The day on the hill
Frequent summit cloud on Ben Vrackie: summit wind broadly 15-25 mph, with gusts 25-35 mph at times (a fresh breeze).
Cloud & views
Cloud base mostly around 600–900 m through daylight. Summit cloud is likely, but brief clear spells remain possible if the cloud sits higher than expected.
Cloud-height uncertainty could put the summit in or out of cloud. Clear spells may be difficult to time.
Cloud may hang lower on western slopes and lift somewhat on the eastern side, but local terrain can differ. Any sunshine may be confined to lower ground or breaks away from the summit.
Rain & temperature
Little or no rain is forecast. Forecast models differ on summit wind strength: around 15-31 mph at walker height, with gusts 21-43 mph.
Forecast confidence
Cloud height remains uncertain, especially where it is close to summit level. Exposed tops may feel chilly in the wind.
A windproof layer will help, with an extra warm layer for stops. Cloud-height uncertainty could put the summit in or out of cloud, even where forecasts agree on the wider cloud cover.
Cloud-free timing: Around 35% early, falling to around 25% later.
Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine
The surrounding model grid indicates Less than 1 hour 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.
Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.
- Early
- 0 h
- Midday
- Less than 1 hour
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaGusts near 35 mph make meaningful shelter important. 59/100Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Open-hillside camping looks mixed overall around 600 m (59/100). A lower pitch near 300 m looks more comfortable. Conditions are less suitable by 900 m. Open-ground gusts may reach about 35 mph. Seek meaningful shelter. Peak gusts range from about 25 mph at 300 m to 35 mph at 900 m. Little overnight rain is forecast. Pitches near 900 m may spend part of the night in cloud, bringing damp conditions and poor visibility while cloud is present. Condensation risk is high near 300, 600 and 900 m. Ventilation will matter. The coldest temperature falls from about 11.5°C at 300 m to 9.5°C at 900 m.
Moon overnight
Waxing gibbous moon
- Illuminated disc
- 78%
- Moonrise
- 18:02 BST
- Moonset
- 01:07 next morning BST
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 21 Sep, 17:00 BST to 22 Sep, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 14 mph / 26 mph
- Typical / low
- 12.2°C / 11.5°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 17 mph / 31 mph
- Typical / low
- 12.2°C / 11.5°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 20 mph / 36 mph
- Typical / low
- 10.9°C / 9.5°C · several hours
- In cloud
- 100% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 2-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 8°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 & scramblingBetaGusts near 30 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. Mixed66/100 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling look fair (66/100). Rock is likely to be mostly dry, though seepage and shaded holds are not resolved. The mapped summit rock is Graphitic pelite (Ben Eagach Schist Formation). Dry quartz-rich bands can be grippy, while mica-rich or foliated sections, lichen and vegetation may become slippery when wet. Gusts may reach about 30 mph. Crosswinds can make exposed ridges substantially more serious. Cloud may also make route-finding and retreat harder.
Dry quartz-rich bands can be grippy, while mica-rich or foliated sections, lichen and vegetation may become slippery when wet. Summit-point bedrock mapping; the actual route may cross different rock, superficial deposits, polish, lichen or seepage.
Generic exposed scrambling terrain; mapped summit-point bedrock is 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 darkBetaClearer spells are possible, but other forecasts keep much of the sky obscured by cloud. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-09-21. All times are UK local time.
Stargazing
Mixed sky conditions during the best available spell: 22 Sep, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST.
Clearer spells are possible, but other forecasts keep much of the sky obscured by cloud.
Moon-free dark sky: 22 Sep, 01:00 BST to 04:50 BST.
Sky conditions through the night
| Time | Viewing conditions |
|---|---|
| 21 Sep, 21:30 BST to 22:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Cloud is likely to obscure much of the sky. Reduced visibility may obscure faint objects. |
| 21 Sep, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Cloud is likely to obscure much of the sky. Reduced visibility may obscure faint objects. |
| 21 Sep, 23:00 BST to 22 Sep, 00:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Cloud is likely to obscure much of the sky. Reduced visibility may obscure faint objects. |
| 22 Sep, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Cloud is likely to obscure much of the sky. |
| 22 Sep, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST | Poor sky conditions Cloud is likely to obscure much of the sky. |
| 22 Sep, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST | Mixed sky conditions Clearer spells are possible, but other forecasts keep much of the sky obscured by cloud. Forecast models disagree. |
| 22 Sep, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST | Mixed sky conditions Clearer spells are possible, but other forecasts keep much of the sky obscured by cloud. Forecast models disagree. |
| 22 Sep, 04:00 BST to 04:50 BST | Poor sky conditions Clearer spells are possible, but other forecasts keep much of the sky obscured by cloud. Forecast models disagree. |
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Gibbous moon, about 78% illuminated.
Moonrise around 21 Sep, 18:05 BST.
Moonset around 22 Sep, 01:00 BST.
Full darkness: 21 Sep, 21:30 BST to 22 Sep, 04:50 BST.
Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.
Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.
- Draconids: peak around 9 October 2026.
- Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
- Orionids: peak around 21 October 2026.
- Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
- Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
- Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
- Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.
Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.
Darkness of the surroundings
Estimated darkness rank 488 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.
2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.
VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.
Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.
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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