A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with rain arriving around midday and the summit in cloud for most of the day.
Things to watch
Burns could rise quickly from the afternoon into the night. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-westerly wind rising from around 15–25 mph to 25–35 mph mid-afternoon, then easing to 10–20 mph, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 75–85 mph.
Cloud and visibility
Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 300–600 m mid-afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Visibility may drop briefly in showers.
Rain and ground
A band of rain moves in around midday and becomes heavier through the afternoon. Expect 10–20 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 2 to 6°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 6pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
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 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
MixedSummit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground.
53
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
PoorMore rain is expected. Summit winds around 5-15 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 15-25 mph later. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the afternoon, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
32
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 about 6 mm of rain.39Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Wednesday 21 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph on open ground, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Look for shelter from the west. Expect about 6 mm of rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 600 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.
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 21 Oct, 17:00 BST to 22 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
20 mph / 32 mph
Typical / low
5.2°C / 4.6°C · several hours
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
24 mph / 39 mph
Typical / low
4.1°C / 3.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
20% 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.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 35–45 mph.Poor0View 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. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 gust35-45 mphRain12.3 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
Night beginning 2026-10-21. All times are UK local time.
Aurora is unlikely on this night
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). NOAA has a G1 storm watch out for this date, though the timing of the strongest activity can shift.
Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.
Stargazing
Very good sky conditions during the best available spell: 22 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST.
Mostly clear.
Moon-free dark sky: 22 Oct, 02:50 BST to 05:50 BST.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
21 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
21 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
21 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
21 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
21 Oct, 23:00 BST to 22 Oct, 00:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST
Mixed sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST
Mixed sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST
Good sky conditions
Mostly clear.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST
Very good sky conditions
Mostly clear.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:50 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Gibbous moon, about 80% illuminated.
Moonset around 22 Oct, 02:50 BST.
Full darkness: 21 Oct, 19:55 BST to 22 Oct, 05:50 BST.
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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Wednesday 21 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-25 mph westerlySummit gusts · 08:00-17:0020-30 mphFeels like-6 to -2°CPrecipitationUp to around 2 mmCloud-free summit estimate90%Freezing levelAbove summitDaylightSunrise 07:50 · Sunset 17:56 · 10.1 hours daylight
The day on the hill
A good day on Whernside: light winds and clear tops for most of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect a westerly wind of 10–25 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 20–30 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay clear of cloud all day. The air should be clear too, so expect far-reaching views from the tops.
Rain and ground
A band of rain crosses around midday, clearing by early afternoon. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Daylight
Sunset is around 5:55pm, 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 4.8 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.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
GoodSummit winds around 15-25 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground.
81
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
GoodSummit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period.
79
Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m (gusts of about 40 mph and around 9 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground.19Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Thursday 22 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 40 mph on open ground, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from southwesterly to easterly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Dry to pitch, then a wet night, around 9 mm of rain overnight and into the morning, so expect to pack a wet tent. Up around 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. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 600 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 22 Oct, 17:00 BST to 23 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
17 mph / 34 mph
Typical / low
6.4°C / 5.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
21 mph / 40 mph
Typical / low
5.5°C / 4.0°C · several hours
In cloud
40% 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.
Fair conditions for exposed scrambling. After recent rain the rock may still be wet in places, especially shaded holds and drainage lines. Gusts of 20–30 mph will be noticeable on exposed ridges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 overhead; seepage uncertainPeak gust20-30 mphRain0.2 mm
Main concerndamp or incompletely dried rock possible
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-10-22. All times are UK local time.
Aurora is unlikely on this night
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 5.0 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
Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST.
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Moon-free dark sky: 23 Oct, 04:10 BST to 05:55 BST.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
22 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
22 Oct, 23:00 BST to 23 Oct, 00:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Gibbous moon, about 88% illuminated.
Moonset around 23 Oct, 04:10 BST.
Full darkness: 22 Oct, 19:55 BST to 23 Oct, 05:55 BST.
