Cloud inversion forecast: Scottish Highlands

A cloud inversion traps fog in the valleys while summits sit in clear air and sunshine — the “sea of clouds” hillwalkers and photographers chase. Peakify analyses humidity, temperature profiles and cloud layers for every peak in the AI Mountain Explorer and scores the chance of an inversion. The mountains below currently have the best odds of putting you above the cloud.

Last analysed 18 Oct 2026. Best conditions are usually calm, clear nights after damp days — check each peak’s full forecast and sunrise time before an early start.

Best bet today · Sun 18 Oct
Ben Nevis
1,345m · Highland
90%
Excellent Best at 07:00 Sunrise 07:59 Low confidence

Good setup: warm air at summit height, wind at summit height, summit above the cloud. Be on top before 07:59.
Mountain Elevation Today Next 7 days
Ben Nevis Highland 1,345m 90% Excellent
Carn Mor Dearg Highland 1,220m 90% Excellent
Aonach Mor Highland 1,220m 88% Excellent
Leacann Chorrach Highland 795m 87% Excellent
Carn Dearg Highland 1,221m 85% Excellent
Carn Dearg Highland 1,214m 85% Excellent
Sgurr Choinnich Mor Highland 1,094m 84% Excellent
Caisteal Highland 1,106m 83% Excellent
Stob Coire an Laoigh Highland 1,116m 83% Excellent
Stob Coire Easain Highland 1,080m 83% Excellent
Stob Coire Easain Highland 1,115m 82% Excellent
Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor Highland 1,046m 81% Excellent
Sgurr Choinnich Beag Highland 963m 81% Excellent
Aonach Beag Highland 1,116m 80% Excellent
Carn Dearg SE Top Highland 924m 80% Excellent
Stob Choire Claurigh Highland 1,177m 80% Excellent
Stob Coire Cath na Sine Highland 1,082m 80% Excellent
Tom a' Choinnich Highland 954m 80% Excellent
Ben Alder Highland 1,148m 79% Excellent
Binnein Beag Highland 943m 79% Excellent
Buachaille Etive Mor - Stob Dearg Highland 1,021m 79% Excellent
Glas Leathad Beag Highland 928m 79% Excellent
Meall na Teanga Highland 917m 79% Excellent
Sneachdach Slinnean Highland 919m 79% Excellent
Sron Bealach Beithe Highland 1,104m 79% Excellent
Stob Coire an Fhir Dhuibh Highland 986m 79% Excellent
Tom na Sroine Highland 919m 79% Excellent
Beinn na Socaich Highland 1,007m 78% Excellent
Sgor Gaibhre Highland 955m 78% Excellent
Stob Coire Bhealaich Highland 1,101m 78% Excellent
Stob Coire Gaibhre Highland 958m 78% Excellent
Beinn a' Chaorainn North Top Highland 1,043m 77% Excellent
Clach Leathad Highland 1,099m 77% Excellent
Geal-charn Highland 1,132m 77% Excellent
Geal-charn Highland 917m 77% Excellent
Meall a' Bhuiridh Highland 1,108m 77% Excellent
Meall Glas Choire Highland 924m 77% Excellent
Stob an Chul-Choire Highland 1,070m 77% Excellent
Stob Choire Claurigh North Top Highland 1,121m 77% Excellent
Stob Coire Dubh Highland 916m 77% Excellent

