Is it safe to climb Beinn Ghlas (Perth and Kinross) today and tomorrow?

1,103 m · Perth and Kinross

Beinn Ghlas is a 1103m Munro on the Ben Lawers range above Loch Tay, which most walkers cross on the way to Ben Lawers from the hill car park.

Today on Beinn Ghlas is rated Marginal and tomorrow Marginal, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 09:19, 18 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Beinn Ghlas today?

Marginal Today Monday 19 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 25 mph, gusting 40 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
  • Rain: 21% chance of rain, about 1.4 mm in all.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 44% and humidity 85% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 5°C at the summit, down to 0°C, feeling as cold as -5°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:57, sunset 18:05: 10h 8m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Beinn Ghlas tomorrow?

Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 29 mph, gusting 41 mph. That is past the Marginal line (wind 25 mph or gusts 45 mph): expect to be pushed about on ridges and the summit.
  • Rain: 89% chance of rain, about 1.5 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 77% and humidity 90% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 5°C at the summit, down to 1°C, feeling as cold as -4°C in the wind.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 08:00, sunset 18:03: 10h 3m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Beinn Ghlas this weekend?

Poor Saturday 24 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 49 mph, gusting 61 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
  • Rain: 66% chance of rain, about 26.6 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 97% and humidity 94% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 2°C at the summit, down to -4°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
  • Snow: About 5.3 cm of snow forecast at the summit. Snow hides paths and edges; winter conditions need an ice axe, crampons and the skill to use them.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 08:08, sunset 17:53: 9h 45m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Poor Sunday 25 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 64 mph, gusting 81 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
  • Rain: 79% chance of rain, about 19.5 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 90% and humidity 94% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 2°C at the summit, down to -3°C, feeling as cold as -9°C in the wind. A feels-like of -8°C or below makes the day Marginal on its own. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:10, sunset 16:51: 9h 41m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Weekend forecasts firm up during the week; check again the day before.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

Route notes for Beinn Ghlas

Ben Lawers car park via the south-west ridge

From Ben Lawers car park (Loch Tay to Glen Lyon road). A path climbs through the nature reserve and up the grassy south-west ridge to the summit. Graded Moderate: a hill path, rough or rocky in places, below the Hard and Scramble grades. In cloud, take care to stay on the path. About 2h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule (4.5 km one way, 681 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Beinn Ghlas routes page.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about Beinn Ghlas

Is it safe to climb Beinn Ghlas today?

Today, Monday 19 October: light drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 25 mph gusting 40 mph, 21% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Beinn Ghlas tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Tuesday 20 October: dense drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 41 mph, 89% chance of rain. Rated Marginal.

How does Peakify decide whether Beinn Ghlas is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on Beinn Ghlas?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.