The day on the hill
A fine day on Castle Crag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect an easterly wind of 5–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 20–30 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out.
Rain and ground
It should stay dry.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 4 to 8°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. A windproof and an extra layer for stops will help.
Daylight
Sunset is around 4:25pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
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 the rain: about 7 mm of rain. 59Mixed · 300 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 11 mph. Dry to pitch, then about 7 mm of rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 300 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Moon overnight
Waning crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 5%
- Moonrise
- 05:27 next morning GMT
- Moonset
- Outside this window
Cloud may affect views of the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 6 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 7 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 5 mph / 11 mph
- Typical / low
- 5.2°C / 4.3°C · several hours
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled 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 & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent95 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Excellent conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Gusts of 20–30 mph will be noticeable on exposed ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly andesite, a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground. On the usual routes up you may also cross volcanic tuff, which is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
Andesite is a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground. 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.
Rock groups along the sampled routes
These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.
Wainwright Castle Crag
volcanic rock
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.
Andesite is a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground.
BGS recordAndesite is a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground.
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 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 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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