Ruadh-stac Beag Weather Forecast – 896m, Northwest Highlands

Wednesday 4 November 2026Confidence: High

Overall hill weather93Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-10 mph easterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:005-15 mph Feels like0 to 4°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:40 · Sunset 16:29 · 8.8 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Ruadh-stac Beag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 10 mph, mainly easterly, with gusts of 5–15 mph at the windiest.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around 2 to 6°C, feeling like 0 to 4°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a warm layer and a hat for the top.

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.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 7.2 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: 2 h
Midday: 4 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.

93

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.

93

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: dry, with light winds. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Wednesday 4 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 15 mph. It should stay dry. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 900 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.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m8 mph · gusts 14 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waning crescent moon

Illuminated disc: 18%
Moonrise: 02:55 next morning GMT
Moonset: Outside this window

Clear spells may allow a view of the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 4 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 5 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 6 mph / 12 mph
Typical / low: 4.5°C / 3.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 8 mph / 14 mph
Typical / low: 4.5°C / 3.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

900 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 9 mph / 17 mph
Typical / low: 3.9°C / 3.1°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent95 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

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. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust5-15 mphRain0.0 mm

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-04. All times are UK local time.

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 3.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale).

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Very good sky conditions during the best available spell: 4 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.

Moon-free dark sky: 4 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 5 Nov, 03:00 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
4 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Very good sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.
4 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Very good sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.
4 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Very good sky conditions Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.
4 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
4 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
4 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 5 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
5 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
5 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
5 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
5 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
5 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
5 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:30 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 18% illuminated.

Moonrise around 5 Nov, 03:00 GMT.

Full darkness: 4 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 5 Nov, 05:30 GMT.

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.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Wednesday 4 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Thursday 5 November 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather100Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-20 mph southeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Cloud base through day1,100-1,400 m Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:42 · Sunset 16:26 · 8.7 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Ruadh-stac Beag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 15 mph, mainly south-easterly, with gusts of 15–25 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. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

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 4:25pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud heights are particularly hard to pin down today. Some of the detail could still change, so have a last look at the forecast in the morning before you set off.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 7 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: 2 h
Midday: 4 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.

100

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground.

99

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: dry, with light winds. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Thursday 5 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 20 mph. It should stay dry. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 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.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m10 mph · gusts 18 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waning crescent moon

Illuminated disc: 11%
Moonrise: 04:20 next morning GMT
Moonset: Outside this window

Views of the Moon may come and go through cloud breaks. 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)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 9 mph / 15 mph
Typical / low: 4.1°C / 3.2°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 10 mph / 18 mph
Typical / low: 4.1°C / 3.2°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

900 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 12 mph / 21 mph
Typical / low: 3.4°C / 1.6°C · much of the night
In cloud: 7% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent95 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

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. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust15-25 mphRain0.0 mm

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-05. All times are UK local time.

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 2.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale). It would take about Kp 3.3 for a camera to pick up a glow low in the north, though that is not a hard line.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Mixed sky conditions during the best available spell: 6 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 5 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 6 Nov, 04:30 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
5 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
5 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
5 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
5 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
5 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
5 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 6 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
6 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
6 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
6 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
6 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
6 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.
6 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:30 GMT	Poor sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 10% illuminated.

Moonrise around 6 Nov, 04:30 GMT.

Full darkness: 5 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 6 Nov, 05:30 GMT.

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.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Thursday 5 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Friday 6 November 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather90Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-15 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate80% Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:44 · Sunset 16:24 · 8.7 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Ruadh-stac Beag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 15 mph, mainly southerly, with gusts of 10–20 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 5 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 0 to 4°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. 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 4:25pm, 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. It's still two days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 1.4 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: Less than 1 hour
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.

90

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph in the early afternoon, easing to 0-5 mph later. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.

90

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: dry, with light winds. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Friday 6 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 8 mph. It should stay dry. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m3 mph · gusts 7 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waning crescent moon

Illuminated disc: 5%
Moonrise: 05:46 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)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 3 mph / 6 mph
Typical / low: 4.6°C / 4.0°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 3 mph / 7 mph
Typical / low: 4.6°C / 4.0°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

900 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 4 mph / 8 mph
Typical / low: 2.2°C / 1.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent95 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

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. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust10-20 mphRain0.0 mm

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-06. All times are UK local time.

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 3.0 (on a 0 to 9 scale).

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 6 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 6 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 7 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
6 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
6 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
6 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
6 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
6 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
6 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 7 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:35 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-new moon, about 5% illuminated.

Moonrise around 7 Nov, 06:00 GMT.

Full darkness: 6 Nov, 18:40 GMT to 7 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

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.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Friday 6 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Saturday 7 November 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather77Good

Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-15 mph southeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate75% Cloud base through day600-1,300 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:46 · Sunset 16:22 · 8.6 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Ruadh-stac Beag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 15 mph, mainly south-easterly, with gusts of 10–20 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 5 mph.

