Forecast confidence: Rain could reach the main walking period or hold off until later; forecast models disagree on the timing.
Cloud-free timing: Around 30% early, falling to around 20% later.
A wild day on Braeriach: summit wind broadly 30-50 mph, with gusts 55-65 mph around midday (storm-force winds). Much calmer lower down - generally 20-30 mph in the valley, rising towards the tops. Cloud base around 1300–1600 m through the morning, lowering to 400–700 m by late afternoon. The top is likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a view early in the morning. Cloud height is close to summit level at times, so small local changes could put the top in or out of cloud. Cloud is likely to hang lowest on western slopes; the eastern side should see somewhat higher bases and better breaks. Sunshine is likely to be limited to about 2 hours through breaks in the cloud. Some rain is likely, with around 5-10 mm indicated; timing and local totals remain uncertain. Cold on top: air temperature broadly 2 to 6°C, feeling around -6 to -2°C in the wind - wrap up. Confidence moderate (forecast models agree on the walking impact of the wind) - walker-height summit wind could reasonably be 41-48 mph, with gusts 57-68 mph. Cloud base is the least certain part of this - it could sit a couple of hundred metres either way, especially where it is close to summit level.
Sunshine and sky
Limited sunny breaks. Any sunshine is likely to come through limited breaks.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. Local hill cloud can still make an individual summit brighter or duller than the surrounding model grid.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaGusts near 65 mph make meaningful shelter important. 39/100Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Open-hillside camping looks poor overall around 600 m (39/100). A lower pitch near 300 m looks more comfortable; conditions are less suitable by 900 m. Open-ground gusts may reach about 65 mph, making exposed pitches a poor choice. Peak gusts increase from about 45 mph at 300 m to 65 mph at 900 m. Around 2 mm is forecast, with a damp or wet pitch most likely. From around 600 m upward, pitches may spend part of the night in cloud, with high condensation risk, persistent damp and poor visibility; ventilation will matter. The coldest temperature falls from about 6.3°C at 300 m to 3.9°C at 900 m.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 27 / 44 mph
- Typical / low
- 7.3° / 6.3°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 32 / 53 mph
- Typical / low
- 6.6° / 5.9°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 25% of night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 38 / 63 mph
- Typical / low
- 4.7° / 3.9°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 25% of night
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 2°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 60 mph increase the seriousness of exposed ground. 0/100Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling look very poor (0/100). Rain during the useful part of the day is likely to leave rock wet and more slippery. The mapped summit rock is Biotite granite (Cairngorm Pluton, Phase 2). Generally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery. Representative samples along available mapped routes also include Aplitic-porphyritic microgranite, so rock character and wet-weather behaviour may change across the mountain. Gusts may reach about 60 mph; crosswinds can make exposed ridges substantially more serious. Cloud may also make route-finding and retreat harder.
Generally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery. Summit-point mapping plus representative BGS bedrock samples along available GPX routes. These are not continuous geological surveys; contacts, superficial deposits and the exposed rock on individual holds may differ.
2 rock types appear across the available route samples
The summit type remains the forecast's cautious rock-response reference. Other mapped types show where conditions may behave differently elsewhere on the mountain.
Generally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordSee sampled routes
Braeriach669–1,291 m samplesBiotite granite · Aplitic-porphyritic microgranite
The Devil's Point, Cairn Toul, Sgòr an Lochain Uaine and Braeriach769–1,288 m samplesBiotite granite · Aplitic-porphyritic microgranite
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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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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