Mountain climbing conditions.

Rock and scrambling guidance that brings surface state, rain, exposed wind and serious hazards into one mountain forecast.

For exposed hands-on-rock terrain

Go beyond a simple rain symbol.

A dry icon does not guarantee dry rock. Recent rainfall, low cloud, weak drying, seepage and shade can all leave mountain rock damp after precipitation ends. Our climbing and scrambling conditions forecast combines the available weather signals with the BGS-mapped summit bedrock and a cautious moisture-response family.

The result covers the normal daytime period around an individual summit or mountain area. It includes a broad surface state, rain total, exposed gusts and major hazards such as thunder or wintry deposits. BGS geology improves the context; it does not resolve the exact rock, polish, lichen or drainage on a named line.

01

Surface and rock context

Forecast and recent rain are balanced against drying conditions, with broad mapped geology kept separate from unresolved route-level seepage, polish and drainage.

02

Exposure and gusts

Wind that may feel manageable on a path can be much more consequential on a narrow ridge, slab or committing scramble.

03

Cloud, ice and thunder

Poor visibility, freezing deposits and thunderstorms can limit an exposed route even when rainfall alone looks modest.

Where looks best?

Compare every named crag at a glance.

Rank the current crag forecasts for today or the coming weekend, then open the detailed sector forecast for the day that looks strongest.

See the best climbing crags
Climbing crag beta

Popular crags, with the face and ground above treated separately.

Choose a reviewed climbing area for seven-day rain, drying, dew and rock-surface guidance. Where a dependable cliff aspect is available, the forecast distinguishes shelter on the climb from stronger wind on the rim, plateau or top-out.

Peak DistrictBamford EdgeGritstoneMillstone Grit4 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → NorthumberlandBowden DoorsSandstoneFell SandstoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Peak DistrictBurbage EdgeGritstoneMillstone Grit3 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → Yorkshire DalesCastleberg CragLimestoneCarboniferous limestoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → South Wales ValleysCilfrew Edge (Craig Gwladys)SandstoneSouth Wales Coal Measures sandstoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → EryriClogwyn Du'r ArdduRhyoliteRhyolitic volcanic rock2 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → CairngormsCreag an Dubh LochGraniteCairngorm GraniteOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → LlangollenCreigiau EglwysegLimestoneCarboniferous limestoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Peak DistrictCurbar EdgeGritstoneMillstone Grit3 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → EryriDinas MotRhyoliteRhyolitic volcanic rock4 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → EryriDinorwig Slate QuarriesSlateOrdovician slate2 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → Lake DistrictDow CragVolcanic rockBorrowdale Volcanic GroupOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Peak DistrictFroggatt EdgeGritstoneMillstone GritOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Peak DistrictGardom's EdgeGritstoneMillstone GritOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Lake DistrictGreat NapesVolcanic rockBorrowdale Volcanic GroupOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → DartmoorHaytor RocksGraniteDartmoor GraniteOne broad crag signal · general exposureView conditions → CairngormsHell's Lum CragGraniteCairngorm GraniteOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → DartmoorHound TorGraniteDartmoor GraniteOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Yorkshire DalesKilnsey CragLimestoneCarboniferous limestone2 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → NorthumberlandKyloe OutSandstoneFell SandstoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → NorthumberlandKyloe in the WoodsSandstoneFell SandstoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Yorkshire DalesMalham CoveLimestoneCarboniferous limestoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Lake DistrictPillar RockVolcanic rockBorrowdale Volcanic GroupOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → DartmoorSheeps TorGraniteDartmoor GraniteOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → CairngormsStag RocksGraniteCairngorm GraniteOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → Peak DistrictStanage EdgeGritstoneChatsworth Grit5 broad cliff sectors · aspect-awareView conditions → Peak DistrictThe RoachesGritstoneMillstone GritOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions → LlangollenTrevor RocksLimestoneCarboniferous limestoneOne broad crag signal · aspect-awareView conditions →

This beta provides crag-weather signals, not route descriptions or access advice. OpenStreetMap geometry and published crag descriptions are reviewed where available. If a dependable aspect cannot be established, the crag remains listed with a general forecast and makes no shelter claim.

Current mountain forecasts

Check rock and scrambling conditions.

Choose a summit and expand the rock-and-scrambling card beneath the day you are considering.

A broad mountain signal

Mapped rock, without false precision.

Each peak can include its summit-point lithology from BGS Geology 50K. Regional forecasts describe the mix across representative summits instead of pretending an entire national park has one rock type. The mapped family helps distinguish moisture-sensitive sandstone, seepage-prone limestone, volcanic rock, granite and varied metamorphic rocks.

It remains generic exposed-rock guidance. Route grade, the actual geology under each hold, polish, vegetation, aspect, shade, drainage and escape options can make a named climb or scramble substantially easier or harder. Use a route guide, recent local observations and your own assessment at the rock.

Climbing forecast questions

Before committing to rock.

Is this a forecast for a named climbing route or crag?

Popular named crags are split into reviewed OSM cliff sectors where useful geometry exists. Peak and regional cards remain generic hands-on-rock forecasts rather than named-route assessments.

How is the rock-surface description produced?

It combines forecast and recent rainfall with drying conditions and a cautious moisture-response profile for the BGS-mapped rock family, while keeping uncertainty visible where seepage or lingering dampness cannot be resolved.

What weather is most important for scrambling?

Wet or icy rock, serious gusts, thunder and poor visibility can each dominate the result. The score is capped when a major hazard is present rather than averaged away.