Driving the scenic Carmarthenshire's Black Mountain Pass

Driving the scenic Carmarthenshire's Black Mountain Pass

Wales, europe

Length

23.81 km

Elevation

495 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Carmarthenshire, Wales, heading for the Black Mountain Pass – Bwlch Mynydd Du, if you’re feeling Welsh! This baby sits at 495 meters (1,624 feet), and the road to get there, Black Mountain Road (A4069), is pure driving bliss.

It's a fully paved, 23.81km (14.8 miles) stretch running from Glanamman to Llangadog. Things get a little spicy, with some sections hitting a 10% gradient.

Nestled in the western part of Brecon Beacons National Park, this road is famously known as ‘the Top Gear road’. Trust me, it lives up to the hype! Expect incredible corners, a mix of fast straights and tight turns, and hairpin views that'll make you want to pull over and soak it all in. Just a heads up: watch out for bumps if you're in a low rider!

Where is it?

Driving the scenic Carmarthenshire's Black Mountain Pass is located in Wales (europe). Coordinates: 54.1549, -2.8117

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Road Details

Country
Wales
Continent
europe
Length
23.81 km
Max Elevation
495 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
54.1549, -2.8117

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