Glen Kyllachy: Cycling Climb

The climb · United Kingdom

About Glen Kyllachy

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Simon Warren’s Cycling Climbs of Scotland

Glen Kyllachy offers a short ascent on the minor road linking Garbole in Strathdearn with Farr in Strathnairn. This entry follows the climb north-west from the Garbole side, into the higher country between the two valleys. The narrow road and surrounding moorland make the journey feel removed from the main routes through the Highlands, even though the climbing itself occupies a compact stretch.

This section is 1.9 kilometres long, with an average gradient of 6.5%. The road rises throughout, giving the effort a directness that a longer, rolling approach would disguise. The height arrives quickly enough to demand proper climbing, yet the distance remains short enough for the whole ascent to feel like one coherent piece of road. Beyond the numerical outline, the attraction is the crossing between valleys: a modest road through open upland country, carrying more character than its length suggests.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 344 m · Summit 471 m

Gradient by distance1.94 km / 127 m gain

0 km0.4 km0.8 km1.2 km1.5 km1.9 km

02 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 1.94 km
Elevation gain: 127 m
Average gradient: 6.5%
Climb category: 4
Start elevation: 344 m
Summit elevation: 471 m

Current weather

At the climb start

Loading weather…

Weather data: MET Norway

03 / Your effort

How long would it take?

Enter the power you could hold for the whole climb. We calculate a moving time from the elevation profile and the forces you ride against.

Sustained power

W/kg

Use your intended climbing effort, rather than FTP unless you can hold it for the predicted duration.

Rider weight (kg)

Bike + kit weight (kg)

Bike + kit includes clothing, bottles and luggage.

Advanced settings

Defaults represent a road-bike scenario. Adjust these settings to match your tyres, drivetrain and riding position.

Effective drag area (CdA) (m²)

Rolling resistance (Crr)

Drivetrain efficiency (%)

Modelled moving time

9 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 13.1 km/h

Based on the 1.94 km elevation profile. Assumes steady power, with no stops, braking or drafting. Rounded to the nearest minute.

The science behind the calculation

For each part of the stored profile, we solve the steady-state cycling power equation for speed, then add distance ÷ speed across the climb. Gravity uses rider + equipment weight; available power is W/kg × rider weight. This uses the profile’s distance and elevation together, without mixing in another route’s metrics.

Power × efficiency = gravity + rolling resistance + air resistance + bearing losses

The resistance equations are adapted from Martin et al. (1998), Validation of a Mathematical Model for Road Cycling Power. Air density changes with profile altitude using NASA’s standard-atmosphere model. This calculator’s adaptation has not been independently validated.

It predicts travel at the power you enter, including on descents. It does not model acceleration, cornering, braking, traffic, wind, changing weather or fatigue. At altitude, choose power you can sustain there: thinner air reduces drag, but this model does not predict its effect on your ability to produce power. Profile quality and assumed equipment settings also affect the result.

04 / On the ground