
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
hardHow long is the road to Tête de la Grave?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Tête de la Grave – smack-dab in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France – is calling your name! This mountain pass sits at a cool 1,650m (5,413ft) and is a real treat. How long is the road to Tête de la Grave? The starting point is , a mountain pass near the legendary , and the road stretches for about 3.9km (2.42 miles). Is the road to Tête de la Grave paved? Here’s the thing: only the first 650 meters are smooth sailing. After that, it’s 3.3km of pure, unadulterated unpaved fun. Nestled within the Mont Ventoux Natural Regional Park, it offers stunning views... if you can handle the wind! Seriously, this spot is notorious for its gusts. We're talking potential wind speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph)! Expect the road to be closed from December to April, and be prepared for a landscape of bare limestone without vegetation at the summit. In other words, epic!
extremeBAM Road is 4.300 km of off-road through Siberia
🌍 Russia
# The BAM Road: Siberia's Ultimate Adventure Challenge Want to experience one of the last true tests of human grit and mechanical endurance? The BAM Road might be calling your name—assuming your vehicle is tough enough to answer. This legendary route started as a service track for the Baikal–Amur Mainline railway back in the early 1970s. Today, it snakes roughly 4,324 km (2,687 miles) through the frozen heart of extreme Siberia, connecting the Pacific coastal town of Vanino all the way through Komsomolsk, Tynda, Severobaikalsk, Bratsk, and eventually linking back to the Trans-Siberian Highway near Taishet. Sounds romantic? Here's the catch: the road has basically been left to rot for decades. This isn't your typical adventure route. The BAM is genuinely brutal. Expect crumbling wooden bridges with heart-stopping gaps, boggy stretches that'll drain your soul, waist-deep water crossings, and train trestle bridges where you're gambling that no locomotive shows up while you're crossing. The entire route is mostly unpaved, poorly maintained, and dotted with collapsed infrastructure. Potholes the size of swimming pools, decaying bridges, fast-moving rivers, and mud that seems determined to swallow your vehicle whole—welcome to the BAM. The best window to tackle this beast? Summer months only—June through August—when temperatures aren't absolutely lethal. Even then, weather can flip from manageable to catastrophic in minutes. The infamous Vitim River Bridge, stretching a daunting 570 meters across a raging tributary, stands as one of the route's most spine-tingling challenges. Only the most serious adventurers on heavily modified motorcycles or extreme 4×4s attempt this route, and fewer still make it all the way through. It's the kind of journey that simply can't be adequately described—you have to experience it.
extremeOulles
🇫🇷 France
Ever heard of Oulles? It's this tiny mountain village clinging to the Taillefer massif in the French Alps, and with only a handful of residents, it's officially the smallest in the area! Getting there is an adventure in itself. Forget highways, you'll be snaking up 6.5 kilometers of the D221, a crazy road carved into the rockface. Imagine hairpin after hairpin – twelve in total! This road wasn't even around until the '60s; before that, it was just mule trails. Talk about remote! Be prepared for a workout – this climb gains a whopping 767 meters in elevation. We're talking an average gradient of almost 12%, with some sections hitting over 13%. But trust me, the views are worth it. Picture this: smooth asphalt, switchbacks hugging a cliff edge, and hardly any other cars around. It's an incredible drive to a village that time forgot, a place where they mined silver lead for centuries!
moderateWhere is Port de Tudons?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, so you're near Alicante and itching for a ride? Check out Port de Tudons! This popular pass in the mountains of Valencia is a must-do. The pavement is generally good, but don't get complacent – it's a challenging drive! You'll be wrestling with some serious switchbacks and feeling the burn on those 13% grades. This route is super popular with cyclists and motorcyclists, especially as a jumping-off point to climb Aitana, the highest peak in Alicante. It's best to avoid it during the hot summer weekends, as it tends to get crowded. Clocking in at roughly , this south-to-north route from is packed with stunning scenery. Just a heads up - this is a mountain pass, so keep an eye on the weather. It's usually open, but expect heavy snow during winter months, making things tricky. The climate is Mediterranean, but the high elevation brings a continental influence. Summers can be sweltering, and temps vary depending on your altitude. So pack accordingly and get ready for an epic drive!