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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Thursday 22 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with sleet or snow up high and the summit in cloud for most of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect a westerly wind of around 10–20 mph first thing, rising to 30–40 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 40–50 mph at the windiest. The wind turns north-westerly in the early afternoon. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 50–60 mph. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 45–55 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.
Cloud and visibility
Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 300–600 m mid-morning. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Visibility may drop briefly in showers.
Rain and ground
Sleet is possible on the tops, and it could turn to snow if it is a little colder. A band of rain moves in mid-morning. Expect 5–10 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. Totals are uncertain and could be higher.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -8 to -4°C in the wind. It turns colder through the day. 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
Sunset is around 5:55pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
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 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.
Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
PoorSummit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 20-30 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the morning, but models differ considerably on the amount.
41
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
PoorWinds strengthen compared with the morning. Summit winds around 10-20 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 25-35 mph later. Gusts around 40-50 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
16
Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m (gusts of about 45 mph). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground.9Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Friday 23 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. The wind swings from northwesterly to westerly overnight, so a pitch sheltered at dusk may not be by morning. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 600 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.
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: 23 Oct, 17:00 BST to 24 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
24 mph / 38 mph
Typical / low
3.9°C / 3.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
29 mph / 46 mph
Typical / low
3.0°C / 2.5°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.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 40–50 mph.Poor0View 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. Gusts of 40–50 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 gust40-50 mphRain5.7 mm
Main factorsgusts of 40–50 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
Night beginning 2026-10-23. All times are UK local time.
Aurora is unlikely on this night
A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 3.3 (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: 24 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BST.
Mostly clear.
Moon-free dark sky: 24 Oct, 05:30 BST to 05:55 BST.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
23 Oct, 19:55 BST to 20:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
23 Oct, 23:00 BST to 24 Oct, 00:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 01:00 BST to 02:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 02:00 BST to 03:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 03:00 BST to 04:00 BST
Mixed sky conditions
Mostly clear. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 04:00 BST to 05:00 BST
Good sky conditions
Mostly clear. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 05:00 BST to 05:55 BST
Good sky conditions
Mostly clear.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Gibbous moon, about 94% illuminated.
Moonset around 24 Oct, 05:30 BST.
Full darkness: 23 Oct, 19:55 BST to 24 Oct, 05:55 BST.
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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Friday 23 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with very strong, gusty winds and burns likely to be in spate.
Things to watch
Burns and rivers are likely to be in spate through the day and overnight, so unbridged crossings could be difficult or impossible. Timings are rough. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of around 15–25 mph first thing, rising to 40–50 mph by early afternoon, with gusts of 55–65 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 10–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 75–85 mph.
Cloud and visibility
Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 200–500 m mid-afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Visibility may drop briefly in showers.
Rain and ground
Rain for much of the day, becoming heavier through the afternoon. Expect 10–20 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. It turns milder through the day. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 5:50pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
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 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
PoorSummit winds around 15-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry.
31
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
Severe hill conditionsWinds strengthen compared with the morning. More rain is expected. Summit winds around 30-40 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 40-50 mph later. Gusts around 55-65 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
-29
Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 70 mph and around 12 mm of rain.0Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Saturday 24 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 70 mph around 600 m and nearer 60 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. Expect a wet night, around 12 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 600 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.
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 24 Oct, 17:00 BST to 25 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
39 mph / 59 mph
Typical / low
6.4°C / 5.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
47 mph / 71 mph
Typical / low
4.5°C / 3.8°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.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 55–65 mph.Poor0View 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. Gusts of 55–65 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 gust55-65 mphRain20.8 mm
Main factorsgusts of 55–65 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-10-24. All times are UK local time.
Stargazing
Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 25 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT.
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
24 Oct, 19:50 BST to 20:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 20:00 BST to 21:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 22:00 BST to 23:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
24 Oct, 23:00 BST to 25 Oct, 00:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 00:00 BST to 01:00 BST
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 01:00 BST to 01:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 04:55 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Near-full moon, about 98% illuminated.
