Highest mountains in the UK

Summit forecasts, walking routes, cloud inversion odds and dark sky scores for every peak in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  1. Cloud inversion today Win Hill Lancashire, Cheshire and S Pennines · 463 m · Good chance 58%
  2. Darkest sky tonight Bleaberry Fell Lake District C&W · 590 m · Poor dark sky 23
  3. Cloud inversion today Kinder Scout Peak District · 636 m · Possible chance 37%

In order of height

Top 20 highest mountains in the UK

#MountainHeight
1Ben NevisHighland1,345 m4,413 ft
2Ben MacduiCairngorms1,309 m4,295 ft
3BraeriachCairngorms1,296 m4,252 ft
4Cairn ToulCairngorms1,291 m4,236 ft
5Sgor an Lochain UaineCairngorms1,258 m4,127 ft
6Cairn GormCairngorms1,245 m4,085 ft
7Aonach BeagHighland1,234 m4,049 ft
8Aonach MorHighland1,220 m4,003 ft
9Carn Mor DeargHighland1,220 m4,003 ft
10Ben LawersPerth and Kinross1,214 m3,983 ft
11Beinn a' BhuirdCairngorms1,196 m3,924 ft
12Beinn MheadhoinCairngorms1,183 m3,881 ft
13Carn EigheHighland1,183 m3,881 ft
14Mam SodhailHighland1,179 m3,868 ft
15Stob Choire ClaurighHighland1,177 m3,862 ft
16Ben MoreLoch Lomond and The Trossachs1,174 m3,852 ft
17Ben Avon - Leabaidh an Daimh BhuidheCairngorms1,172 m3,845 ft
18Stob BinneinLoch Lomond and The Trossachs1,165 m3,822 ft
19Beinn BhrotainCairngorms1,157 m3,796 ft
20Derry CairngormCairngorms1,156 m3,793 ft

Separate mountains only (Munros), so all 20 are in Scotland and subsidiary tops are left out. See the highest mountain in each nation or every UK mountain by height.

Mountains to climb

Best first mountains to climb in the UK

Well-trodden paths, shortest first. Check the summit forecast before you go.

  1. Mam Tor

    A flagged path from the car park reaches the summit in minutes, and the Great Ridge runs on east if you want more.

    Mam Nick · 1.2 km return · 95 m up · ~25m
  2. Arthur's Seat

    An old volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, with views over the city and the Firth of Forth.

    Holyrood Palace via Hunter's Bog · 4.2 km return · 211 m up · ~1h 10m
  3. Conic Hill

    A short climb above Balmaha looking down Loch Lomond, its islands strung along the Highland Boundary Fault.

    Balmaha via the West Highland Way · 4.8 km return · 309 m up · ~1h 30m
  4. Cat Bells

    The Lake District's classic first fell: a small ridge with big views over Derwentwater.

    Grange via Hause Gate · 6.0 km return · 374 m up · ~1h 50m
  5. Pen y Fan

    The highest peak in southern Britain, on a stone-pitched path the whole way.

    Pont ar Daf · 6.6 km return · 469 m up · ~2h 5m
  6. Skiddaw

    The gentlest of England's four 3,000 ft mountains, on a broad path from above Keswick.

    Keswick via Jenkin Hill · 9.8 km return · 640 m up · ~3h 0m
  7. Scafell Pike

    England's highest, by its shortest route. The top is a boulder field that is hard to navigate in cloud.

    Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue · 10.4 km return · 930 m up · ~3h 40m
  8. Ben Lomond

    The most southerly Munro, with a clear path and Loch Lomond below you most of the way.

    Rowardennan tourist path · 11.6 km return · 967 m up · ~3h 55m
  9. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

    The highest in Wales. The Llanberis Path is the longest of the six main paths but the gentlest, beside the mountain railway.

    Llanberis Path · 13.8 km return · 979 m up · ~4h 25m
  10. Ben Nevis

    The UK's highest, on a built path. A long day, and the summit is often in cloud and can hold snow into summer.

    Mountain Track from Glen Nevis · 18.0 km return · 1,370 m up · ~5h 55m

Times use Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 1 minute per 10 m of climb) with no stops. Most people take longer.

Browse by area

Mountain areas

Each area lists every summit, highest first.

Highest first · 5,912 summits

All UK mountains by height

  1. 1

    Ben Nevis

    Beinn Nibheis · Highland
    1,345 m4,413 ft 3° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance 0% DarkDark sky score 0
  2. 2

    Ben Macdui

    Beinn Macduibh · Cairngorms
    1,309 m4,295 ft 3° / -1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  3. 3

    Braeriach

    Cairngorms
    1,296 m4,252 ft 3° / -1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  4. 4

    Ben Macdui North Top

    Cairngorms
    1,294 m4,245 ft 3° / -1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  5. 5

    Cairn Toul

    Cairngorms
    1,291 m4,236 ft 3° / -1°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  6. 6

    Carn na Criche

    Cairngorms
    1,265 m4,150 ft 3° / -1°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  7. 7

    Sgor an Lochain Uaine

    Cairngorms
    1,258 m4,127 ft 3° / -1°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  8. 8

    Stob Coire Sputan Dearg

    Cairngorms
    1,251 m4,104 ft 3° / -1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  9. 9

    Cairn Gorm

    Cairngorms
    1,245 m4,085 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  10. 10

    Stob Coire an Lochain

    Cairngorms
    1,235 m4,052 ft 3° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  11. 11

    Aonach Beag

    Highland
    1,234 m4,049 ft 3° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  12. 12

    Carn Dearg

    Highland
    1,221 m4,006 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  13. 13

    Aonach Mor

    Highland
    1,220 m4,003 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  14. 14