Peaks in the Scottish Highlands

1,458 summits, the highest 200 shown. A dash means no inversion score in the last 36 hours: open the peak to run one. See all Scottish Highlands peaks.
Ben Nevis 1,345m Highland 90% Excellent
Aonach Beag 1,234m Highland 76% Excellent
Carn Dearg 1,221m Highland 85% Excellent
Aonach Mor 1,220m Highland 88% Excellent
Carn Mor Dearg 1,220m Highland 90% Excellent
Carn Dearg 1,214m Highland 85% Excellent
Carn Eighe 1,183m Highland 44% Possible
Carn Dearg Meadhonach 1,179m Highland 73% Excellent
Mam Sodhail 1,179m Highland 42% Possible
Stob Choire Claurigh 1,177m Highland 80% Excellent
Sgurr na Lapaich 1,152m Highland 71% Excellent
Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan 1,150m Highland 46% Possible
Bidean nam Bian 1,149m Highland 70% Excellent
Ben Alder 1,148m Highland 79% Excellent
Stob a' Choire Dhomhain 1,147m Highland 50% Good
Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan West Top 1,142m Highland 48% Possible
Bidean nam Bian West Top 1,141m Highland 68% Good
Stob Coire Dhomhnuill 1,139m Highland 43% Possible
Geal-charn 1,132m Highland 77% Excellent
Sron Garbh 1,131m Highland 42% Possible
Binnein Mor 1,130m Highland 65% Good
An Riabhachan 1,129m Highland 52% Good
Creag Meagaidh 1,128m Highland 66% Good
An Riabhachan NE Top 1,125m Highland 52% Good
Stob Coire na Ceannain 1,123m Highland 77% Excellent
Stob Choire Claurigh North Top 1,121m Highland 77% Excellent
A' Chraileag 1,120m Highland 39% Possible
Aonach Beag 1,116m Highland 80% Excellent
Creag Meagaidh East Top 1,116m Highland 65% Good
Stob Coire an Laoigh 1,116m Highland 83% Excellent
Stob Coire nan Lochan 1,116m Highland 57% Good
Stob Coire Easain 1,115m Highland 82% Excellent
Tom a' Choinnich 1,113m Highland 47% Possible
Ciste Dhubh 1,110m Highland 56% Good
Sgurr Mor 1,109m Highland 64% Good
Sgurr nan Conbhairean 1,109m Highland 60% Good
Meall a' Bhuiridh 1,108m Highland 77% Excellent
Stob Coire nam Beith 1,107m Highland 67% Good
Caisteal 1,106m Highland 83% Excellent
Stob a' Choire Leith 1,105m Highland 74% Excellent
Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin 1,105m Highland 70% Excellent
Sron Bealach Beithe 1,104m Highland 79% Excellent
Beinn Eibhinn 1,103m Highland 66% Good
Mullach Fraoch-choire 1,101m Highland 37% Possible
Stob Coire Bhealaich 1,101m Highland 78% Excellent
Creise 1,100m Highland 65% Good
Clach Leathad 1,099m Highland 77% Excellent
Sgurr Choinnich Mor 1,094m Highland 84% Excellent
Sgurr nan Clach Geala 1,093m Highland 65% Good
Sgurr nan Clachan Geala 1,093m Highland 66% Good
Stob Ghabhar 1,089m Highland 77% Excellent
Beinn a' Chlachair 1,088m Highland 71% Excellent
An Riabhachan SW Top 1,086m Highland 56% Good
Beinn Dearg 1,084m Highland 59% Good
Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais 1,084m Highland 63% Good
Stob Coire Cath na Sine 1,082m Highland 80% Excellent
Ben Starav 1,080m Highland 73% Excellent
Stob Coire Easain 1,080m Highland 83% Excellent
Stuc Bheag 1,075m Highland 55% Good
An Tudair 1,073m Highland 42% Possible
Stob Coire Sgreamhach 1,072m Highland 70% Excellent
Puist Coire Ardair 1,071m Highland 62% Good
Creag Mhor 1,070m Highland 70% Excellent
Mam Coire Easain 1,070m Highland 67% Good
Stob an Chul-Choire 1,070m Highland 77% Excellent
An Socach 1,069m Highland 41% Possible
Sgurr Fhuaran 1,069m Highland 34% Possible
Stob Coire Coulavie 1,068m Highland 54% Good
Ciste Dhubh East Top 1,063m Highland 37% Possible
Binnein Mor South Top 1,062m Highland 60% Good
An Teallach - Sgurr Fiona 1,059m Highland 27% Unlikely
An Socach East Top 1,057m Highland 58% Good
Rubha na Spreidhe 1,057m Highland 63% Good
Creag Coire nan Each 1,055m Highland 47% Possible
Na Gruagaichean 1,054m Highland 62% Good
Toll Creagach 1,054m Highland 48% Possible
Sgurr a' Chaorachain 1,053m Highland 45% Possible
Stob Poite Coire Ardair 1,053m Highland 70% Excellent
An Leth-chreag 1,052m Highland 41% Possible
Geal Charn 1,050m Highland 71% Excellent
Stob Poite Coire Ardair East Top 1,050m Highland 72% Excellent
Beinn a' Chaorainn South Top 1,049m Highland 69% Good
Sgurr Fhuar-thuill 1,049m Highland 63% Good
Bidean an Eoin Deirg 1,047m Highland 57% Good
Corrag Bhuidhe 1,047m Highland 27% Unlikely
Mullach Fraoch-choire NE Top 1,047m Highland 34% Possible
Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor 1,046m Highland 81% Excellent
Chno Dearg 1,046m Highland 74% Excellent
Stob Coir' an Albannaich 1,045m Highland 68% Good
Beinn a' Chaorainn North Top 1,043m Highland 77% Excellent
Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill East Top 1,043m Highland 27% Unlikely
Stuc Mor 1,042m Highland 50% Good
Sgurr na Ciche 1,040m Highland 36% Possible
Na Gruagaichean NW Top 1,039m Highland 56% Good
An Riabhachan West Top 1,038m Highland 54% Good
Sgurr na Lapaich 1,037m Highland 36% Possible
Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg 1,036m Highland 24% Unlikely
