A road in Wales has just been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the steepest in the world, breaking the previous record set in New Zealand.
People in the town of Harlech in north-west Wales were overjoyed and prepared to celebrate on July 20 after the Ffordd Pen Llech road here was recognized as the steepest in the world.
A hiker up the slopes of Ffordd Pen Llech. (Traveler screenshot).
According to The Guardian, the Guinness Book of World Records (GWR) on July 16 awarded the title to the authorities in Harlech because Ffordd Pen Llech was confirmed to have a slope of 37.45%.
The old record belonged to Baldwin Road in Dunedin City, southern New Zealand with a slope of 35%.
Gwyn Headley, Ffordd Pen Llech’s record campaigner, said he was delighted that the title was finally awarded to Harlech’s path.
He said that to win this title, Harlech’s road must meet many of GWR’s “super-strict” standards such as being used for people who travel a lot, have houses on both sides, vehicles can go…
The slope of the Ffordd Pen Llech is 37.45%. (Photo taken from Google Street View).
Baldwin Road in Dunedin. (Screenshot of Stuff.co.nz).
“We are confident we have met even beyond nine standards, but the 10th one worries us,” Mr. Headley said. This standard requires the locality to submit the design of the road.
Although the Harlech side did not have a blueprint, it was still awarded the record because the people in this old town said that the road had been built for at least 1,000 years, so there could not be a so-called blueprint.
Mr. Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of GWR, said the Harlech community had shown willpower in competing to win the title for Ffordd Pen Llech.
Meanwhile, Dunedin residents expressed disappointment after losing the title that helped the city attract many tourists over the years.
Even so, Mayor Dave Cull said Baldwin Road has not reduced its slope after that decision and tourists will still come here to visit. Stuff.co.nz quoted Mr Cull as saying the city council would seek to change the title’s name so that Baldwin could still be explored by many people, possibly from “the steepest street in the world” to a “slope road”. southern hemisphere”.