    Carn Mor Dearg

    Highland
    1,220 m4,003 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  15. 15

    Ben Lawers

    Perth and Kinross
    1,214 m3,983 ft 4° / 1°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  16. 16

    Cairn Lochan

    Cairngorms
    1,214 m3,983 ft 3° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  17. 17

    Carn Dearg

    Highland
    1,214 m3,983 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  18. 18

    Stob Coire an t-Saighdeir

    Cairngorms
    1,213 m3,980 ft 3° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  19. 19

    Beinn a' Bhuird

    Cairngorms
    1,196 m3,924 ft 3° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  20. 20

    Sron na Lairige

    Cairngorms
    1,184 m3,885 ft 3° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  21. 21

    Beinn Mheadhoin

    Cairngorms
    1,183 m3,881 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  22. 22

    Carn Eighe

    Highland
    1,183 m3,881 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  23. 23

    Beinn a' Bhuird South Top

    Cairngorms
    1,179 m3,868 ft 4° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  24. 24

    Carn Dearg Meadhonach

    Highland
    1,179 m3,868 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  25. 25

    Mam Sodhail

    Highland
    1,179 m3,868 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  26. 26

    Beinn a' Bhuird South Top

    Cairngorms
    1,177 m3,862 ft 4° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  27. 27

    Stob Choire Claurigh

    Highland
    1,177 m3,862 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  28. 28

    Stob Coire an t-Sneachda

    Cairngorms
    1,176 m3,858 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  29. 29

    Ben More

    Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
    1,174 m3,852 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  30. 30

    Cnap a' Chleirich

    Cairngorms
    1,173 m3,848 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  31. 31

    Ben Avon - Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe

    Cairngorms
    1,172 m3,845 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  32. 32

    Stob Binnein

    Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
    1,165 m3,822 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  33. 33

    Beinn Mheadhoin SW Top

    Beinn Mheadhoin South Top · Cairngorms
    1,163 m3,816 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  34. 34

    Beinn Bhrotain

    Cairngorms
    1,157 m3,796 ft 4° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  35. 35

    Derry Cairngorm

    Cairngorms
    1,156 m3,793 ft 4° / -1°Moderate snow fall InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  36. 36

    Lochnagar - Cac Carn Beag

    Cairngorms
    1,156 m3,793 ft 4° / 0°Slight rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  37. 37

    A' Chioch

    Cairngorms
    1,152 m3,780 ft 4° / -1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  38. 38

    Cnap Coire na Spreidhe

    Cairngorms
    1,152 m3,780 ft 0° / -2°Light drizzle InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  39. 39

    Sgurr na Lapaich

    Highland
    1,152 m3,780 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  40. 40

    Cac Carn Mor

    Cairngorms
    1,151 m3,776 ft 2° / -2°Light drizzle InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  41. 41

    Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan

    Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan · Highland
    1,150 m3,773 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  42. 42

    Bidean nam Bian

    Highland
    1,149 m3,770 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  43. 43

    Ben Alder

    Highland
    1,148 m3,766 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  44. 44

    Stob a' Choire Dhomhain

    Highland
    1,147 m3,763 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  45. 45

    Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan West Top

    Highland
    1,142 m3,747 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  46. 46

    Bidean nam Bian West Top

    Highland
    1,141 m3,743 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  47. 47

    Fiacaill a' Choire Chais

    Cairngorms
    1,141 m3,743 ft 3° / -1°Light drizzle InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  48. 48

    Stob Coire Dhomhnuill

    Highland
    1,139 m3,737 ft 4° / 1°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  49. 49

    Ben Avon North Tor

    Cairngorms
    1,138 m3,734 ft 5° / -1°Light drizzle InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  50. 50

    Ben Avon West Top

    Ben Avon SW Top · Cairngorms
    1,138 m3,734 ft 4° / 0°Moderate rain InvCloud inversion chance — DarkDark sky score —
  • Excellent 70+
  • Good 50+
  • Fair 30+
  • Poor
  • Not scored today
1–50 of 5,912 · 1,345–1,138 m

How to read it

Summit weather, not valley weather

Every forecast here is for the summit's height. Air cools about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m and ridge wind is often double the valley's, so a 12° day in Llanberis can feel close to freezing on Yr Wyddfa.

Cloud inversion

The chance of standing above a sea of cloud at sunrise. Read more on cloud inversions.

Dark sky

0–100 from cloud, moonlight and light pollution. 70+ is a night worth staying up for. Grey tiles haven't been scored in the last 36 hours.

Highest mountain in each nation

NationMountainHeight
ScotlandBen Nevis1,345 m · 4,413 ft
WalesYr Wyddfa (Snowdon)1,085 m · 3,560 ft
IrelandCarrauntoohil1,039 m · 3,407 ft
EnglandScafell Pike978 m · 3,209 ft
Northern IrelandSlieve Donard850 m · 2,789 ft

Where the data comes from

Forecasts blend the Met Office UKV, ECMWF, ICON and GFS models via Open-Meteo, corrected to each summit's height. Light pollution comes from NASA VIIRS night-time satellite data.

Questions

UK mountain questions

What is the highest mountain in the UK?

Ben Nevis, 1,345 m (4,413 ft). Wales: Yr Wyddfa, 1,085 m. England: Scafell Pike, 978 m.

What is a cloud inversion?

Cold air trapped in the valleys under warmer air, so cloud fills the valleys and summits stand clear above it. Most likely on calm, clear autumn and winter mornings.

How is a summit forecast different?

It's calculated for the top, not the nearest town, so it accounts for the colder air and stronger wind you'll meet up there.

How often is it updated?

Every morning for the UK's higher summits, and whenever a mountain page is opened, from the Met Office UKV, ECMWF, ICON and GFS weather models.