The inhumane Devil’s Staircase in Wales with 21% ramps
The inhumane Devil’s Staircase in Wales with 21% ramps. The Devil’s Staircase is a series of hairpin turns, reaching a maximum gradient of 20.1%, running through the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. It is an old drover's track stretching for about 20 miles between the small hamlet of Abergwesyn and the town of Tregaron.
Where is the Devil's Staircase in Wales?
The road is located on the boundary between Powys and Ceredigion counties, in the heart of central Wales, running through the Cambrian Mountains. It is called Abergwesyn Road and is said to be one of the best roads in the whole of Wales. The area is really remote and truly makes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.
What is the Devil's Staircase?
A part of the road is known as Devil’s Staircase: a collection of hairpin turns with a maximum gradient of 20.1%.
Is the Devil's Staircase in Wales challenging?
This is a single-track metalled road, extremely narrow and twisty. The road surface deteriorates considerably at times, with the center section covered in gravel. If you are scared to drive on narrow mountain roads impassable for two average cars at the same time, it's better to avoid it.
How long is the Devil's Staircase?
It is 26.55 km (16.5 miles) long, running from Abergwesyn (in the county of Powys at the start of the Abergwesyn valley) to Tregaron (an ancient market town in Ceredigion county). Riding a road like this in the heart of sparsely populated mid-Wales is a delight. It's usually pretty quiet on weekdays but can be busy on weekends.
How steep is the Devil's Staircase?
The road is very steep, with a maximum gradient of 20.1% through some of the ramps in Devil’s Staircase. The road tops out at Abergwesyn Pass – up the perilous Devil’s Staircase and through dense conifer forests to miles of wide, desolate valleys where sheep graze unhurriedly. The descent will test your brakes to the maximum. There are two bridges across the road just before Devil's Staircase that disappear underwater when there has been a lot of rain.