Gleouraich 1,035m Highland 39% Possible
Am Bodach 1,032m Highland 49% Possible
Beinn Fhada 1,032m Highland 39% Possible
Lord Berkeley's Seat 1,032m Highland 27% Unlikely
Tom a' Choinich Beag 1,032m Highland 44% Possible
Creag Ghorm a' Bhealaich 1,030m Highland 67% Good
Meall Coire Choille-rais 1,028m Highland 70% Excellent
Sgor Iutharn 1,028m Highland 69% Good
Stob Coire Dheirg 1,028m Highland 65% Good
Sgurr a' Mhaoraich 1,027m Highland 38% Possible
Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe 1,027m Highland 35% Possible
Beinn a' Bheithir - Sgorr Dhearg 1,024m Highland 55% Good
Liathach - Mullach an Rathain 1,024m Highland 26% Unlikely
Sron Garbh 1,024m Highland 59% Good
Buachaille Etive Mor - Stob Dearg 1,021m Highland 79% Excellent
Aonach air Chrith 1,020m Highland 42% Possible
Carn Dearg 1,020m Highland 67% Good
Ladhar Bheinn 1,020m Highland 34% Possible
Beinn Bheoil 1,019m Highland 72% Excellent
Sgurr Creag an Eich 1,016m Highland 26% Unlikely
Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair 1,015m Highland 46% Possible
Sgurr na Fearstaig 1,015m Highland 65% Good
Garbh Chioch Mhor 1,013m Highland 34% Possible
The Saddle 1,012m Highland 36% Possible
Stob na Doire 1,011m Highland 63% Good
The Saddle - Trig Point 1,011m Highland 42% Possible
Beinn Eighe - Ruadh-stac Mor 1,010m Highland 27% Unlikely
Carn Beag Dearg 1,010m Highland 73% Excellent
Sgurr an Doire Leathain 1,010m Highland 40% Possible
Sgurr Eilde Mor 1,010m Highland 58% Good
Braigh a' Choire Bhig 1,009m Highland 44% Possible
Beinn na Socaich 1,007m Highland 78% Excellent
Creag Coire na Fiar Bhealaich 1,007m Highland 58% Good
Stob Coire na Craileig 1,007m Highland 40% Possible
An t-Socach 1,006m Highland 74% Excellent
Carn Liath 1,006m Highland 66% Good
Beinn Fhionnlaidh 1,005m Highland 35% Possible
Creag Toll a' Choin 1,005m Highland 62% Good
Maoile Lunndaidh 1,005m Highland 62% Good
Sgurr an Lochain 1,004m Highland 36% Possible
Sgurr Mor 1,003m Highland 53% Good
Beinn a' Bheithir - Sgorr Dhonuill 1,002m Highland 54% Good
Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill Far East Top 1,002m Highland 26% Unlikely
Sgurr na Carnach 1,002m Highland 34% Possible
Sron a' Choire 1,002m Highland 71% Excellent
Aonach Meadhoin 1,001m Highland 47% Possible
Aonach Eagach 1,000m Highland 74% Excellent
Creag nan Clachan Geala 1,000m Highland 34% Possible
Druim na Ciche 1,000m Highland 40% Possible
Sgurr an Iubhair 1,000m Highland 57% Good
Sgurr Breac 1,000m Highland 45% Possible
Stob Ban 1,000m Highland 51% Good
A' Chailleach 999m Highland 47% Possible
Ben More Assynt 999m Highland 57% Good
Drochaid an Tuill Easaich 999m Highland 43% Possible
Sail Chaorainn 999m Highland 44% Possible
Sgurr Choinnich 999m Highland 42% Possible
Carn na Coire Mheadhoin 998m Highland 44% Possible
Glas Bheinn Mhor 998m Highland 68% Good
Creag a' Chaorainn 997m Highland 43% Possible
Mullach Cadha Rainich 996m Highland 49% Possible
Spidean Mialach 996m Highland 58% Good
Stob a' Ghlais Choire 996m Highland 72% Excellent
Sgurr na h-Ulaidh 994m Highland 68% Good
An Cearcallach 993m Highland 76% Excellent
Beinn Eighe - Spidean Coire nan Clach 993m Highland 36% Possible
Carn nam Fiaclan 993m Highland 46% Possible
Sgurr na Ruaidhe 993m Highland 67% Good
Carn nan Gobhar 992m Highland 56% Good
Sgurr Alasdair 992m Highland 6% Unlikely
Sron Coire a' Chriochairein 992m Highland 68% Good
Sgurr nan Spainteach 990m Highland 27% Unlikely
Stob Choire a' Mhail 990m Highland 53% Good
Mam Sodhail East Top 989m Highland 56% Good
Sgurr Ban 989m Highland 42% Possible
Conival 988m Highland 34% Possible
Lurg Mhor 988m Highland 45% Possible
Gulvain 987m Highland 54% Good
Sgurr an Fhuarail 987m Highland 43% Possible
Beinn Alligin - Sgurr Mor 986m Highland 19% Unlikely
Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle 986m Highland 6% Unlikely
Stob Coire an Fhir Dhuibh 986m Highland 79% Excellent
Druim Shionnach 985m Highland 42% Possible
Stob a' Choire Liath Mhor 984m Highland 33% Possible
An Gearanach 982m Highland 66% Good
Mullach na Dheiragain 982m Highland 35% Possible
An Cearcallach North Top 981m Highland 71% Excellent
Ciste Dhubh 981m Highland 45% Possible
Slioch 981m Highland 19% Unlikely
Glas Mheall Mor 980m Highland 25% Unlikely
Maol Chinn-dearg 980m Highland 29% Unlikely
Sail Mhor 980m Highland 29% Unlikely
Slioch - Trig Point 980m Highland 18% Unlikely
Stob Coire Sgriodain 979m Highland 74% Excellent
Cona' Mheall 978m Highland 70% Excellent
Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair East Top 978m Highland 45% Possible
Sgurr Dearg - Cairn 978m Highland 6% Unlikely
Spidean Mialach West Top 978m Highland 45% Possible
Meall nan Ceapraichean 977m Highland 57% Good
Sgurr Thearlaich 977m Highland 6% Unlikely
Stob Ban 977m Highland 76% Excellent
Coinneach Mhor 976m Highland 36% Possible
Meall Garbh 976m Highland 73% Excellent

