GAMMALT

TREGARON, CEREDIGION

Although not quite the middle of nowhere, this can’t be far from it. Following on from The Devil’s Staircase heading towards Tregaron, you’ll come across this vicious and weather-beaten climb, famous for forcing riders off their bikes during the Milk Race in the 1980s. Although with our modern machines and better gearing you shouldn’t have the same problem, I hope. Begin the climb as you cross the River Towy. The narrow road turns right and then takes a wickedly sharp left, the surface rough and broken. Next you hit a tortuous 25% section, the road deteriorating at the edges as nature seeks to remove all trace of tarmac. Drag yourself up this stretch and over a false brow and then head round to the left. After this it’s left again and into the last of some 20% climbing. With the short, sharp shocks of the lower slopes now over you’ll soon be bending right and climbing gently over the top, back towards signs of civilisation.