Moonset around 25 Oct, 05:55 GMT.
Full darkness: 24 Oct, 19:50 BST to 25 Oct, 04:55 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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Saturday 24 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with very strong, gusty winds and drizzle clearing by mid-afternoon.
Wind
On the summit expect a westerly wind of around 45–55 mph first thing, easing to 35–45 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 65–75 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 15–25 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 80–90 mph. It could be windier still outside 8am–5pm, with summit winds around 50–60 mph and gusts of 70–80 mph, so bear that in mind if you are starting early or finishing late.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. A few forecast models bring the cloud base down to around 200–500 m at times. The cloud base sits close to summit height, so the top could go in and out of cloud at short notice. Visibility may drop briefly in showers. It will look largely cloudy overhead, but that cloud should mostly stay above the tops.
Rain and ground
Drizzle at first, clearing by mid-afternoon. Expect 2–5 mm in total. Some forecast models keep it drier later on. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 2 to 6°C, feeling like -8 to -4°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 4:50pm, 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. 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 9.3 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.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
Severe hill conditionsSummit winds around 40-55 mph. Gusts around 65-75 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
-10
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
PoorRain eases compared with the morning. Summit winds around 35-45 mph. Gusts around 50-60 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
19
Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 50 mph.9Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Sunday 25 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 50 mph on open ground, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. It should stay dry. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 600 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.
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: 25 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 26 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
21 mph / 40 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 3.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 48 mph
Typical / low
3.9°C / 3.5°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.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 65–75 mph.Poor0View 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. Gusts of 65–75 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 gust65-75 mphRain2.8 mm
Main factorsgusts of 65–75 mphwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-10-25. 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: 25 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
25 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 19:00 GMT
Mixed sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
25 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 26 Oct, 00:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Near-full moon, about 100% illuminated.
Moonset around 26 Oct, 07:25 GMT.
Full darkness: 25 Oct, 18:50 GMT to 26 Oct, 05:00 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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Sunday 25 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with a blustery wind and drizzle arriving mid-morning.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of around 10–20 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 are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 45–55 mph.
Cloud and visibility
The tops start clear, but the cloud comes down onto them mid-morning. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m mid-afternoon.
Rain and ground
Drizzle sets in mid-morning. Expect 2–5 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
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. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 4:45pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Forecast confidence
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 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
MixedSummit winds around 10-25 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Rain is forecast during this period.
58
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
PoorWinds strengthen compared with the morning. Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the afternoon, but models differ considerably on the amount.
19
Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m (gusts of about 45 mph and around 14 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground.19Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Monday 26 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph on open ground, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Expect a wet night, around 14 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Up around 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. Overnight lows of about 9°C at 300 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 6°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 26 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 27 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 37 mph
Typical / low
12.2°C / 9.3°C · a brief spell
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
30 mph / 44 mph
Typical / low
11.2°C / 9.3°C · a brief spell
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 6°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 30–40 mph.Poor0View 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. Gusts of 30–40 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 mphRain4.1 mm
Main factorsgusts of 30–40 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
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. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-10-26. 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: 26 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
26 Oct, 18:45 GMT to 19:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
26 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 27 Oct, 00:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Near-full moon, about 99% illuminated.
Full darkness: 26 Oct, 18:45 GMT to 27 Oct, 05:00 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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Monday 26 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with rain for much of the day and a blustery wind.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of 20–35 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 10–20 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 45–55 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.
Rain and ground
Rain for much of the day, turning lighter later. Expect 5–10 mm in total. Totals are uncertain and could be higher. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 4 to 8°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. It turns colder through the day. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 4:45pm, 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 8.2 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.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
PoorSummit winds around 20-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is forecast during the morning, but models differ considerably on the amount.
18
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
MixedRain eases compared with the morning. Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later. Rain is forecast during this period.
55
Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m (gusts of about 45 mph). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground.19Poor · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Tuesday 27 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph on open ground, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Expect some light rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Overnight lows of about 4°C at 300 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 27 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 28 Oct, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Elevation reference (open ground)
300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 38 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 4.2°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
27 mph / 44 mph
Typical / low
4.6°C / 4.2°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.
