Is Stwlan Dam the best climb in the UK?
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- Опубліковано 15 січ 2025
- Join me, The Beard on a Bike, as I tackle the stunning Stwlan Dam climb in North Wales-arguably one of the most breathtaking climbs in the UK! 🚵♂️
In this video, I go full gas from bottom to top, pushing my limits on this steep and winding ascent. But it's not just about the effort-I've taken extra time to capture some epic B-roll footage because this climb is just that spectacular. From sweeping views of the surrounding mountains to the dramatic curves of the road, this ride has it all.
Whether you're a cycling enthusiast or just someone who appreciates beautiful landscapes, this video is for you. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoyed the ride!
Thanks for watching, Beard on a Bike.
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Today's route
Stwlan Dam - Strava
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A real gem!
The hill climb expert aficionado has spoken 👆👆👆
Great video "fluffy speed bumbs" made me chuckle 😂
Great video as always have really enjoyed watching all the videos and the climbs and laughs that you guys have
Keep up the good work
Cheers Gary mate it’s been a while since we had the guys in a video. Need to get something sorted.
Nice one, great video as usual. You should come up to Scotland and try the Dragons tail at Dunning, Perthshire. There’s a good circular route that takes in the Dragons tail.
I’m going to look those up, I was thinking Beelach and The Lecht but the weather needs to be spot on to make the trip up
@@BeardonaBikeYou just might wait a long time for the weather to be spot on 😂🌧️💨. I did an event back in June called, (RTTS), Ride To The Sun. Not sure if you have heard of it. It’s a 100 mile ride from Carlisle to Cramond on the other side of Edinburgh. It’s an overnight ride arriving at Cramond in time for the sun coming up. They put buses on to take you to Carlisle and Tesco lorries for the bikes. I believe they do the opposite way for people who live down south. They cycle to Cramond and get transported back to Carlisle. It’s a really good event. Keep up the cycling and videos and Take Care.
Mint video mate. Congrats on hitting 3k subs matey ❤
Thanks a ton Russ! Just 97,000 before I get a silver plaque 🤣
@@BeardonaBike🤣 you’ll get there 😝 I want a job when you do 😉
Excellent video.... I need to give it a go.... My personal all time favourite in the UK is Bealach-Na-Ba in the Scottish Highlands... it's truly awesome !
Somebody else mentioned that to me on Instagram. It’s a bit of a trek but if I’m guaranteed good weather I might make the trip just for the climb. Perhaps do the Lecht at the same time?
@@BeardonaBike It's well worth the trek... I live in Lincolnshire and travelled up there for a couple of days and did a few awesome climbs... Rest and Be Thankful, Bealach-Na-Ba, Cairn Gorm, The Lecht and The Cairnwell.... All pretty decent climbs. (All part of Simon Warren's '100 Greatest UK Cycling Climbs') However, Bealach-Na-Ba is by far the best climb in the UK. Rated 11 out of 10 by Simon Warren.... 5 1/2 miles long and over 20% in places. Enjoy.
@@BeardonaBike ua-cam.com/video/YG9qRJyTU7k/v-deo.html
The road from Glen Lyon over Ben Lawyers is also very good. Probably not as steep but fantastic scenery. Bealach na Ba is also outstanding.
Got my eye on Bealach, it’s a bit of a trek up for me but would love to get it done this summer. Weather dependant, apparently it can be really nasty with the wind.
Epic video dude......glad you included the incline data.
Hope it helps a little, going to give it a blast?
@@BeardonaBike one day dude for sure!
Great video and appreciate all the time you took putting it together with all the different shots. Yes I think it is one of the best climbs - if only for the super smooth tarmac that makes it a pleasure to ride up.
Much appreciated! Have you done it?
Assalamualaikum! Great vid, enjoyed it v much, liked & subbed.
I did the Stewlan a few months ago in the fog & rain (was committed regardless of the weather!). Great switchbacks, not quite the Stelvio but still was lung busting & picturesque!! Might do it again soon!
Deffo no Stelvio but one of the best in the UK and enjoyable. If you’re in that area go check out Hell Fire Pass 😉
Chapeux brother....great ride and splendid video 🫡
Nice one 👍
Love it 😍
Have you done it?
@@BeardonaBike nope unfortunately not 🥲 Need to insha'Allah, it's on my 🪣 list 😍
Great video as usual, really nice place to climb, might have to put this one on the bucket list.
It’s a deffo bucket list climb in the UK
Awesome mate, love the commentary and cycling dynamics👌What a spectacular climb it is, shame i managed to get lost at the top! 🤣
🤣🤣🤣 did you ask for directions?
@@BeardonaBike A coach load of school kids sent me the wrong way 🤣🤣
❤ the Lucien Van Imp quote, give it done beans.
Great video and commentary
Glad you enjoyed it
Fantastic video mate. I watched this while climbing Alpe du Zwift which was like being there. LOL.
Alpe du Zwift, can’t wait to get back on the in winter not. I do however hope to do it in real life at some point it’s on the bucket list.
Superb video and great commentary 👌
I appreciate the feed back, any other climbs that deserve a video you can think of?
I cycled from Bangor just to climb that lol- coming back via Tremadog and C'von etc...
Wonderful ride... :)
Fantastic mate 😊
Thank you! Cheers!
Stunning location with absolutely fantastic tarmac. You've inspired me to give it a miss. My sweat and tears would break the dam. BTW your Welsh has come on a long way Aky...Something like that 😊
I’ll be getting told off in the days to come no doubt. 😂
Great video Aky. Love the additional content - really shows the vista, gradients and greatness of the climb. Definitely the best content I’ve found on the Dam climb. Can’t wait now to go back! 😁👍🏻🚵🏼
Thanks, mate! All the effort was totally worth it then. I’m hoping someone will point me to an even better climb with more stunning views, valleys, and switchbacks. Let’s see what comes up!
Great Video and commentary Aky. Really enjoyed that. Great effort. 💪💪👏👏💖
Climbed it this week, stunning views & fantastic scenery 😎 needed a big range cassette, but I don’t care, climbed it & that’s what counts!
Exactly that, another glorious climbed ticked off well done. Whats next?
Cracking video as always Aky 👍🏼
Get yourself up to Scotland and take on the Bealach na Bà 😃
Willing to make the trip just for the climb and maybe sneak The Lecht in at the same time. Need to have guaranteed weather though.
@@BeardonaBike haha, no guarantee on that sadly. Character building 😉
I did this a couple of years back, I was 61 and my mate was 65 yrs old it’s definitely one climb that should be on anyone’s bucket list
Glad you agree, any plans to go back and revisit it?
@@BeardonaBike yeh definitely. I live in Pembrokeshire so it’s a bit of a trek but there was a time when we used to go up to N/Wales every weekend in the van just to cycle on some great climbs
Thanks / diolch yn fawr for getting your tongue around the pronunciation, good job! I'm pretty local and have only just done Stwlan - I rode over from (and back to) Pentrefoelas which is a glorious ride over the tops. Great video !!
You’ve so many good climbs and roads where you live, amazing place to ride dude.
Well done guys 👍🏽
Try Bwlch y Groes in Wales. It makes Stwlan seem flat
I’m pretty sure I’d did that on the Dragon Ride Dragon Devil route a couple of months ago. I don’t recall any of the climbs being particularly steep other than devils staircase but boy was there some scenery out there.
@@BeardonaBike trust me if you have done it you would know. Its near Bala and averages 13.5% for 1.5 miles with 0.3m at over 18%
@@cyclingthomas826 I did a couple of Bwlch climbs but the one you are referring to I think is “Hell Fire Pass?”
@@BeardonaBike yeah thats the one
Used to go up there when dodging school back in 1996/1997.
🤣🤣🤣
It’s not the steepest or the longest but it’s absolutely relentless, making it incredibly difficult.
Sounds like fun 🤣
Visited this dam when in school, and a few years later caught a bus to top, a fantastic ride up,and scarry coming down, then a few years later cycled up there with a mate on MTB,s, its a hill that keeps going on and on, just beware of sheep poo on the way down it has similar characteristics to a Teflon coated pan.
Also met one of the original engineers who worked to build it, there are massive tunnels through the rock to the hydro electric power station at start of route.Sometimes the water level in top lak will be high and sometimes very low, due to water being let go to produce electric, to power all those e bikes.
It would have been amazing to watch how they put the damn together, didn’t know there were tunnels, must have been a massive project.
Done this climb about 6 weeks ago. Drove 4 hours from Bridgend in South Wales just to give it a go. It bloody hurt 😂
But was it worth the journey?
@@BeardonaBike most definitely. I’d do it again. Maybe stay a night or 2 next time though. Instead of driving home the same day
The day I did it it was so misty I couldn’t even see the water 😂
🤣🤣🤣
I still have PTSD from doing this climb last month, but the pay off at the top was worth it 😅
It’s so good isn’t it? Have you done anything better in the UK?
Hardest part is descending under the railway bridge once your off the closed road - need ropes and crampons it’s so steep 😅
I think I came up that climb to get to the start
Type 2 fun that one 😮
Quick answer. Yes. Absolutely stunning and quite likely that you will have it for yourself
36/30 lowest gear?!?! Not a chance I’d be attempting that with anything bigger than a compact & a 32 sprocket as I think I’d be in it right from the bottom.