The steepest streets, roads and hills in the UK
Britain has some very steep roads, from a short street in Harlech to a Lake District pass built by the Romans. Here are the figures, with sources, and what they mean.
Why gradients are confusing
A road sign might say 1 in 3, 33% or 40%, and all can describe the same hill. Different surveys also measure different stretches, so the same street can have several "official" figures. We explain how it works on our how gradients are measured page, and give the numbers each source states so you can see where they differ.
The shortlist
| Road | Where | Steepest figure quoted |
|---|---|---|
| Ffordd Pen Llech | Harlech, Wales | 28.6% (Guinness, centreline); 1:2.73, 36.6% (tangent) |
| Afon Ddu | Conwy Valley, Wales | 34.5% (BikeRadar) |
| Vale Street | Bristol, England | 25.6% to 33%, depending on source |
| Hardknott Pass | Cumbria, England | 1 in 3 (about 33%) |
| Rosedale Chimney Bank | North Yorkshire, England | 1 in 3 (about 33%) |
| Bamford Clough | Peak District, England | about 36.5% |
| Winnats Pass | Derbyshire, England | over 28% |
| Porlock Hill (A39) | Somerset, England | about 1 in 4 (25%) |
| Bealach na Bà | Highland, Scotland | about 20% |
All figures are as published by the sources listed at the foot of each page. Where two sources disagree, we say so rather than choose.
Explore by country
- England: Hardknott Pass, Rosedale Chimney Bank, Vale Street, Porlock Hill, Winnats Pass and Gold Hill.
- Wales: Ffordd Pen Llech and Afon Ddu.
- Scotland: the Applecross pass, Bealach na Bà.
Individual hills
Two roads get their own pages: Hardknott Pass, with its Roman fort, and Rosedale Chimney Bank, the "Chain Breaker". The most famous steepest street argument, between Harlech and Dunedin in New Zealand, is covered in the Guinness record story.
For cyclists and drivers
If you ride, see famous cycling climbs for lengths and averages. If you drive, read how to drive steep hills safely before you set out; some of these roads are unsuitable for caravans and large vehicles, and several close in winter.
A note on accuracy
Steep roads are measured in different ways, and some quoted numbers are unofficial. We use figures from Wikipedia, Guinness World Records, magazines and national media that we opened, and we avoid giving a number where we could not confirm it. Northern Ireland has no entry yet: we could not find a reliably documented gradient to include. If you can point us to one, get in touch.
How to use this site
Start with the ranking if you want numbers, or with a country page if you are planning a trip. The record story is the quickest way to understand why the numbers are argued over. If you only read one explainer, make it how gradients are measured: it gives the conversion between percent, 1-in-x and degrees, and shows why a 40% road sign can sit above a street Guinness measures at 28.6%.
What we do not claim
We do not say which road is "the" steepest, because that depends on the method. We do not give figures for roads where we found no documented gradient, such as Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, and we do not rank unofficial claims from other countries. Check opening times, closures and local advice before you travel. This is general information, and road conditions change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the steepest road in the UK?
It depends on how you measure. Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech held the Guinness title briefly in 2019, but a 2020 rule change measured along the centreline gave Baldwin Street in New Zealand the higher figure. In England Hardknott Pass and Rosedale Chimney Bank are both quoted at 1 in 3.
What is the steepest road in England?
Hardknott Pass in Cumbria and Rosedale Chimney Bank in North Yorkshire share the title at a maximum of 1 in 3 (about 33%), according to Wikipedia.
What does 1 in 3 mean?
The road rises 1 metre for every 3 metres travelled horizontally, about 33%.
Is the steepest road in Britain safe to drive?
Many are single track and unsuitable for large vehicles. See our driving safely guide.