A surprisingly long climb for British shores, the four-mile ascent of the Horseshoe Pass is a challenging route through the North Wales hills with an average gradient of five per cent.

Rising to 1,200ft, the climb ramps up into double figures at times on the sweeping ascent, which snakes up the mountainside and has been used for the National Hill Climb Championships in the past.

Boasting a rugged backdrop of slate and green carpeted hills, the road is carved into the mountainside – offering a tantalising glimpse of what is still to come for riders on the lower slopes.

Also popular with motorcyclists, the peak is marked by the Ponderosa café, making it an ideal re-fueling stop for cyclists before they take on the similarly sweeping descent back into the valley on the other side.