The day on the hill
A good day on Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard, though expect sleet or snow on the tops.
Snow and navigation
Sleet or snow is possible on the tops in the afternoon, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 700 to 1000 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. Blowing snow may quickly cover paths and footprints and make navigation difficult. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.
Wind
On the summit expect a north-westerly wind of around 5–15 mph first thing, rising to 20–30 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 25–35 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 400–700 m at times. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. Visibility may drop briefly in showers. Patchy mist is possible in sheltered valleys early on. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.
Rain and ground
Sleet arrives mid-afternoon. Expect up to 2 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. Some forecast models keep it drier later on.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:10pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
Cloud height is hard to pin down, so the summit could be in or out of cloud at short notice. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.
Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine
The surrounding model grid indicates 2.1 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
- Early
- 0 h
- Midday
- 1.1 h
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: gusts of about 40 mph and about 4 mm of rain. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph around 900 m and nearer 25 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Look for shelter from the northwest. Expect about 4 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A frost at every height we checked (300-900 m), down to about -4°C. A 4-season bag rated to about -6°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 16 mph / 27 mph
- Typical / low
- 0.2°C / -1.1°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 20 mph / 33 mph
- Typical / low
- -0.7°C / -2.1°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 60% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 24 mph / 39 mph
- Typical / low
- -2.7°C / -3.7°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 60% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 4-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -6°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor3 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly gneiss, a very old, hard, banded rock. It grips very well when dry and stays reasonably grippy when wet. It is usually very solid. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
Gneiss is a very old, hard, banded rock. It grips very well when dry and stays reasonably grippy when wet. It is usually very solid. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.
Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaNight-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. This does not mean clear skies or no aurora.
Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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