NANT GWRTHEYRN

LLITHFAEN, PWLHELI

Nant Gwrtheyrn isn’t a climb you’ll happen upon by chance – it lies down a dead end road so takes a little while to find. No journey is too far though, and no quest too long if the prize is as fantastic as this diminutive beast of a road. When you arrive in Llithfaen on the Lleyn peninsula, head north from the village; you have the pleasure of riding down the road before you turn around to head back up. From the Welsh Language Centre, it rises hard to a cattle grid and then backs off slightly before getting steeper again. Round the tight right-hand bend and – bang! – it hits close to 20% as you reach a stone wall. Drag yourself up under the shadow of the cliff to your left and gasp in awe at the views out to sea on your right. Next it’s the amazing left-hand hairpin. What a bend – over 20% at the apex! Once through this corner, the slope begins to fade, dips down, and then rises once more for the push to the summit next to the small car park.