The day on the hill
A mixed day on Beinn Stacath, with the summit in cloud for most of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-easterly wind of 10–25 mph for most of the day, 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
Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.
Rain and ground
Drizzle sets in during the early afternoon.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Daylight
A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:30pm, 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 0 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
- 0 h
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of damp air: gusts of about 25 mph. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
A mixed night to camp, mainly because of damp air. Gusts reach about 25 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the southeast. Dry to pitch, then a little rain overnight, easing by morning, though the tent may still be wet. The air is damp at every height we checked (300-600 m), so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 300 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Moon overnight
Waning crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 11%
- Moonrise
- 04:14 next morning GMT
- Moonset
- Outside this window
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 5 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 6 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 14 mph / 21 mph
- Typical / low
- 3.8°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 17 mph / 26 mph
- Typical / low
- 3.8°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°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. Poor15 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. 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 psammite banded with schist, a hard, sandy rock with flakier, mica-rich layers. It grips well on the harder bands when dry and is slippery on the mica-rich layers when wet. The flaky layers split easily, so some flakes and ledges are loose. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
Psammite banded with schist is a hard, sandy rock with flakier, mica-rich layers. It grips well on the harder bands when dry and is slippery on the mica-rich layers when wet. The flaky layers split easily, so some flakes and ledges are loose. 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.
Geological detail and BGS records
4 rock types appear in the mapped samples
Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.
Lamprophyre is a dark rock that usually forms thin dykes. It grips reasonably when dry and is poor when wet. It weathers easily and is often crumbly and loose, so treat it with suspicion.
BGS recordPsammite banded with schist is a hard, sandy rock with flakier, mica-rich layers. It grips well on the harder bands when dry and is slippery on the mica-rich layers when wet. The flaky layers split easily, so some flakes and ledges are loose.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordPsammite is a hard, sandy rock that has been squeezed and heated. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid and blocky.
BGS recordGeneric 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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