Cloud and visibility

The tops start clear, but the cloud comes down onto them around midday. The cloud base could be as low as 600–900 m mid-afternoon. Mist or fog is possible in the valleys early on, clearing by about 11am. It looks hazy, so views may be limited even when the tops are clear.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

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 close to summit height. 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 4:20pm, 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. It's still three days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 1.7 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: 1.7 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.

76

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.

78

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of damp air: dry, with light winds. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Saturday 7 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of damp air. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 10 mph. It should stay dry. The air is damp up around 900 m, so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 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.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m2 mph · gusts 9 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 2 mph / 7 mph
Typical / low: 4.6°C / 3.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 2 mph / 9 mph
Typical / low: 4.5°C / 3.8°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

900 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 2 mph / 10 mph
Typical / low: 2.3°C / 1.5°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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGood conditions for exposed scrambling. Good77 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Good conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust10-20 mphRain0.0 mm

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-07. All times are UK local time.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 7 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 7 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 8 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
7 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
7 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
7 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
7 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.
7 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
7 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 8 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:35 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-new moon, about 2% illuminated.

Moonrise around 8 Nov, 07:30 GMT.

Full darkness: 7 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 8 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

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.

Orionids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Saturday 7 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Sunday 8 November 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather93Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-10 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:005-15 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate85% Freezing levelAbove summit DaylightSunrise 07:49 · Sunset 16:20 · 8.5 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Ruadh-stac Beag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 10 mph, mainly westerly, with gusts of 5–15 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 5 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 0 to 4°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. 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 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud heights are particularly hard to pin down today. It's still four days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 2.9 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: 2.7 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-5 mph. Gusts around 0-10 mph are possible on exposed ground.

93

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.

93

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: dry, with light winds. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Sunday 8 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 10 mph. It should stay dry. Up around 900 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 900 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.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m6 mph · gusts 10 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 5 mph / 9 mph
Typical / low: 3.9°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 6 mph / 10 mph
Typical / low: 3.5°C / 3.3°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

900 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 7 mph / 12 mph
Typical / low: 1.4°C / 1.3°C · much of the night
In cloud: 27% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent94 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

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. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust5-15 mphRain0.0 mm

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-08. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 8 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 8 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 9 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
8 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
8 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 9 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:35 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-new moon, about 0% illuminated.

Full darkness: 8 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 9 Nov, 05:35 GMT.

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.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Sunday 8 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Monday 9 November 2026Confidence: Medium

Overall hill weather86Excellent

Summit wind · 08:00-17:000-10 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:005-15 mph Feels like-4 to 0°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:51 · Sunset 16:18 · 8.4 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Ruadh-stac Beag: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 10 mph, mainly westerly, with gusts of 5–15 mph at the windiest.

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 0 to 4°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

Cloud heights are particularly hard to pin down today. It's still five days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 6.8 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: 0.9 h
Midday: 4 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 0-10 mph are possible on exposed ground.

79

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Excellent Summit winds around 0-10 mph. Gusts around 5-15 mph are possible on exposed ground.

93

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain: gusts of about 20 mph. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Monday 9 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 20 mph. Dry to pitch, then some light rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. The air is damp above about 600 m, so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 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.

Overnight rain1.4 mm Open ground · 600 m12 mph · gusts 19 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 10 mph / 16 mph
Typical / low: 3.9°C / 3.5°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 12 mph / 19 mph
Typical / low: 3.2°C / 3.1°C · much of the night
In cloud: 40% of modelled night
Condensation: High

900 m52 · mixed

Wind / gust: 14 mph / 22 mph
Typical / low: 1.8°C / 1.5°C · much of the night
In cloud: 53% 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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGood conditions for exposed scrambling. Good80 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Good conditions for exposed scrambling. It should stay mostly dry, but a passing shower could leave the rock damp and slippery. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceDry initially; rain possiblePeak gust5-15 mphRainPossible · 25%

Main concernrain possible despite mostly dry conditions being favoured

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-09. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Slightly raised activity, probably not enough to reach this far.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 9 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 9 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 10 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
9 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
9 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 10 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
10 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
10 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
10 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
10 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
10 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
10 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-new moon, about 1% illuminated.

Full darkness: 9 Nov, 18:35 GMT to 10 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

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.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Monday 9 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Tuesday 10 November 2026Confidence: Unavailable

Overall hill weather64Mixed

Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-20 mph southwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-6 to -2°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate60% Cloud base through day400-1,100 m Freezing level700-1,000 m DaylightSunrise 07:53 · Sunset 16:16 · 8.4 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A mixed day on Ruadh-stac Beag, with sleet or snow on the tops.

