Stinging Vine

I have no idea what it is, but it's the fastest, strongest spreading vine-like climber with stinging hairy stems. Bright green maple shaped leaves. It's impossible to get rid of and causes a nasty rash. Wraps itself round everything. Can anyone identity and help?

do you have a picture?

Hops?

http://www.google.com/search?q=wild+hop+plant&hl=en&rlz=1C1SVEE_enGB425GB425&prmd=imvnsfd&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6RoWUNjMA6nF0QXs2IGQBw&ved=0CD0Q_AUoAQ&biw=136

Cut it off at the base and remove wearing sturdy gardening gloves and long sleeves.  Dig out the roots.  Treat any regrowth with glyphosate.  It's not that bad really, but does grow like mad at this time of year.  

Or of course, if you've got female plants with flowers, you could make some beer or those ornamental decorations that gather dust in kitchens.

The heads look like hops to me, but I've never dealt with them, so I don't know if they are hairy or not....... they do grow on vines..... where abouts in the country are you

Thank you. Here is a picture. It's grown to the top of the trees, like Jack and the Beanstalk. I didn't know that hops could sting so much. Got an awful rash on my leg.

James

I'm in London. This "thing" has been here since I have  - 20 years! Indestructable.

That is indeed a golden hop, and indeed it can bite, especially if it wraps around yoyr wrist or so.  A bit of hydrocortisone cream from the pharmacy helps.  You don't need to cut it down, the huge thing just dies back in winter, digging up some of it where you don't want it, or pulling it out (wearng good gloves) when it is coming through, once it starts up it flies, amazing how quickly it grows.   Mine grows up an obelisk, over a trellis over a path then up the side of the house - it lives with a grape vine, and they look stunning together.   

Mine's best friends with a grape vine too.

Thank you all again. I'm grateful to learn what the beast actually is. I can't say I like it much. It tries smothers all my lovely hydrangeas and gallops all over the apple and pear trees. I've been using sudocreme for the rash but I do have some hydrocortisone so I'll use now.