The day on the hill
Frequent summit cloud on Driesh: summit wind broadly 15-30 mph, with gusts 35-45 mph at times (strong winds).
Wind & exposure
Much calmer lower down - generally 5-15 mph in the valley, rising towards the tops.
Cloud & views
Cloud base around 600–900 m in the morning, then around 800–1100 m around midday and 600–900 m by late afternoon. 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 southwestern slopes and lift somewhat on the northeastern side, but local terrain can differ. Any sunshine may be confined to lower ground or breaks away from the summit.
Drizzle is forecast at times. The forecast total is up to around 2 mm, but local amounts will vary.
Forecast models differ on summit wind strength: around 19-33 mph at walker height, with gusts 27-46 mph.
Forecast confidence
Cloud height remains uncertain, especially where it is close to summit level. Buffeting may affect balance on exposed ground, particularly near ridges and edges.
Cloud-height uncertainty could put the summit in or out of cloud, even where forecasts agree on the wider cloud cover.
Cloud-free timing: Best around midday at about 35%, compared with around 20% early and 15% later.
Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine
The surrounding model grid indicates 2.6 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.
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
- Less than 1 hour
- Midday
- 2.4 h
- 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. 39/100Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Open-hillside camping looks poor overall around 600 m (39/100). 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. Wind direction may change substantially during the night. Shelter that works at dusk may be less effective later. Roughly 21.2 mm is forecast overnight, with rain liable to affect both pitching and packing up. Pitches near 600 and 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 7.6°C at 300 m to 6°C at 900 m.
Moon overnight
Waxing gibbous moon
- Illuminated disc
- 86%
- Moonrise
- 18:12 BST
- Moonset
- 02:29 next morning BST
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 22 Sep, 17:00 BST to 23 Sep, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 12 mph / 24 mph
- Typical / low
- 12.6°C / 7.6°C · several hours
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 15 mph / 29 mph
- Typical / low
- 12.6°C / 7.6°C · several hours
- In cloud
- 27% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 17 mph / 34 mph
- Typical / low
- 10.5°C / 6.0°C · several hours
- In cloud
- 93% 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 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 & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely. Gusts near 30 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. Poor4/100 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling look very poor (4/100). Rain during the climbing period is likely to leave rock wet and more slippery. The mapped summit rock is Psammite and semipelite (Glen Effock Schist Formation). Dry quartz-rich bands can be grippy, while mica-rich or foliated sections, lichen and vegetation may become slippery when wet. Representative samples along available mapped routes also include Dioritic-rock, Amphibolite and hornblende schist and 3 other mapped types, so rock character and wet-weather behaviour may change across the mountain. 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 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.
Rock groups along the sampled routes
These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.
Mayar and Driesh
unclassified rock, psammite, pelite or semipelite, schist or phyllite, granite, gneiss or gabbro
Geological detail and BGS records
6 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.
Dry quartz-rich bands can be grippy, while mica-rich or foliated sections, lichen and vegetation may become slippery when wet.
BGS recordGrip and drying behaviour are not well resolved here; treat damp rock conservatively and check the surface directly.
BGS recordCan be positive when dry, but mica-rich or foliated surfaces, vegetation and lichen may become much less dependable when wet.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordDry quartz-rich bands can be grippy, while mica-rich or foliated sections, lichen and vegetation may become slippery when wet.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordGeneric 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 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.
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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