Dartmoor
A good day in Dartmoor: breezy, with clear tops for most of the day.
Sunshine and sky
Cloud becoming more extensive. Cloud cover is likely to increase as sunshine becomes less frequent.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. The regional median prevents one unusually bright or dull summit cell defining the whole area.
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
High-ground wind (500 m)
At around 500 m, expect a north-westerly wind of 15–25 mph, gusting 20–30 mph. A wind like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Walking impact
A steady wind of 15–25 mph will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Rain and showers
Rain arrives in the early evening.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 90% early, about 90% around midday and about 90% later.
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.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 500 m it will be 6 to 10°C, feeling like 0 to 4°C in the wind. It turns milder through the day. A windproof and an extra layer for stops will help.
Freezing level
The freezing level is above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 07:26, Sunset 18:39, about 11.2 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill anywhere in this area: about 5 mm of rain. 39/100Poor · 300 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Not a night to camp on the open hill anywhere in this area. Gusts reach about 35 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. About 5 mm of rain is forecast overnight. Overnight lows of about 8°C at 300 m.
Moon overnight
Waning crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 3%
- Moonrise
- 06:03 next morning BST
- Moonset
- 17:39 BST
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 8 Oct, 17:00 BST to 9 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Representative location: 50.685, -4.011. Times vary across the area.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 19 mph / 33 mph
- Coldest
- 7.7°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaRock may be damp or still drying. 73/100Good · Fair View detailsHide details
Regional climbing & scrambling outlook
A broad guide to dampness and exposed rock across the area, not a forecast for every crag. Lower, sheltered crags and individual rock types may behave differently.
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look fair (73/100). Some rock may remain damp or incompletely dried, especially in shade and seepage lines. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes granite, gneiss or gabbro. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture between crags and routes.
Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.
Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
Updated 8 October 2026 at 15:30 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Dartmoor.