Cloud inversion forecast by area

Lake District Snowdonia Peak District Brecon Beacons Cairngorms Scotland Wales England All UK mountains

What is a cloud inversion?

Normally the air gets colder as you climb. In a temperature inversion a layer of warm air sits on top of cold, damp air in the valleys, so fog and low cloud are trapped below and the summits stand in sunshine above a sea of cloud. Inversions are most likely after a calm, clear night following a damp day, often in autumn and winter, and they usually burn off by late morning, so go early.

How a cloud inversion forms

ColderWarmer Height

After a damp day the wind has dropped and the sky has cleared. The air in the valleys still holds plenty of moisture.

What if…

A sea of cloud is likely: calm, clear and damp.

Read it step by step
  1. A calm, clear evening. After a damp day the wind has dropped and the sky has cleared. The air in the valleys still holds plenty of moisture.
  2. Heat escapes to the sky. With no cloud overhead to act as a blanket, the ground radiates its warmth straight out to space, and the air touching it starts to chill.
  3. Cold air drains downhill. Chilled air is denser than the air around it, so it slides down the slopes like water and gathers on the valley floor.
  4. The inversion forms. A pool of cold air now fills the valleys with milder air above it. Normally it gets colder as you climb; tonight it gets warmer. That flip is the temperature inversion.
  5. Mist over the water. Lakes and wet ground give the cold air the last bit of moisture it needs, so wisps of mist form there first. If you are going up, this is when to set off, by head torch.
  6. Fog fills the valleys. The trapped air keeps cooling until it reaches its dew point. Its moisture condenses into tiny droplets, and the cold pool turns to fog. Climbing through it, you see nothing but grey.
  7. A sea of cloud. The warm layer above works like a lid, so the fog cannot rise through it. Summits higher than the lid break out into clear air and sunshine.
  8. The best hour on top. Low sun lights the cloud tops gold and the hills cast long shadows across them. Turn your back to the sun: your own shadow may land on the cloud inside a rainbow ring, a Brocken spectre.
  9. The sun gets to work. Sunlight warms the slopes and the ground beneath the fog. Rising thermals stir the air and start to break the lid.
  10. The inversion lifts. The cloud rises, thins and breaks apart, usually by late morning. Then it is an ordinary day again, until the next calm, clear night.

Cloud inversion or fog?

