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Bealach na Ba from Tornapress

5.0
5 reviews | Elevation profile | 7 photos
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Elevation profile Bealach na Ba from Tornapress

Statistics

Difficulty points 550
Length 9.2 km
Average gradient 6.7%
Steepest 100 meters 18.4%
Total ascent 619m

Short recap

Famous climb
Beautiful scenery
4 hairpin turns
#1 toughest climb of Scotland
#1 most elevation gain of Scotland
#17 longest climb of Scotland
#48 average steepest climb of Scotland
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Bealach na Ba from Tornapress is a climb in the region Highland. It is 9.2km long and bridges 619 vertical meters with an average gradient of 6.7%, resulting in a difficulty score of 550. The top of the ascent is located at 626 meters above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 5 reviews of this climb and uploaded 7 photos.

Photos (7)

Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
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Reviews (5)

5.0
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StevenVGH
1 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

If you translate Bealach na Bà from Gaelic, you end up with a kind of "goat trail". Da's an appellation that is certainly correct. The road is very narrow in places, you can barely cross motorised traffic. Combined with high gradients, this makes for an extra balancing act on the bike.

Furthermore, "goat paths" are mostly very steep. On the Bealach na Bà, you first have some quiet time to warm up the legs, but be sure not to pump them full just yet as you will regret it immensely afterwards.... For the first 3.5 kilometres, the road climbs on average between 4 and 6%, with occasional peaks (well) above 10%. Then comes an intermediate stretch of about's 3 kilometres where the average gradient is 7 to 8%. There are numerous strips in between that go towards 10%, and sometimes thickly above it, but because there are also descending intermediate strips, this has an impact on the average gradient. It is a harbinger of things to come...

Some 3 kilometres below the summit, the real work begins! Here, as it were, a real "Wall of Hoei" has hidden itself. For two kilometres you pound your way up at an average of 11 to 12%. Climbing percentages of 20-22% are no exception here, nor are strips of several hundred metres at 15-16%. This is a real "make-or-break strip": either bite the bullet or get off the bike. It is hugely important to maintain your cadence, no matter what gear you do it on because it hurts (temporarily) anyway! If you stall or put your foot down here, it's resolutely game over!

Fortunately, the last kilometre softens. Here the average gradient is around 6%. From here on, it's enjoy the rest of the climb.

Als je Bealach na Bà vertaalt uit het Gaelic, dan kom je bij een soort "geitenpad" terecht. Da's een benaming die zeker klopt. De weg is op sommige plaatsen erg smal, je kan er amper gemotoriseerd verkeer kruisen. Gecombineerd met hoge stijgingspercentages maakt dat een extra balansoefening op de fiets.

Verder zijn "geitenpaden" vooral erg steil. Op de Bealach na Bà heb je eerst rustig de tijd om de benen op te warmen, maar pomp ze zeker nog niet vol want dat zal je je achteraf enorm beklagen... De eerste 3.5 kilometer loopt de weg gemiddeld tussen de 4 en 6% omhoog, met af en toe een uitschieter (dik) boven de 10%. Vervolgens komt er een tussenstuk van zo'n kleine 3 kilometer waar de gemiddelde helling 7 à 8% bedraagt. Er zitten talrijke stroken tussen die richting de 10% gaan, en soms dik daarboven, maar doordat er ook dalende tussenstroken zijn heeft dat een impact op het gemiddelde stijgingspercentage. Het is een voorbode voor wat komt...

Zo'n 3 kilometer onder de top begint het echte werk! Hier heeft als het een ware een dubbele "Muur van Hoei" zich verstopt. Gedurende twee kilometer beuk je je aan gemiddeld 11 à 12% een weg naar boven. Stijgingspercentages van 20 à 22% zijn hier geen uitzondering, stroken van enkele honderden meters aan 15 à 16% zijn dat evenmin. Dit is een echte "make-or-break strook": ofwel bijt je door, ofwel stap je van de fiets. Het is enorm belangrijk om je cadans te blijven behouden, maakt niet uit op welke versnelling je dat doet want pijn doet het (tijdelijk) sowieso! Als je hier stilvalt of voet aan de grond zet, dan is het resoluut game over!

