Things to Know Before Driving To Great Dun Fell in Cumbria
England, europe
7.29 km
848 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Cumbria, England, ready to tackle what they call the highest paved road in Britain – Great Dun Fell! You'll find it chilling at 848m (2,782ft) above sea level, smack-dab in the stunning North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Heads up, though: this area can get a bit military-ish, so keep an eye out for signs and respect any restricted zones.
The road kicks off near Knock and stretches for about 7.29 km (4.52 miles) straight up to a seriously cool radar station. Seriously, these radar domes are HUGE, and you can spot them from miles away.
Cyclists, listen up! This climb is legendary. Think of it as the "Mont Ventoux of the North Pennines." We're talking a lung-busting 593 meters of elevation gain, with an average gradient of 8.1%. Don't let that fool you – some sections crank up to a brutal 16%! It's split into sections, each one more intense than the last!
Important note: technically, this paved road is marked as private from just above Knock, so cars aren't allowed. But walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, you're good to go... until you get super close to the radar station.
As for the scenery? Epic, barren, and totally Pennines. Just a heads up: this summit loves to hoard snow in winter, so watch out for black ice when it gets chilly.
Where is it?
Things to Know Before Driving To Great Dun Fell in Cumbria is located in England (europe). Coordinates: 52.4130, -2.8611
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.29 km
- Max Elevation
- 848 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 52.4130, -2.8611
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhere is Çimenli Geçidi?
🇹🇷 Turkey
Okay, buckle up, adventure awaits! Çimenli Geçidi is calling, a mountain pass soaring to 7,667 feet in Turkey's Erzurum Province. You'll find this beauty in the Eastern Anatolia region, way up in the northeast. The road? Smooth as butter – fully paved, so no need for a heavy-duty off-roader! Just be ready for some seriously steep sections, with gradients hitting 9% in places. Hope your engine's ready for a workout! The whole shebang stretches for 48 glorious miles, winding from Esendere up to Oltu in a south-to-north direction. Good news: it's usually open year-round. Bad news: those crazy winter storms can shut things down on a dime, so keep an eye on the weather forecast. You'll be driving through some seriously stunning scenery, though, so have your camera ready!
hardWhere is Col de Pradel?
🇫🇷 France
Alright, adventure junkies, let's talk Col de Pradel! Nestled in the Pyrénées, north of the legendary Pic de Bugarach, this beauty straddles the border between the Ariège and Aude departments. We're talking serious elevation here, people. Clocking in at around 20 km (12.4 miles), this route, also known as the D107 and D25B, takes you from Ascou to Niort-de-Sault. Be warned: the pavement isn't always your friend, and you'll be squeezing through some seriously narrow sections. Plus, with gradients hitting a maximum of 12.9%, your engine's gonna get a workout! Oh, and a heads up: this road is closed during the winter months. But when it's open? Get ready for some jaw-dropping views as you tackle one of the highest paved roads in the Pyrenees!
hardWhere is Stwlan Dam?
🇬🇧 Wales
Okay, picture this: you're in Gwynedd, Wales, smack-dab in Snowdonia National Park. You're headed up to Llyn Stwlan, a mountain reservoir perched way up at 1,679 feet! The road to get there? Totally paved, but hold on tight – it's a wild ride! We're talking narrow, super curvy, and packed with eight hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills. Starting in Tanygrisiau, it's about 1.8 miles to the top, but those miles are intense. Word of warning: usually you can't drive up in your own car. Also, keep an eye on the weather—you might need chains or snow tires, even when you least expect it. But trust me, the views from the top are SO worth it. You'll be gazing out over the Moelwyn range and the Vale of Ffestiniog, and it's absolutely breathtaking. Llyn Stwlan itself is cool too—it was originally a small lake, but they built a dam in the 50s as part of the Ffestiniog Power Station project. And did I mention it's steep? Seriously steep. At its worst, you're looking at an 18.4% gradient on some sections. You'll climb almost 1,000 feet in just under two miles, with an average gradient of almost 10%. Get ready for a climb!
hardWhere is Mur de Peguere?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, buckle up, adventure awaits in the French Occitanie region! We're tackling the Mur de Peguere, a.k.a. , a mountain pass sitting high above sea level. You'll find this beast snaking through the southwest of France. The road itself, the , is paved, but be warned, it gets pretty narrow in spots. This climb isn't messing around! Officially, it averages out to , but don't let that fool you. The beginning's a bit of a warm-up. Clocking in at around , this north-south route goes from . You can also hit it coming down from . Now, about that climb... The Tour de France has taken on this bad boy before. From , it’s a grueling . That works out to an average of , but hold on tight after the . You'll be grinding up stretches that hit over , for a distance of . Again, that means an average percentage of . So prepare for some serious leg (or engine!) work, but the views will be totally worth it.