrow and steep, with gradients maxing out at a butt-clenching 25% in places. "Brutal" is an understatement! Seriously, this road's legendary – even old-school car companies like Austin and Triumph used it to test their prototypes. So, yeah, maybe skip this one in your big rig.
Give yourself at least 30-45 minutes to soak it all in – because this road is drop-dead gorgeous. It's wild, rugged, and unforgivingly steep, but the views? Unreal. You'll be staring out over the Dyfi Valley, catching glimpses of Cadair Idris, and getting up close and personal with Aran Fawddwy. Trust me; you won't forget this drive.
Where is it?
Driving the brutal road to Hellfire Pass in Wales is located in Wales (europe). Coordinates: 54.4451, -2.1293
Road Details
- Country
- Wales
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 19.79 km
- Max Elevation
- 545 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 54.4451, -2.1293
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