A HILL OF A CLAIM
Street could be listed as the world’s steepest:
AROAD in North Wales could be in the running for a Guinness World record. Fford Pen Llech in Harlech is, according to resident Gwyn Headley, steeper than the road that holds the record for the most punishing gradient in the world.
Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand, may be facing a challenge from the Harlech street, which 72-year-old Mr Headley says eclipses its antipodean counterpart.
Mr Headley said: “At its maximum, the slope of Baldwin Street is about 1:2.86 (19° or 35%). That is, for every 2.86 metres travelled horizontally, the elevation changes by 1 metre.
“I looked up Llech, or Ffordd Pen Llech as I discovered it’s also called, on Wikipedia. It says; “Its descent of the rock spur to the north of the castle gives it a tangentially measured gradient at its steepest section of 1:2.73. Whilst this translates to the vertical rise being 36.63% of the horizontal going, it is normal practice for UK highway authorities to round gradients to a nominal figure to avoid confusing road users with excessive precision; hence the warning sign gives a slope of 40%.”
“And Llech carries on up through Twtil to Pen Dref, also quite steep.
“1:2.73 is steeper than 1:2.86; 36.63% is steeper than 35%.
“Clearly, Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech is steeper than Baldwin Street in Dunedin.”
He wants Guinness World Records to examine the claim and, if he’s correct, transfer the crown to Harlech.
“I travel up and down Ffordd Pen Llech about four or five times a week when I pick up my Daily Post,” said Mr Headley who also runs a local Harlech blog. “According to the data, the street is steeper, it should be recognised by Guinness World Records and it would put Harlech on the map.”
Guinness World Records have been asked to comment.