Where is Porlock Hill?
England, europe
3.2 km
396 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, road trippers, because Porlock Hill in Somerset is about to test your mettle! This legendary stretch of tarmac, just west of the charming village of Porlock, isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking the steepest A road in England, folks!
Clocking in at around 2 miles, it throws you straight into the Exmoor hills, climbing a hefty 1,300 feet. Expect narrow sections and two seriously tight 180-degree hairpin bends that'll make your palms sweat.
Porlock Hill's claim to fame? A gut-busting 25% gradient! The final stretch is a killer, averaging 8% but with bursts over 25%. You might even catch a whiff of burning brakes from folks who've just conquered the descent. Speaking of which, there are two escape lanes for runaway vehicles—yikes!
Opened way back in 1843, this road is not for the faint of heart (or those towing caravans!). Seriously, caravans and HGVs should find another way. Cyclists? You might want to walk this one. But if you're up for a challenge and some breathtaking views, Porlock Hill is an unforgettable experience. Just remember, there's a toll road alternative if you need a breather.
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 396 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in europe
moderateRifugio Monte Curcio: Driving the steep service road in the heart of Sila National Park
🇮🇹 Italy
# Monte Curcio: A Thrilling Alpine Challenge in Southern Italy Tucked away in Calabria's stunning Sila National Park sits Rifugio Monte Curcio, perched at 1,769m (5,803ft) and offering one of those "pinch yourself" mountain experiences. The real adventure starts once you've climbed the scenic Strada delle Vette—from there, it's just 600 meters to the summit, but don't let that fool you. Those final 600 meters pack a serious punch. You're gaining 74 meters of elevation in a pretty short burst, which translates to a genuinely steep gradient that'll have your heart racing. This is a working ski-station service road, which means it's unpaved, narrow, and built for utility vehicles rather than comfort. Loose gravel, tight corners, and zero safety barriers make this a ride that demands your full attention. Traction can get sketchy on the steepest bits, especially if conditions aren't perfect. But the payoff? Absolutely worth it. Once you crest that final push, you're rewarded with 360-degree views that'll make you forget every bump along the way. The Calabrian mountains sprawl out in every direction, crowned with dense forest that earns this region its "Southern Alp" nickname. Winter transforms the area into the Camigliatello Silano ski resort, while summer and early autumn become paradise for hikers and 4x4 adventurers. Timing is everything here—vehicle access gets locked down during ski season, so aim for summer through early autumn once the snow's completely gone. Just check the weather and local conditions first; this road can deteriorate fast after heavy rain.
hardA steep gravel road to Monte Telegrafo-Plose in the Dolomites
🇮🇹 Italy
# Monte Telegrafo-Plose: A High-Alpine Adventure Perched at 2,483m (8,146ft) in Italy's Trentino-South Tyrol region, Monte Telegrafo-Plose is an incredible high mountain destination that punches way above its weight. From the summit, you can spy more than 100 surrounding peaks stretching across the horizon—seriously humbling stuff. The peak sits north of Forcella Luson and has accumulated quite the collection of infrastructure over the decades: communication towers, a military base, a heliport, a church, and the cozy Plosehütte mountain hut. There's also some Cold War history here—a radar station that operated from 1958 to 1978, originally accessed not just by road but by an impressive cable car system rising from the valley below. ## The Drive The road up is called Via Panoramica Dolomiti, and it's gloriously narrow and mostly unpaved as you climb. Fair warning: it gets progressively rougher closer to the top, and the whole route shuts down completely during winter months. The 9.8km (6.08 miles) ascent from the paved Strada Provinciale 29 is no joke—you're climbing 778 meters with some brutal 12% gradients thrown in. Expect an average grade of around 7.93% throughout. ## The View But here's why you make the drive: a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the Dolomites spreads out before you. On clear days, you'll take in the Ötztal Alps, Zillertal and Stubai Alps, plus the Ortles, Brenta, and Adamello ranges. It's the kind of vista that makes every hairpin turn worth it.
hardLabasar Refuge
🇪🇸 Spain
# Refugio de Labasar Nestled in the heart of Spain's Sobrarbe region in Huesca, Aragon, this mountain refuge sits pretty at 1,949m (6,394ft) above sea level, right in the Pyrenees. The drive up to get here? Yeah, it's an adventure. You're looking at a gravel and rocky road that can be tippy and bumpy—definitely not your typical smooth highway experience. Winter basically shuts this place down, so plan your visit for warmer months. If you've got some serious off-roading experience under your belt, you'll probably dig it. Here's the good news: the road is maintained, and a high-clearance 2WD vehicle can handle it just fine if you take it slow and steady on the dry stretches. The not-so-good news? Prepare yourself for some seriously steep climbing. And if you hit wet weather, all that mud turns this into a proper challenge. Washboarding, ruts, and dips are real here, so white-knuckling through them is part of the deal. Bottom line: this is one for drivers who know what they're doing and don't mind a little (okay, a lot) of bumping around to reach an incredible mountain destination.
moderateHow long is Pico do Areeiro?
🇵🇹 Portugal
Pico do Areeiro is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.804m (5,918ft) above sea level, located in Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. At this elevation, it is one of the highest roads in the country How long is Pico do Areeiro? The road to the summit, also known as Pico do Arieiro, is totally paved. Starting at the paved ER103, on Paso do Poiso, it’s 6.6 km (4.10 miles) long. How steep is the road to Pico do Areeiro? The road to the top, the third-highest summit on the Island of Madeira, is very steep, with an 11% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The elevation gain is 421 meters. The average gradient is 6.37%. Is Pico do Areeiro open? Located in the center of Madeira, in the central mountain range, and surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery with jagged peaks, the road is typically open all year round. Fog is common, and the top of the mountain is often above cloud level. Is Pico do Areeiro worth it? The summit hosts a large car park, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and an Air Defense Radar Station built in 2011. It’s one of the most visited peaks on the island, due to its easy access, extraordinary views, and well-known nature paths to Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo. The footpath northwards towards Pico Ruivo is an important tourist attraction, with a daily average of 1,000 tourists trekking on it. On the way to Pico do Arieiro, one can admire a unique stone-built pit (looks like a huge igloo) known as “Poço da Neve,” built by an English family who once used to store ice, snow, and hail from the mountains. With good weather, it is possible to see Porto Santo, the neighboring island, 30 nautical miles to the north. The road to Alto de Torre-Serra da Estrela, the highest point of Mainland Portugal Estrada Nacional 2 is the Route 66 of Portugal Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.