Where is Col de Pierre Plate?
France, europe
5.8 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventurers, let's talk about Col de Pierre Plate, a seriously scenic mountain pass tucked away in the Lozère department of France. You'll find this gem nestled within the Cévennes National Park, in the south of France.
This isn't your grandma's Sunday drive! The entire route is paved, but hold on tight – it's a twisty-turny climb with some genuinely steep sections hitting gradients of up to 11.8%. The road's pretty narrow in spots.
The full stretch is about 5.8 kilometers from Les Vignes to Florac. If you're tackling it from the Florac side, you'll be gaining around 340 meters in altitude, which works out to an average gradient of nearly 6%.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.8 km
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateIs the F228 Road unpaved?
🇮🇸 Iceland
Okay, picture this: F228, way up in the South Highlands of Iceland, northeast of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. It's about 29 km (18 miles) of pure, unadulterated F-Road awesomeness, mostly unpaved, kicking off just northeast of Friðland að Fjallabaki. You'll climb to a whopping 627 m (2,057 ft) above sea level, so you know the views are going to be killer. This road's a seasonal beauty, usually open from late June until October, making it a summer dream. But heads up, this isn't a Sunday drive in your city car. You absolutely need a 4-wheel drive beast with mega ground clearance. Why? River crossings! You'll be splashing through a few of them, and while the first one is usually chill, the second one (closer to the Veiðivötn lakes) can be a real challenge. We're talking unpredictable, potentially deep, and definitely requiring some serious experience. Seriously, these rivers can be dangerous. Check the water levels before you even think about crossing, and maybe even ask a pro for some pointers. And a pro tip: rental car insurance likely won't cover water damage, so keep that in mind! But hey, the reward is worth it! You'll be cruising through the Veiðivötn lake area, a natural wonderland born from the Bárðarbunga volcano eruption. Imagine lakes shimmering in old volcanic craters – maars, baby! It's a photographer's paradise, and the whole area stretches about 20 km long and 5 km wide. So, if you're up for an adventure and have the right ride, the F228 is calling your name!
hardDriving the Britain's bendiest roads
🇬🇧 England
Okay, buckle up, because we're ditching the autobahn for some seriously twisty roads right here in the UK! Forget those drawn-out alpine passes; here, it's all about quick reflexes and mastering your car's balance through relentless bends. Think racetrack levels of sideways action! First up, the legendary Cat and Fiddle Road. This 7.5-mile blast between Macclesfield and Buxton throws corner after corner at you. Sure, average speed cameras keep things (sort of) in check, but this remains *the* spot to test your car's grip and suspension on its crazy off-camber turns. Next, we're off to Wales and the Rhigos Pass. Finally, a road that *feels* like a proper alpine pass! This Pricetown-to-Treorchy beauty has a dramatic switchback section that demands some serious engine braking on the way down and smooth throttle work on the way up through the Rhondda Valley. Then, there's a stretch near Cann Common, often called the "bendiest road in Britain." It's a concentrated dose of tight hairpins, coupled with rapid elevation changes. Get ready to manage your weight distribution like never before! Forget horsepower; it's all about feeling the road through the steering wheel and brakes. Whether you're carving the sweeping A39 in Somerset or threading the needle on the tree-lined B2130 in Surrey, it's a tires-meet-tarmac experience that'll leave you buzzing. Pro tip: dial in those tire pressures before you hit these roads; you'll be pushing the limits of grip!
hardDriving the unpaved military road to Colle d’Ancoccia in Piedmont
🇮🇹 Italy
# Colle d'Ancoccia Want to tackle one of Italy's most remote and adventurous mountain passes? Colle d'Ancoccia sits at a seriously impressive 2,533 meters (8,310 feet) in the Cottian Alps, deep in Piedmont's far southwestern corner near the French border. This isn't your typical Sunday drive. Built way back for military purposes, the 37.1-kilometer route starts from the SP113 road south of Marmora and winds through a landscape literally littered with abandoned Alpine Wall bunkers and barracks—it's like driving through a piece of history. The scenery up here is absolutely stunning, with views of Rocca la Meja and Lago della Meja surrounding you as you climb. Here's the catch: the entire road is unpaved and covered in loose gravel and stones. You're looking at some seriously steep sections with grades hitting 25%, plus plenty of precipitous drop-offs that'll definitely get your adrenaline pumping. You'll absolutely need a sturdy 4x4 with solid ground clearance to even attempt this one—no exceptions. Oh, and timing matters big time. Winter pretty much shuts this road down completely, so save this adventure for the warmer months when conditions are actually manageable. If you've got the right vehicle and nerves of steel, though, this is one unforgettable alpine experience.
hardHow to get by car to Edelweissspitze, the highest passable point of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road?
🇦🇹 Austria
# Edelweißspitze: Austria's Alpine Crown Jewel Perched at 2,571 meters (8,435 feet) in Salzburg, Austria, Edelweißspitze is one of those bucket-list mountain drives that delivers on every front. The summit isn't just a scenic pit stop—there's a proper mountain hut called the Edelweißhütte (built way back in 1935), a souvenir shop, and a parking lot for those who've made the climb. The real magic happens at the top: you're rewarded with views of 37 peaks over 3,000 meters and 19 glaciers stretching across the landscape. Seriously spectacular. As for the drive itself, it's a fully paved route branching off the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, though it's not your typical Sunday cruise. The 1.7-kilometer ascent packs in 175 meters of elevation gain, meaning you're looking at a steep 10.29% average gradient with plenty of hairpin turns and tight switchbacks to keep things interesting. The pavement is solid (with some concrete sections mixed in), but here's the catch: the road gets genuinely narrow toward the summit, especially on the final stretch. That's why caravans and vehicles over 3.5 tons are banned from the route. Challenging? Maybe a bit. But nothing that'll send your heart racing—just respect the curves, take your time, and soak in those Alpine views.