Gelukkig zwakt de laatste kilometer af. Hier bedraagt het gemiddelde stijgingspercentage om en bij de 6%. Vanaf hier is het genieten van de rest van de klim.

Dashboard
5AWG
1 y 5.0

Did a round trip starting in Torridon. Scenery is fabulous. This climb is part of the NC500 itinerary which means it can get very busy with cars. I started early which was fine but came back up from Applecross later in the day when it really was bad news. Most drivers are ok but a few simply force you to stop which makes it difficult to restart! That said, a must do Brit ride.

Dashboard
Walrusbonzo
2 y 5.0

Stunning climb. Loved every bit of it, especially as the weather was fantastic today. It starts out quite gentle and it's a good warm up for what's to come as you get nearer the top where it does become more challenging. Not the steepest climb I've done, but still very challenging if a car is coming the other way and you're trying to wiggle up the road. Fortunately most cars pulled over into passing places and then spectated my struggle. Totally worth doing on a sunny dry day.

Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Dashboard
SingingHOG
2 y 5.0

Scenery is fantastic. At the top it is worth walking a short distance off the road onto the rocky hilltop to get the views over the sea towards Skye - one of the best views in the UK. Great cafe near the sign at the start (see photos).
It is a long climb starting from sea level and with plenty of ascent for the UK. Nothing too steep apart from one 20% max section near the top. It is exposed and will be far colder than it looks, don't forget this is 1000s of km further North than the alps. Tends to be very little traffic. Can be done as the last part of a good loop ride round the peninsula starting/ending in Applecross (100 km approx). First time I did it was with a child seat and my 3 year old son on the back, now that was tough. In English it means "pass of the cattle".

Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Bealach na Ba from Tornapress
Dashboard
Wilbert57
3 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Hell of a Climb! But incredibly beautiful! Because you are so far north, there are few trees and from the beginning you have the idea that you are in the Alps.
In 2009, I did this climb during our summer vacation in Scotland. It was 15 degrees and there was a strong wind. The family would wait for me at the top, and wait, and wait because at one point I couldn't go any further. They called to pick me up, but there was no signal, so I had to fight on. Eventually I got the pedals going again and made it to the top. Afterwards, the part where I almost gave up turned out to be a 20% uphill climb!
Really a magnificent climb with (at that time) little traffic. Keep in mind that the road is narrow and you have to stop now and then to let a car or camper pass.

Hell of a Climb! Maar ontzettend mooi! Omdat je zo ver noordelijk zit zijn er weinig bomen en heb je vanaf het begin al het idee dat je in de Alpen zit.
In 2009 heb ik tijdens onze zomervakantie in Schotland deze beklimming gedaan. Het was 15 graden en er stond een harde wind. De familie zou boven op mij wachten, en wachten, en wachten want op een gegeven moment kwam ik niet meer verder. Gebeld om me op te halen, maar geen bereik dus toch maar verder knokken. Uiteindelijk kreeg ik de trappers weer goed rond en kwam ik boven. Achteraf bleek het stuk waar ik bijna had opgegeven met 20% omhoog te gaan!
Echt een magnifieke klim met (op dat moment) weinig verkeer. Houd er wel rekening mee dat de weg smal is en je af en toe moet stoppen om een auto of camper te laten passeren.

Dashboard

Climbing times

7 km/h 01:18:54
11 km/h 00:50:12
15 km/h 00:36:49
19 km/h 00:29:04

Road surface condition

14% 86% 0%
Based on 7 votes
Share your knowledge. What was the road condition during your ascent?

Traffic

67% 33% 0%
Based on 6 votes
Your experience counts. How much traffic did you encounter during the climb?