Cleish Hill

Cleish Hill begins on the northern side of the hills near Nivingston, taking the minor road south towards higher ground. Fields and woodland frame the lower approach, while the bends carry the road across the slope rather than directly up its face. This small crossing has enough changes of direction to make the climbing feel more involved than the distance alone suggests. The village and the lower country around Kinross are soon left behind.

The ascent measures about 3.3 kilometres, averaging just under 5%. Those figures describe the whole road, rather than a uniform incline: the lower climb and final rise have more bite, separated by easier ground. The finish is the road's high point, with the wooded country beyond belonging to the onward journey. Cleish is an agreeable, varied climb with enough sharper climbing to hold the attention.