Mountain Weather

Polney Crag (Craig a Barns)

Trad climbing conditions · Dunkeld · Mica schist · New service · Give us feedback

Poor

28/100

Rain is indicated during the climbing window and may wet exposed rock.

191 m · representative sector

Crag-wide signal

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
0.1 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
2.2 mm
Face wind / gust
13 / 24 mph
Above-crag gust
37 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High

Sun and shade

About 0.0 hours of general sunshine from 08:00 until sunset (about 19:57). Local sun and shade are not resolved, so no face-specific estimate is shown.

How we estimate sun and shade

We use a digital elevation model (a 3D map of the land), the sun's position and the direction the crag faces to estimate when nearby hills or the face itself block the sun. Forecast sunshine and cloud then help estimate how much sunshine is likely. Where terrain or face-direction data are missing, we show general sunshine only.

Vegetation is not mapped in detail, and we cannot resolve small rock features, ledges or overhangs. Hills beyond the sampled 2 km can also change local shade. Sunshine does not guarantee dry or ice-free rock.

Wind, rain and daily score: 08:00–18:00 local time.

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 37 mph. A precomputed terrain-flow profile refines how the face shelter changes with wind direction.

Wet rock or seepage-prone sections are a concern; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

Forecast generated 5 September 2026 at 11:21 UTC. Weather input cached 5 September 2026 at 11:21 UTC. Includes Mountain Weather rock and exposure estimates. This is a build time, not a single model-run time.

Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.

Use it as a starting signal

Mica schist still needs an on-arrival check.

Can be positive when dry, but mica-rich or foliated surfaces, vegetation and lichen may become much less dependable when wet. Broad crag-level rock context; individual sectors and routes may cross different rock, polish, lichen, superficial deposits or seepage.

Rain is model-grid precipitation, including any snow as water equivalent; nearby crags can share it. Aspect and terrain refine wind and drying, not cliff-by-cliff rainfall or rain shadows.

Crag drying and sheltered-wind estimates have not yet been validated against crag-level observations. Published summit checks are not a validation of low crags, woodland or individual belays.

The forecast combines recent and expected rain with broad drying, humidity, dew and wind signals. The climb and open ground above the crag are treated separately where the mapped face gives useful shelter context.

A representative forecast for Polney Crag, not the separate Cave Crags sport venue. Individual walls and tree cover are not mapped, so precise face shelter and sunshine remain unresolved. Forecast-grid weather and representative sector geometry only. Check live access information and touch-test the rock before climbing.

Official access advice: Mountaineering Scotland. We link to the source without reproducing its access notes or restrictions. Check it before travel; no endorsement or partnership is implied.

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