The day on the hill
A fine day on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin: dry and breezy, with clear tops for most of the day, though expect a bitter wind chill.
Wind
On the summit expect a north-westerly wind of around 5–15 mph first thing, rising to 20–30 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 25–35 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.
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 -4 to 0°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 700–1000 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops.
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
There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. 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 5.2 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
- 1.2 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 up around 900 m (gusts of about 45 mph and a frost, down to -3°C). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 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. 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 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 / 32 mph
- Typical / low
- -0.2°C / -0.6°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Low
- Wind / gust
- 25 mph / 39 mph
- Typical / low
- -0.8°C / -1.4°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 13% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 29 mph / 45 mph
- Typical / low
- -2.9°C / -3.3°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 40% 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 -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 & scramblingBetaFair conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 25–35 mph. Mixed67 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Fair conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Gusts of 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery 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.
The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also 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.
Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain
psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro
Geological detail and BGS records
5 rock types appear in the mapped samples
No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.
Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.
BGS recordSchist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.
BGS recordQuartzite 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 recordSchist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.
Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.
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 darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-11-11. 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
Good sky conditions during the best available spell: 12 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT.
Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.
Moon-free dark sky: 11 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 12 Nov, 05:40 GMT.
Sky conditions through the night
| Time | Viewing conditions |
|---|---|
| 11 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 19:00 GMT | Poor sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 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. |
| 11 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 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. |
| 11 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT | Good sky conditions Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks. Forecast models disagree. |
| 11 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 12 Nov, 00:00 GMT | Mixed sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT | Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. |
| 12 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT | Good sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT | Good sky conditions Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. Forecast models disagree. |
| 12 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. |
| 12 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT | Poor sky conditions Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. |
| 12 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 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 7% illuminated.
Full darkness: 11 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 12 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.
- 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 229 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.
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