Black Mountain (SW #95) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

1.9
FIETS
4.2 mi
DISTANCE
1,176 ft
GAINED
5.3 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Cycling Black Mountain by Bike is a mild climb of six kilometers at 5.7% average grade in Carmarthenshire County, Wales.  #95 on Simon Warren's list of the Greatest Cycling climbs in Britain is of moderate length by GCC 100 standards, at six kilometers and has a mild average grade of 5.7%. There are no terribly challenging sections and the grade rarely exceeds 9%.

Visit our UK Top 10 Epic Hill Climbs and our Top 10 Epic Welsh Hill Climbs pages for photos, summaries and statistics for their respective top epic hill climbs. 

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Information Not Available

If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us.

Information Not Available

If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Information Not Available

If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Not Yet Rated
-
Road
-
Traffic
-
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES

Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
ALL TRIPS
Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure!

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

FROM
No Climbs Found

MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
S.G. (%)
hide
Segment Data
hide

Climb Profile Not Found
CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Black Mountain, Wales - PJAMM Cycling jersey draped over bike parked along side of road near hillside, stone monument in background, blue cloudy skies, Simon Warren's #95 100 Greatest Cycling climbs logo in corner

Cycling Black Mountain, Wales.

Near the summit.

Black Mountain climb is in the eastern section of Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, established 1957 and achieving the status of International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2013. While much of the park is bare grassy pastures with Welsh mountain ponies and sheep, it is also known for its many remote reservoirs, waterfalls and caves, such as the 90 foot Henrhyd Waterfall and the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu Cave (Brecon Beacons National Park).

photo collage shows road signs for The Black Mountain, Y Mynydd Du; aerial drone view of switchbacks in roadway

Coming in at number 95 of Britain’s 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, Black Mountain begins on the A4069, about one kilometer south of Pont Aber, Carmarthenshire County, southern Wales.  The A4069 has a fair amount of traffic and is a narrow two-lane roadway along this segment.  At six kilometers, our climb is of moderate length by GCC 100 standards, and has a mild average grade of 5.7%.  There are no terribly challenging sections and the grade rarely exceeds 9%.

bike parked in greenery on road side, next to sign for The Black Mountain

Begin this climb by riding up A4069 as you pass Heol Y Gelli Road.

Simon Warren ranks this climb as the fourth Most Epic in Wales.

Cycling Black Mountain, Wales - tree/brush-lined two lane road with blue sky in background, road sign for 40 kph

First part of the climb along A4069 bordered by brush/trees.

This climb has a BIG Mountain feel for such a little road. I’d call it the Alps of Wales: long sweeping turns, gradient nothing above 8 or 9%, and spectacular views of the valley below. Cars pass by fast but friendly. There are lots of hiking trails and little paths you can explore if you like getting the bike dirty. This is so much bang for buck - a relatively mellow climb for about four miles from the creek bridge at the bottom and amazing views. Well worth doing if you are in the area.

photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclists riding along roadway, signs for cattle crossing; small stream

The views along the way are generally obstructed by brush and trees for the first half of the climb, but open to rolling hills, grazing sheep, and distant views of farmlands for the second half of the climb.

photo collage shows panoramic views of farmlands and hedge-lined pastures

views along the climb include grazing sheep and sheep crossing the roads

Open views and grazing sheep along second half of climb.

aerial drone views show hairpins at mile two

Brief flat section and first of two giant hairpins at mile two.

aerial drone views show giant hairpin and mile three

Second giant hairpin at mile three.

Cycling Black Mountain, Wales - view of stone monument along roadside on hill, plaque reads "Justin Davies, forever in our thoughts, ride on dear friend"

Plaque near top of climb for a motorcyclist killed in freak accident

when startled sheep ran into roadway as he traveled at just 43 kph (about 27 mph).

PJAMM Cyclists stand next to road sign for Summit of The Black Mountian

PJAMM Cyclists ride off-road after climb summit at Black Mountain abandoned quarries

Try a little off-road to your left at the top . . .

The Black Mountain abandoned quarries give the climb its name. There are several hiking trails at the top of the climb that access Herbert’s Quarry.

Cycling Black Mountain, Wales - aerial view of Herbert's Quarry along hillside, blue sky, green hillsides, road traveling up right hand side

Long abandoned Herbert’s Quarry at the top of the climb.

Herbert’s Quarry is “a large area of abandoned limestone quarries in a stunning location on Black Mountain. The site has panoramic views over the Forest Fawr Geopark and the west part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Black Mountain Quarries are a time capsule of a very important aspect of Welsh industrial heritage. There are physical traces of lime exploitation spanning many hundreds of years with quarry workings, lime kilns, and spoil heaps from small scale local exploitation of the 1700s to large industrial use in the 20th century. As you explore the site, you are walking in the footsteps of many thousands of people whose hard work, sweat and drudgery shaped this landscape and left a rich industrial legacy”  (Brecon Beacons - Black Mountain Quarries).

Cycling Black Mountain, Wales - bike parked along roadside, aerial views of pastureland with road traveling through it, PJAMM cycling jersey, PJAMM Cycling logo in bottom corner

Access to full Climb Summary requires a PJAMM Cycling PRO Membership!

It takes less than a minute to sign up & with your PRO membership you can:
  • Rate climbs, post comments and share your experiences on any of our climb pages
  • Create bucket lists of climbs & mark the dates you complete them
  • Weather data for all climbs - Start & Finish
  • Upload photos to your member page to customize your PJAMM Cycling experience
  • Utilize all of our interactive tools - Profile & Routes in Area
  • Download climb route .gpx files
LEARN MORE
SIGN UP

Already have an account? LOG IN HERE