Is it safe to climb Ben Cruachan today and tomorrow?

Today on Ben Cruachan is rated Poor and tomorrow Poor, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 12:20, 28 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Ben Cruachan today?

Poor Today Wednesday 28 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 56 mph, gusting 70 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: 100% chance of rain, about 12.8 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 100% and humidity 100% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 4°C at the summit, down to 1°C, feeling as cold as -6°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:20, sunset 16:48: 9h 28m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 4h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Ben Cruachan tomorrow?

Poor Tomorrow Thursday 29 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 43 mph, gusting 54 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: 8% chance of rain, about 0.5 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 99% and humidity 99% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. 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 4°C, feeling as cold as -3°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:22, sunset 16:45: 9h 23m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 4h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Ben Cruachan this weekend?

Good Saturday 31 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 17 mph, gusting 21 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 47% chance of rain, about 2.7 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 93% and humidity 97% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. 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 -3°C, feeling as cold as -6°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:26, sunset 16:41: 9h 14m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 4h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Good Sunday 1 November

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 16 mph, gusting 21 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 12% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 35% and humidity 96% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 3°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.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:29, sunset 16:39: 9h 10m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 4h 15m 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 Ben Cruachan

Falls of Cruachan via Meall Cuanail

From Falls of Cruachan, Loch Awe. A steep woodland path to the reservoir dam, then up Meall Cuanail and the rocky final slopes to the summit. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 4h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule (5.9 km one way, 1,145 m of ascent).

Cruachan Horseshoe

From Falls of Cruachan, Loch Awe. A round of the ridge above the reservoir over Stob Daimh, Drochaid Ghlas and Ben Cruachan, with bouldery, narrow sections. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 3h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule (5.0 km one way, 1,137 m of ascent). Today's summit gusts of 70 mph are a reason to choose a walking route instead.

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Ben Cruachan 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 Ben Cruachan

Is it safe to climb Ben Cruachan today?

Today, Wednesday 28 October: moderate rain, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 56 mph gusting 70 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Poor. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Ben Cruachan tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Thursday 29 October: mostly dry, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 43 mph gusting 54 mph, 8% chance of rain. Rated Poor.

How does Peakify decide whether Ben Cruachan 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 Ben Cruachan?

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.