From the valley floor an inversion just looks like fog. The difference is what is above it: if the summit is higher than the top of the fog layer, you climb out of the grey into clear air. The chances here are for standing above the cloud from each summit.

New to inversions? Read what a cloud inversion is and how to catch one, or get an alert on your phone when your hills look likely with the Peakify cloud inversion app.

Out after dark too? See the aurora forecast for the UK and the astronomy calendar.

Browse mountains by area

Lake District mountains Snowdonia / Eryri mountains Peak District hills Brecon Beacons mountains Cairngorm mountains Scottish Highlands mountains Yorkshire Dales hills Dartmoor tors Northumberland and Cheviot hills Galloway hills Isle of Skye mountains Isle of Arran hills Mourne Mountains Alps Munros and Scottish 3,000ft peaks The Wainwrights Corbetts Grahams Donalds Hewitts Nuttalls Marilyns Scottish mountains Welsh mountains English mountains Irish mountains

How the cloud inversion forecast for the Scottish Highlands works

What an inversion needs

Air gets colder as you climb. On a calm, clear night the ground loses heat, cold air drains into the valleys, and warmer air settles on top of it. If the valley air is damp enough, it condenses into fog, and the warm layer holds it down like a lid. Stand on a summit above that lid at dawn and you look across a flat sea of cloud.

How Peakify scores it

For each mountain, Peakify finds the lowest ground within 6 km of the summit, where fog would pool, and pulls an hourly forecast for the summit and that valley from Open-Meteo. It scores every hour from three hours before sunrise to two hours after and keeps the best.

Five ingredients build the score: a stable, layered atmosphere between about 750 m and 1,500 m, valley air close to saturation, dry air above the summit, overnight cooling in the valley, and a long night. Five checks then scale it: wind at summit height, overnight cloud, air pressure, wind in the valley, and the depth of the fog. Peakify estimates the fog top as the forecast boundary-layer height above the valley floor. Strong wind on the tops, or fog deeper than the summit is high, takes even a good setup close to zero.

How to read the table

The table ranks up to 40 peaks with a score from the last 36 hours, using today’s forecast. 70% and over is Excellent, 50 to 69% Good, and 30 to 49% Possible. Open a mountain for the full breakdown: the best hour, how long the inversion should last, which ingredients hold it back, a seven-day outlook and a confidence rating. Confidence is High when the ECMWF and Met Office models agree on a calm, clear valley at dawn, and Low when they disagree.

Limits

Read the percentage as a score of how well the ingredients line up. Forecast models work on grids 1 to 10 km across and can’t see into a narrow valley, so Peakify estimates the valley air from a coarser picture. Fog over a lake or in one side valley may not show. The table lists only peaks scored in the last 36 hours, so a quiet hill with a good setup can be missing until someone opens its page. And plan for the walk in: you’ll climb in the dark, through the fog, to reach the clear air.

Cloud inversion questions

Where in the Scottish Highlands has the best cloud inversion forecast today?

The table at the top of this page ranks summits in the Scottish Highlands by today's cloud inversion score, refreshed each morning from the latest forecast. Peaks that rise well above deep, sheltered valleys tend to score best, but the setup changes from day to day, so check again the evening before you go.

What is a cloud inversion?

A cloud inversion happens when a layer of warm air sits on top of cold, damp air in the valleys. Fog forms in the cold layer and can't rise through the warm one, so from a summit above it you look down on a flat sea of cloud.

When do cloud inversions happen in the UK?

Mostly in autumn and winter, on calm, clear nights under high pressure, often after a damp day. Long nights give the valleys more time to cool, and light winds let the cold air settle instead of mixing.

What time should I be on the summit?

Before sunrise. Peakify looks for the best hour between three hours before sunrise and two hours after, and each mountain page gives that time and the sunrise. Once the sun warms the valleys, the fog thins and lifts.

How high do I need to climb to see one?

Higher than the top of the fog. Peakify estimates the fog top from the forecast boundary-layer height above the lowest ground near the mountain and compares it with the summit. On a shallow fog morning a modest hill clears it. On a deep one, even a 900 m summit can stay in the murk.

How reliable is the cloud inversion forecast?

Use it as a guide and check again the evening before. Each mountain page shows a confidence rating: High when the ECMWF and Met Office models agree on whether the valley will be calm and clear at dawn, Low when they disagree.

Why isn't my mountain in the table?

The table ranks the 40 highest scores among peaks with a forecast from the last 36 hours. Peakify refreshes popular UK summits each morning and any other peak when someone opens its page, so open your mountain to score it.