A STAGGERINGLY steep street in Meirionnydd is laying claim to being the most precipitous in the world.

The street in Harlech could soon be recognised as the steepest in the world, with official measurements taken last Wednesday, 9 January.

The title is currently held by Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, which has a gradient of 35 percent at its steepest.

But residents of Harlech, believe Ffordd Pen Llech, near the town’s famous castle, is steeper by one whole degree.

Measurements have been taken, and will be processed before being sent to Guinness World Records.

But confirmation on whether a new record has been set will not be given for several weeks.

The record attempt was organised after local historian Gwyn Headley got in touch with surveyor Myrddyn Phillips, who recently discovered a ‘new’ mountain in the Rhinogydd range in the Snowdonia National Park.

The two men had met previously as they were both featured in a book by Leland Carlson entitled ‘Dull Men of Great Britain’, Gwyn for his love of follies (extravagant structures built to serve as a conversation pieces) and Myrddyn for his habit of measuring mountains.

Myrddyn was delighted to be a part of the process.

“Well fingers crossed we’re a success, it was a fantastic event to be a part of,” said Myrddyn, after completing all the relevant measurements.

“Gwyn, who is heading the project with lots of enthusiasm, is confident that it’s the steepest and I have faith in his confidence, we won’t know until the data has been processed. All I know is that I spend a lot of times walking up and down mountains and this hill put me out of breath, it’s relentless.

“I hope for the sake of the community it proves to be the steepest in the world, it would attract people from all over and really put Harlech on the map.”

The classification of steepest street is based on its maximum gradient over a 10 metre span, comparing the vertical rise to the horizontal distance.

The street or road is also defined as a public thoroughfare that is commonly used by the public, who are able to drive vehicles across it.

Results will be sent to Guinness World Records and it could take a few weeks for them to be analysed before residents will know if they are successful.