Lochaber
Friday 4 September 2026 · Ben Nevis, the Mamores and surrounding ranges
Why: Forecast models differ on whether meaningful rain reaches the hills during the main walking period.
A risk of patchy rain or drizzle. Light southwesterly wind, with cloud coming and going on the tops.
High-ground wind (900 m)
Southwesterly around 10 mph at 900 m. Gusts reaching around 15 mph at 900 m, with locally higher values possible on the most exposed tops. Starting nearer 5 mph, then strengthening toward 10 mph later.
Walking impact
Little effect on walking, although exposed tops may still feel chilly.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.
Rain and showers
The odd passing shower, otherwise dry. Forecast models disagree on when the rain may arrive.
Cloud-free summits
Around 40%. Best around midday at about 50%; around 35% early and 35% later.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud bases mostly around 900-1500 m. Bases should tend to lift as the day goes on. Cloud is likely to come and go on the higher summits; breaks may be useful but not dependable.
Temperature and wind chill
Around 6°C at 900 m, feeling like 3°C in the wind.
Freezing level
Above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 06:27 — Sunset 20:08 — about 13.7 hours daylight.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaA broadly promising night on a well-chosen pitch. 98/100Excellent · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across representative hills, open-hillside camping looks promising around 600 m (98/100).
The full morning pack-up period is not yet covered, so this is a partial overnight view.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 6 / 10 mph
- Coldest
- 9.1°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- Low
- Wind / gust
- 8 / 12 mph
- Coldest
- 8.7°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- Low
- Wind / gust
- 8 / 15 mph
- Coldest
- 6.3°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- Low
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 & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely on some representative hills. 26/100Poor · Poor View detailsHide details
Full regional climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look poor (26/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet; polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes psammite, pelite or semipelite, granite, gneiss or gabbro and volcanic rock; moisture response can therefore vary substantially 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.
Updated 30 August 2026 at 04:40 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Lochaber.