Steepest street in the world belongs to small town in Wales, Guinness Book of Records rules

‘I feel sorry for the New Zealanders, but steeper is steeper,’ says campaigner after Welsh seaside resort snatches title away from New Zealand town

Campaigners Gwyn Headley and Sarah Badhan on Ffordd Pen Llech (PA)

A street in north Wales has been named the steepest in the world.

Ffordd Pen Llech in the seaside town of Harlech has a gradient of 37 per cent, the Guinness World Records has confirmed – making it two per cent steeper than the previous record holder in New Zealand.

The coastal community is now hoping for the kind of tourist boom enjoyed by Baldwin Street in Dunedin after the extreme incline on New Zealand’s South Island was awarded the title two years ago.

Campaigners in Harlech had claimed Fford Pen Llech was even steeper, leading to an inspection by an independent surveyor on 6 June to verify the gradient.

Historian Gwyn Headley, who first wondered if the street was the world’s steepest after his car slid down it while the handbrake was locked, said he felt “utter relief” and “jubilation” following the announcement.

He added: “I feel sorry for Baldwin Street and the New Zealanders, but steeper is steeper. At least they have the Rugby World Cup... for the moment.”

The Welsh town’s arduous, winding hill street runs past the medieval Harlech Castle, a Unesco World Heritage site, and is lined with a caravan park, a laundry service, a shop and a restaurant, as well as several houses.

Glyn Roberts, who owns the Castle Cottage restaurant, said: “We didn’t realise it was the steepest street in the world, but it is very steep and it’s a good heart-starter walking up and down the hill.

Baldwin Street in the New Zealand town of Dunedin (Mark Oliver Dittrich / Wikimedia Commons)

“It’s a lovely part of the world, and to have this extra accolade can do nothing but good for the town and bring more people in.”

For a street to qualify for the title of the world’s steepest it must be a public thoroughfare, fully paved and contain buildings running alongside it. The record measurement is based on the highest gradient over a 10m section of road.

Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records, editor-in-chief said: “The local community in Harlech has shown sheer willpower in their quest to earn Ffordd Pen Llech the title.

“We know the anticipation has been building for quite some time now, and I’m pleased to see the outcome has brought such joy to the residents.

“I hope Harlech enjoys the celebrations and that the new title brings lots of people to the beautiful town to experience the world’s steepest street for themselves.”

Additional reporting by PA