Driving Serpentine Road, the bendiest road of Scotland
Serpentine road is the name of a challenging curvy drive located in Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, in Scotland.
Where is Serpentine Road?
Located on the Isle of Bute off the west coast of Scotland, the remarkable road is totally paved up Canada Hill. It’s one of Britain's strangest roads. Similar to Lombard St in San Francisco, it was built when the town boomed as a Victorian resort. Its 14 hairpins enabled the horses to carry building materials up to the manor house on top of the hill.
Is Serpentine Road in Rothesay steep?
The two way road is totally paved and winds up from the town centre. It’s very steep, hitting a 10% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. It has long been hailed as one of the country’s most technically challenging cycle routes. The road snakes its way down the western slopes of Canada Hill, falling a vertical distance of around 70m (230 feet). Be especially careful on your descent. This route is not for the faint of heart.
How long is Serpentine Road in Rothesay?
The road is 0.96km (0.6 mile) long and features 14 hairpin turns. It offers spectacular views over Rothesay. It’s a tricky bit of driving when you're not used to it. The road hosts an annual hill-climb event, the Rothesay Cycling Weekend, organized since the early 1950s.
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