March stays on North Pennines
Elseghyll Barn
Alston · Sleeps 4
Indicative catalogue price £327 for 7 nightsExact March prices and availability are checked after you choose a week.What is North Pennines mountain weather like in March?
Typical mountain and low-level wind, temperature, rainfall and sunshine for March.
40-year mountain climate
Typical high-ground conditions in March.
Historically, March has been one of the more promising parts of the year for high-ground days. Of 1,240 representative high-ground days, 46% were settled for rain and wind, 39% were mixed, and 15% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Dry days accounted for 55% of the sample. Across the whole year, the settled-day share is 47%, with around 178 wet days, so a region's strongest month should not be mistaken for its usual climate. As a separate check, the Met Office 1991–2020 average at Carlisle is 109 hours of bright sunshine during March. Cloud and views are deliberately kept out of the settled-day score because they vary sharply between individual summits; check the live forecast nearer the trip. These figures describe representative high ground around 893 metres, so coastal and low-level conditions can be milder.
Settled rain and wind46%Historically dry55%High-ground temperature0.8°CTypical maximum gust30 mphStronger days around 41 mphMet Office sunshine context109 hrsAverage bright sunshine in March, 1991–2020 · Carlisle
Plan beyond the forecast
Choose an area and week.
Saturday dates are highlighted because they usually unlock the widest choice of seven-night cottage stays. Other arrival days still work.
Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 11 · 13 March
What this week is typically like on North Pennines high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 44% were settled for rain and wind and 15% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live North Pennines forecast →Settled rain and wind44%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind21%Dry, manageable wind23%Mixed41%Poor13%Severe2%
Historically dry59% of daysTypical daily max gust32 mphStronger days around 42 mphTypical high ground1.1°C24-hour mean near 893 mPoor or severe rain/wind15% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
March context: 46% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 15% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full March guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Alston.
Representative base · 285 mTypical daily high8.0°CWarmer days 9.8°CHistorically dry59%50% dry with lighter windMaximum wind14 mphStronger days 19 mphTypical overnight low2.4°CCooler nights -0.4°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare North Pennines month by month
Valleys and trip bases
Low-level weather around Alston in March.
Alston, at roughly 285 metres, provides a practical low-level reference for North Pennines. Across 1,240 historical days, the typical daytime high was 7.5°C, with warmer days around 9.8°C.
About 55% of days were dry and 50% combined dry weather with lighter winds. Conditions vary across glens, coasts and villages, so this should be used as regional trip-planning guidance rather than a forecast for every location.
Typical daily high7.5°CWarmer days around 9.8°CTypical overnight low1.9°CCooler nights around -0.7°CHistorically dry55%5% had 10 mm+ rainTypical maximum wind13 mphStronger days around 18 mph
January to December
North Pennines weather by month.
Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.
January43% settled rain/wind
High ground: 33% mixed · 24% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 50% dry · 5.0°C daily high
February42% settled rain/wind
High ground: 34% mixed · 24% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 51% dry · 5.7°C daily high
March46% settled rain/wind
High ground: 39% mixed · 15% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 55% dry · 7.5°C daily high
April48% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 55% dry · 9.8°C daily high
May49% settled rain/wind
High ground: 45% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 53% dry · 12.8°C daily high
June51% settled rain/wind
High ground: 45% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 54% dry · 15.2°C daily high
July47% settled rain/wind
High ground: 49% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 49% dry · 16.9°C daily high
August48% settled rain/wind
High ground: 47% mixed · 5% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 51% dry · 16.5°C daily high
September52% settled rain/wind
High ground: 40% mixed · 8% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 57% dry · 14.6°C daily high
October45% settled rain/wind
High ground: 43% mixed · 12% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 52% dry · 11.4°C daily high
November45% settled rain/wind
High ground: 40% mixed · 15% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 52% dry · 7.8°C daily high
December44% settled rain/wind
High ground: 33% mixed · 23% poor or severe for rain/windAlston: 51% dry · 5.7°C daily high
Strongest historical signals
Best weeks of the year for North Pennines mountain weather.
These are the six week bands with the largest historical share of settled rain-and-wind days. Views are not included; use the live forecast nearer the trip.
- 01Week around 19 June55% settled rain/wind · 5% poor or severePlan this week →
- 02Week around 19 September55% settled rain/wind · 7% poor or severePlan this week →
- 03Week around 10 October55% settled rain/wind · 7% poor or severePlan this week →
- 04Week around 28 August54% settled rain/wind · 4% poor or severePlan this week →
- 05Week around 4 September54% settled rain/wind · 6% poor or severePlan this week →
- 06Week around 10 April54% settled rain/wind · 7% poor or severePlan this week →
20 mountain areas
Compare another part of the UK.
The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.
Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually