f all the parts of Wales this is out over St Brides Bay and what a place the one I’ve visited the least, in to be on an overcast Thursday morning. fact I’d only previously spent Never mind the grey skies above, the Oa single day here whilst researching climb up and away from the rugged my guide to the climbs of Wales, so shore, ducking and diving between the when Peter Walker, the man and driving high grassy banks with the view out force behind the Tour of Pembrokeshire over the calm waters below was simply invited me over, I jumped at the chance. majestic. If the day had ended here I A DAY IN Pembrokeshire, the most westerly would have been sold on Pembrokeshire, Welsh peninsular isn’t somewhere you that’s all it would have taken, but there pass through, it’s a destination you was a whole lot more to come. PEMBROKESHIRE head to and because of this it holds an We headed back to Peter’s house, idyllic charm, a laid back serenity free made a few adjustments to our bikes from crowds of people and major trunk and set off on the loop. First climb on roads. To ride the climbs in this guide I the list was up to Garn Fawr about five was joined for the day by Kristian Bond kilometres away to allow a nice warm and Richard Eakins from Storck Bikes up before we hit the base. However, UK, two local young racers primed to this is Pembrokeshire, there are NO rip my legs apart. flat roads. As Peter drove off ahead he There were to be 10 climbs on our said he would see us on the 1-in-4, I agenda for the day, two that we would said “you mean the first climb?” He visit by car and the other eight included said, “No, the 1-in-4 climb that comes in a 100km route that climbed close to before the first climb.” Oh. This was to 2200m, it was going to be a tough day be the pattern for the day, although I’d on the bike. Before we set out on the plotted the featured eight killer climbs 100km ride we ticked off the two we had for me to document on the loop, I hadn’t to drive to, the first of which was The taken into account the other 10 or so Pebbles, a tiny road running up from killer climbs that punctuated the route St David’s Cathedral into the centre of between them, this was going to hurt. town. From the ford at its base it follows We rode through Fishguard, double the edge of the graveyard, rounds an backed to check out the climb from almost impossibly steep left hand hairpin Lower Town and back, which hurt then kicks on up through a tight stone a lot thanks to Richard’s youthful arch before joining the main road. This exuberance, (he will pay for that later was a rude awakening for both the legs on). Once we had digested this ascent it and lungs but what a fabulous little road was to Lower Town to ride out the other and one that was screaming for a KOM side of the gully and yes, the profile of effort, just not today. the day already looked like an upside From here we headed down the coast down saw blade and we had only ridden THE CLIMBS OF PEMBROKESHIRE 3 just over 10km. road and I was eager to return to its finishing point from three different offered me a lift back to his house, Our next target was the climb out slopes as their beauty matches almost bases. The first and hardest one was a to save my legs, but I declined. I like of Moylgrove and I think, arguably anything in the country. It’s a long climb I’d already documented in my to finish a loop and it was only 15 the toughest test of the day. Our climb and to be honest my legs were Welsh book from Pontfaen, so for the kilometres home with three more hills. photographer, Huw Fairclough, was already feeling a little jaded but I hung purposes of the day we just rode to the Also I needed the extra distance and often waiting on the first tight hairpin so in, although stopping to take some first corner to get some pictures then it’s the effort you put in at the end of the when we got there we had to look like photos, then chasing back on to the headed back down again. Cheating? ride that really builds the form. Once we meant business. There’s often a wheels of my younger companions did Maybe, but time was of the essence and more down and up through Fishguard certain amount of acting required on make things a little tougher. it’s not that we were lacking altitude! and I was starting to regret my decision photo shoots to give the impression of Next on the menu was the climb The second of the three ascents kicks however, but kept my poker face, did my pain but it wasn’t needed on this climb, of Farthings Hook and as soon as I up out of Llanychaer like a rocket turns at the front and pushed on. the pain was REAL, mainly thanks to saw its slopes rear up I sent the chain taking off. Hitting almost 25% from the We arrived back at base with a total Kristian setting a punishing pace. I was clattering to the little ring and the largest off, the largest sprocket was engaged of 110km in the legs in just over four determined not to lose his wheel and sprocket and got out of the saddle. At once more as the now burning legs hours and what ended up being 2400m when he gapped me on the steepest approaching 25% you have to fight this pushed hard up its slope. Thankfully the of altitude gained. Pembrokeshire may stretch I really had to dig deep and just gradient from the base to the summit steepest sections are short lived and the not have a reputation as one of the got back to him as the gradient eased and we did fight. Once past the camera, majority of the climb is on a shallower toughest parts of the country to ride in after the second bend and clung onto his which dictated we all rode together, gradient to the summit, an exposed area but the stats alone were proof that we back wheel like a limpet to the top. Richard instantly popped, then, like a of pristine and peaceful moorland home had just done one hell of a bike ride. We turned right at the summit to captive animal set free, Kristian stepped to sheep and wild horses. The final of Even on a grey day the countryside begin the transition to our next target. on the gas forcing me to go deeper than the three climbs rises from Dinas Cross shone out, the roads were quiet, deathly Any ride around this part of the county I had all year to chase him. I lasted to and would require a descent, turning quiet at times, well maintained and is dominated by the looming presence the first brow then ‘decided’ that would round and a climb back up. Like the the climbs, the climbs were a joy to of the Preseli Mountains. Standing at be enough and let him go. previous two, the sharper slopes lie at ride. I thoroughly enjoyed my day in 536 metres they dominate the landscape To end the ride were the final the base and by now the legs were well Pembrokeshire and as a destination to and yes, we were due to cross them. triptych of climbs, three routes up and truly broken. take the bike to, it takes some beating. This would be my second visit to this the same mound to almost the same Our task was complete so Peter Thanks Peter. Cycling Climbs of Pembrokeshire: A road cyclists guide. Text, design, illustrations and photographs on page 1 and 26 copyright © Simon Warren 2018 | www.100climbs.co.uk . All other photographs copyright © Huw Fairclough 2 THE CLIMBS OF PEMBROKESHIRE THE CLIMBS OF PEMBROKESHIRE 3 THE PEBBLES TING ST DAVID’s RA 3 /10 Perfect, that’s how I’d describe this little climb, or to quote a popular 1980’s TV advert (if you are old enough to remember it) ‘Compact and Bijou’. Set in the shadow of the exquisite St David’s Cathedral the climb starts as the road leaves the ford crossing the River Alun. With the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace on your right and the Cathedral on your left you begin to rise in the shadow of a high stone wall. At a fork keep left where the slope starts to bite as it rises to the outstanding left hand hairpin. Hitting 25% at the apex make sure you’re in a suitable gear or you may well come to a standstill. Press on up the still steep slope towards the Bell Tower in front of you where you pass through the arch and continue climbing past the car park up to the junction with Nun Street. You may be inclined to end your effort here but this isn’t the top, you must cross the road and keep climbing on the A487 until you’ve passed the Oriel y Parc visitor centre.