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: gusts of 35–45 mph.Poor16View 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. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 gust35-45 mphRain6.5 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphwet rock likely
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night beginning 2026-10-27. 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: 27 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
A bright moon is up all through the dark hours, washing out fainter stars and meteors.
Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
Time
Viewing conditions
27 Oct, 18:45 GMT to 19:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Some breaks in the cloud, so stars at times. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
27 Oct, 23:00 GMT to 28 Oct, 00:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
28 Oct, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
28 Oct, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
28 Oct, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
28 Oct, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
28 Oct, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
28 Oct, 05:00 GMT to 05:05 GMT
Poor sky conditions
Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. Moonlight washes out the fainter stars.
Limited model coverage.
Moon, darkness and meteor showers
Near-full moon, about 96% illuminated.
Full darkness: 27 Oct, 18:45 GMT to 28 Oct, 05:05 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 862 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.
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 Whernside on Tuesday 27 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
A poor day on the tops of Whernside, with very strong, gusty winds and drizzle for much of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect a south-westerly wind of around 30–40 mph first thing, easing to 25–35 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 45–55 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 75–85 mph. It eases after dark.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay clear of cloud all day.
Rain and ground
Drizzle for much of the day. Expect 2–5 mm in total. It will be wet underfoot after recent rain.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 4 to 8°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. A windproof and an extra layer for stops will help. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Daylight
Sunset is around 4:45pm, 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 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
Morning · 08:00–12:00
PoorSummit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 45-55 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Rain is forecast during this period.
25
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00
PoorSummit winds around 25-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
21
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 25 mph.59Mixed · 600 mView detailsHide details
Night beginning Wednesday 28 October 2026
Full overnight outlook
A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the rain. Light winds on open ground, gusting no more than about 25 mph. Expect some light rain, mostly early on, so you'll likely pitch in the rain. The air is damp at every height we checked (300-600 m), so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 300 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.
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: 28 Oct, 17:00 GMT to 29 Oct, 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
11 mph / 20 mph
Typical / low
3.1°C / 2.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
13 mph / 24 mph
Typical / low
3.1°C / 2.0°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.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 45–55 mph.Poor0View 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. Gusts of 45–55 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock around the summit is mostly mudstone or slate, a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. On the usual routes up you may also cross limestone, which grips well where it is rough, but polished limestone is glassy and is very slippery when wet. On the usual routes up you may also cross sandstone, which is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. 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 gust45-55 mphRain4.1 mm
Main factorsgusts of 45–55 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Representative rock around the summit and along available routes
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore Formation
Origin
Sedimentary
Broad rock-response group
Slate or mudstone
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
Slate or mudstone in 71% of 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds. 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.
Whernside Ribblehead
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Yorkshire Three Peaks
limestone, slate or mudstone, sandstone or gritstone
Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation
6 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
Mudstone, siltstone and sandstoneStainmore FormationAround 619 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Mudstone or slate is a soft, fine-grained rock that splits into thin flakes. It has only fair grip even when dry and is slippery when wet. It is often shattered, breaking into loose flakes, scree and poor holds.
BGS record →
Route sample
Limestone with clay-rich rock and sandstoneYoredale Group343–562 m samplesSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneDanny Bridge Limestone FormationAround 290 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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 →
Route sample
LimestoneThree Yard Limestone MemberAround 471 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
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
GritstoneUpper Howgate Edge GritAround 721 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead, Peak Yorkshire Three Peaks
Sandstone is a gritty sedimentary rock. It is rough and grippy when dry and can feel greasy when damp or covered in lichen. It is usually solid in terraced steps, but softer layers crumble and weathered edges can break away.
BGS record →
Route sample
LimestoneMiddle LimestoneAround 451 mSeen on Peak Whernside Ribblehead
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.
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 Whernside on Wednesday 28 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
