PENBARRA

LLANBEDR-DYFFRYN-CLWYD, RUTHIN

Towering above the town of Ruthin stands Bwlch Penbarra, a mountain in the Moel Famau Country Park. Head east out of town on the A494 and take the turn marked Lon Cae Glas where you have to contend with traffic-calming obstacles every 100m or so. Turn left at the T-junction where, after a brief respite, the road starts to ramp up hard, getting harder as it leaves the last of the houses behind on a decent surface heading dead straight. Across a cattle grid the road climbs harder still as it approaches a wicked but stunning left-hand bend. Framed by beautiful gorse, the sweeping 25% corner is simply perfect, and as tough on the legs as it is easy on the eyes. After this the gradient shallows, so you can reap the fruits of your labour in the form of the dramatic view. Round to the right past a clump of trees the landscape opens up, and the narrow road gets harder once again as you grind your way to the finish.