Puerto de Ancares climb from Tejedo de Ancares

The route

You start in Tejedo de Ancares, in the municipality of Candín, at the head of the Ancares valley, in the Bierzo area of León. From the village the road leaves the last houses behind and heads straight up to the Ancares pass, on the watershed between León and Lugo. It's 8 km, all on tarmac, with 704 m of elevation, up to the pass at 1,668 m. The road is narrow and winds its way through heather, broom and patches of mountain forest, with the Sierra de Ancares getting ever closer.

Where it bites

It's short and very hard: 8.9% on average, with ramps of up to 13.7%. There are hardly any stretches to recover, so take the first kilometres easy. Climb in the lowest gear you have; if you're torn between two sprockets, pick the bigger one.

Where to stop

In Tejedo and Candín there are a couple of bars and rural guesthouses: leave from there fed and with full bottles. There are no services at the top, on either side of the pass, until you get back down.

When to go

June to October. The rest of the year there may be snow, ice and thick fog in the upper part, and the road isn't always clear. Even if you leave the valley in the heat, it's windy and cooler at the top: take a windproof for the descent, and watch out for loose cows and horses on the road. There are more climbs nearby in the bike routes in Castilla y León.

Getting there

The nearest train station is Ponferrada, with medium and long-distance trains; from there it's about 50 km by road to Tejedo, better by car. Park at the entrance to the village without blocking the way for residents or livestock.