Vale Street is one of the steepest roads in England
England, europe
0.2 km
130 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Totterdown, a quirky suburb of Bristol in South West England, and you stumble upon Vale Street. This isn't your average residential street – it's a beast! They say it's the steepest residential road in England, and honestly, it feels almost vertical at the bottom.
This fully paved climb is only 0.2km long, but packs in a punch with a 17m elevation gain. We're talking an average gradient of 22 percent, but get this – it maxes out at a crazy 25.6 percent! Seriously, cars park sideways to avoid rolling away, and when it's icy, locals chain their cars to lampposts.
Lined with terraced houses and steps for pedestrians, this 427 ft stretch from Park Street to Balmain Street is a favorite with cyclists and anyone looking for a lung-busting challenge. With a slope comparable to an advanced intermediate ski run, Vale Street is an adventure you won't soon forget!
Where is it?
Vale Street is one of the steepest roads in England is located in England (europe). Coordinates: 53.3524, -2.8474
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 0.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 130 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 53.3524, -2.8474
Related Roads in europe
extremeWhere is Morra del Buitre Located?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: you're in Andalusia, itching for adventure, and the Sierra Nevada feels a little *too* touristy. I've got just the ticket: Morra del Buitre. This hidden gem in the Sierra de Castril Natural Park is a proper off-road challenge. Tucked away in the northern reaches of Granada province, practically kissing the Jaén border, Morra del Buitre is a natural balcony overlooking the seemingly endless forests. Don't expect smooth tarmac here, folks. This is a rugged, unpaved climb that demands respect (and a high-clearance 4x4). The track from the paved road is just under 7 kilometers, but those kilometers pack a punch. You'll be grinding up a sustained 10-15% gradient, navigating loose limestone and dodging ruts that Mother Nature herself carved out. Some sections cling to the mountainside, so hold tight! The views? Absolutely worth it. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for the majestic Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos) soaring above. Seriously impressive! Quick tip: avoid the scorching summer months when the heat and dust are brutal. Spring, with the chance of lingering snow on the peaks, or autumn, are the sweet spots. Just be aware that winter snow can shut down sections above 1,800m for weeks. Get ready for the off-road adventure of a lifetime!
extremeAssietta Road: Driving the legendary military ridge track of the Western Alps
🇮🇹 Italy
# Strada dell'Assietta (SP173) Want to experience one of the Alps' most thrilling high-altitude drives? The Strada dell'Assietta is a jaw-dropping 39.3 km military ridge road that'll have you perched above 2,000 meters for nearly the entire journey. Connecting Pian dell'Alpe to Sestriere in the Turin area of Piedmont, this mostly unpaved route is absolutely legendary among adventure drivers. Built way back in 1890 by Italian military engineers, this road was originally designed to move troops and artillery between valleys—and you can still see the fort ruins and old defensive walls scattered across the ridge today. It's a fascinating blend of history and raw mountain wilderness, threading along the spine between Val Chisone and Val Susa while cutting through the stunning Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Park. Fair warning: this isn't a casual Sunday cruise. The unpaved surface can be rough and rutted, especially through the tight switchbacks. Steep cliff drops lie just beyond low stone walls in places, and you'll need a vehicle with solid ground clearance to handle the rocky terrain. Keep it to 30 km/h, and forget about passing or stopping anywhere except designated spots. Here's the catch—you can only drive it from roughly June through October, depending on conditions. And if you're thinking bigger vehicles? Anything over 3.5 tons or wider than 2 meters isn't allowed. Want quieter roads? The route closes to motor traffic on Wednesdays and Saturdays during summer, so hikers and bikers get their turn. The payoff? Incredible panoramic views and the chance to summit six major alpine passes, with Monte Gran Costa's 2,615-meter peak offering a truly unrivaled vantage point over the Western Alps. This is the kind of road that'll stay with you long after you've descended.
extremeHow long is Bakhchysarai Highway?
🌍 Ukraine
Bakhchysarai Highway (T0117) is a challenging road located in central Crimea, running from Yalta to Bakhchysarai. How long is Bakhchysarai Highway? The Bakhchysarai Highway is mostly paved. It’s 77 km (47 miles) long, stretching from Yalta (a resort city on the north coast of the Black Sea) to Bakhchysarai (a city in central Crimea). Is the Bakhchysarai Highway dangerous? Known by locals as ‘the old highway’, the road contains no fewer than 280 turns (including a series of 30 gulp-inducing hairpin turns) and sequences of blind narrow bends. How long does it take to drive the Bakhchysarai Highway? To drive the Bakhchysarai Highway without stopping will take most people between 1 and 2 hours, but this time can drastically increase if the road or weather conditions turn unfavorable. Is the Bakhchysarai Highway worth it? The drive offers amazing views across the beautiful scenery, as it winds through forest gorges and traverses spectacular rock cliffs. Is the Bakhchysarai Highway open? The road tops out at 1.234m (4,048ft) above sea level where weather conditions are far more unpredictable and the temperature much, much colder. It is often covered by snow and ice during the harsh winter months , which will cause obvious problems for those who are either not prepared for a cold night on the side of the road or fail to adapt to the road conditions and accidentally make their own route down the valley floor, via a vertical plunge to an almost certain death. Pic: Антонина Жмуденко Driving the wild and tough Т1421 road Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
hardRefugi Cap del Rec
🇪🇸 Spain
# Refugi Cap del Rec Want to experience some seriously stunning mountain scenery? Head to Refugi Cap del Rec in Girona, Catalonia, where you'll find yourself at a crisp 1,986 meters (6,515 feet) above sea level in northern Spain. The good news? The road is fully paved and well-maintained. The catch? It's genuinely steep—we're talking sections that climb at up to 10% gradient. Don't let that intimidate you though; it just means you'll earn those incredible views of the Sierra del Cadí Mountains and the picturesque Cerdanya Valley below. As you approach the summit, you'll notice the nearby ski station, which gives you a sense of just how high you're climbing. It's a perfect destination if you're after that adrenaline rush combined with breathtaking landscapes. Pack some patience for those steep stretches and prepare yourself for scenery that'll make every hairpin turn worth it.