100 Climbs Route: Day 10, Llangollen to Alderley Edge
In August 2018, three Cycling UK members - Dominic Millar, Graham Salisbury and James Findlater – cycled a 3,300-mile, 29-day route around Britain to take on all 100 hills featured in Simon Warren’s book ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’. This route plots day 10 of the journey, 114 miles from Llangollen to Alderley Edge, taking in the climbs of Horseshoe Pass, The Shelf, Penbarra, Moel Arthur and Mow Cop.
You'll saying goodbye to Wales today but the principality has some farewell gifts for you in the shape of four final stiff, steep challenges.
The fun starts early. As soon as you head north out of Llangollen you'll start the first climb of the day: Bwlch yr Oernant, better known as Horseshoe Pass. It’s not as hard as yesterday’s efforts and you’re rewarded with some stunning scenery, so take your time to warm up because there are more challenges on the horizon.
The next test involves a loop up towards Llanrydd so that you can come back via The Shelf, a gentle-at-first climb that quickly becomes wild with broken surfaces, thick gorse and steep drops to the side.
Then it’s up the main road to Ruthin, from where you head east and take the right fork at St Peter’s Church, then ride up Lon Cae Glas, to go on a detour up Bwlch Penbarra. As is tradition with Welsh climbs, it’s a fantastic combination of physical pain and visual joy, with some stunning views en route.
Turn around at the top to head back to St Peter’s Church and ride northwards to the final Welsh climb: Moel Arthur. Named after the Iron Age fort that you’ll eventually be relieved to see at its summit, Moel Arthur is a brutal climb where the lumpy, bumpy road surface will punish you just as much as the gradient. Make it to the top, though, and you’ll have made your own little bit of history.
It's time to head back into England, past sites of north-west industry, then through Chester and round to the south of Crewe.
If you thought climbing was all done for the day, think again. Just on the outskirts of Kidsgrove we have one of Staffordshire’s local legends: Mow Cop. While it starts off reasonably enough, be prepared that it only gets worse - and worse - with a 200-yard, 25% final ramp to push you to your absolute limit.
With legs absolute shredded, make your way north as best you can to finish at Alderley Edge and rest up for tomorrow. Massage, anyone?
