The day on the hill
A good day on Sgùrr Mhic Chòinnich, though expect snow on the tops.
Snow and navigation
Snow is forecast on the tops in the afternoon. The air freezing level is roughly 900 to 1000 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. Blowing snow may quickly cover paths and footprints and make navigation difficult. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.
Wind
On the summit expect a north-westerly wind of around 0–10 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 it will be more like 5–15 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 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
Snow arrives in the early afternoon. 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 4:20pm, 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. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.
Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine
The surrounding model grid indicates 5.9 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
- 1.9 h
- Midday
- 3 h
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m (gusts of about 50 mph and a frost, down to -3°C). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 50 mph around 900 m and nearer 35 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Dry to pitch, then a little rain overnight, easing by morning, though the tent may still be wet. A frost at every height we checked (300-900 m), down to about -3°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 21 mph / 34 mph
- Typical / low
- 0.7°C / -0.7°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Low
- Wind / gust
- 26 mph / 41 mph
- Typical / low
- 0.2°C / -1.4°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 13% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Low
- Wind / gust
- 30 mph / 48 mph
- Typical / low
- -2.3°C / -3.1°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 13% 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 -4°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 & scramblingBetaPoor conditions for exposed scrambling. Poor30 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be drying, but damp patches, shaded holds and drainage lines may still be wet. 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 dolerite, a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them. On the usual routes up you may also cross gabbro, which has superb grip when dry and still grips well when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.
Rock groups along the sampled routes
These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.
Sgùrr Mhic Chòinnich
granite, gneiss or gabbro, volcanic rock
Geological detail and BGS records
7 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.
Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.
BGS recordGabbro is a very rough, coarse-crystalled rock. It has superb grip when dry and still grips well when wet. It is generally very solid, though the thin, smooth dykes that cut through it are slippery when wet and often loose. It can be magnetic in places, so a compass may be unreliable.
BGS recordGabbro is a very rough, coarse-crystalled rock. It has superb grip when dry and still grips well when wet. It is generally very solid, though the thin, smooth dykes that cut through it are slippery when wet and often loose. It can be magnetic in places, so a compass may be unreliable.
BGS recordBasalt is a dark volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and can be very slippery when wet. It is often blocky and shattered, with loose rubble on ledges.
BGS recordGabbro is a very rough, coarse-crystalled rock. It has superb grip when dry and still grips well when wet. It is generally very solid, though the thin, smooth dykes that cut through it are slippery when wet and often loose. It can be magnetic in places, so a compass may be unreliable.
BGS recordGabbro is a very rough, coarse-crystalled rock. It has superb grip when dry and still grips well when wet. It is generally very solid, though the thin, smooth dykes that cut through it are slippery when wet and often loose. It can be magnetic in places, so a compass may be unreliable.
Dolerite is a hard, dark, fine-grained rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is usually solid, but it often breaks into blocky columns, so check blocks before you pull on them.
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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