Snow and navigation

Sleet or snow is possible on the tops in the morning, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 900 to 1000 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain.

Wind

On the summit expect light winds of up to 15 mph, mainly south-westerly, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. The wind turns southerly around midday. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Cloud on the tops early should lift off them by midday. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m early in the morning. It looks hazy, so views may be limited even when the tops are clear.

Rain and ground

Sleet is possible on the tops, and it could turn to snow if it is a little colder. Drizzle at first, clearing by midday. Expect up to 2 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still six days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 5.2 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: Less than 1 hour
Midday: 3.6 h
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Mixed Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.

59

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later.

68

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: a frost, down to -1°C. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Tuesday 10 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 10 mph. Dry to pitch, then a little rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. A frost up around 900 m, down to about -1°C. 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.

Overnight rain0.8 mm Open ground · 600 m4 mph · gusts 11 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 3 mph / 9 mph
Typical / low: 4.9°C / 3.5°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

600 m59 · mixed

Wind / gust: 4 mph / 11 mph
Typical / low: 4.9°C / 3.5°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

900 m39 · poor

Wind / gust: 4 mph / 12 mph
Typical / low: 0.2°C / -0.9°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Moderate

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.

Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor6 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust15-25 mphRain1.0 mm

Main factorswet rock likelySub-zero temperatures and moisture may leave icy patches on exposed rock

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-10. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 10 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 10 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 11 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night

Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time	Viewing conditions
10 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 19:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
10 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
10 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
10 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
10 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
10 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 11 Nov, 00:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
11 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
11 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
11 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
11 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
11 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.
11 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMT	Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Near-new moon, about 3% illuminated.

Full darkness: 10 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 11 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

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.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

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 73 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.

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.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Ruadh-stac Beag on Tuesday 10 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Wednesday 11 November 2026Confidence: Unavailable

Overall hill weather78Good

Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-30 mph northeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationUp to around 2 mm Cloud-free summit estimate70% Cloud base through day1,100-1,400 m Freezing level600-900 m DaylightSunrise 07:56 · Sunset 16:14 · 8.3 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A good day on Ruadh-stac Beag, though expect sleet or snow on the tops.

Snow and navigation

Sleet or snow is possible on the tops in the morning, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 900 to 1000 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain.

Wind

On the summit expect a north-easterly wind of around 5–15 mph first thing, rising to 20–30 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 30–40 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 30–40 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of a clear summit early in the morning. The cloud base could be as low as 700–1000 m around midday. Mist or fog is possible in the valleys early on, clearing by about 8am. The tops should be above it in clearer air.

Rain and ground

Sleet is possible on the tops, and it could turn to snow if it is a little colder. Drizzle at first, clearing by midday. Expect up to 2 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still seven days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

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.

Early: 0 h
Midday: Less than 1 hour
Later: 0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Good Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.

84

Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Winds strengthen compared with the morning. Summit winds around 15-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later.

71

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: gusts of about 40 mph and a frost, down to -3°C. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details

Night beginning Wednesday 11 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph around 900 m and nearer 25 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Look for shelter from the north. It should stay dry. A frost at every height we checked (300-900 m), down to about -3°C. A 4-season bag rated to about -6°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m22 mph · gusts 33 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -6°C or lower

Elevation reference (open ground)

300 m39 · poor

Wind / gust: 18 mph / 27 mph
Typical / low: -1.6°C / -2.2°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

600 m39 · poor

Wind / gust: 22 mph / 33 mph
Typical / low: -1.6°C / -2.2°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

900 m39 · poor

Wind / gust: 26 mph / 39 mph
Typical / low: -2.3°C / -2.7°C · much of the night
In cloud: 0% of modelled night
Condensation: Low

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 4-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 & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details

Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 30–40 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly quartzite, a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust30-40 mphRain0.4 mm

Main factorsgusts of 30–40 mphwet rock likelySub-zero temperatures and moisture may leave icy patches on exposed rock

Representative rock around the summit Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Origin: Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group: Quartzite
Mapping: BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area: Quartzite in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Rock-response profile: Moderate confidence

View the summit BGS record

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands. 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

Mapped variation

3 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.

Summit-area sample Quartzite Pipe Rock Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Dolomitic limestone and argillaceous rocks Fucoid Beds Member

Limestone is a pale sedimentary rock. It grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked and fissured along its edges.

BGS record

Summit-area sample Quartzite Basal Quartzite Member

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record

Generic 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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Ruadh-stac Beag weather forecast.

Choose your hill day.

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Moon overnight

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind

Cloud and visibility

Rain and ground

Warmth and kit

Daylight

Forecast confidence

Full overnight outlook

Elevation reference (open ground)

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

3 rock types appear in the mapped samples

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Aurora outlook

Stargazing

Darkness of the surroundings

The day on the hill

Wind