Argyll
Ben Cruachan Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 1127m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:31
- Sunset
- 20:08
- Civil dawn
- 05:52
- Civil dusk
- 20:47
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Ben Cruachan (1,127m) is the great mountain of Argyll, rising above Loch Awe and the Pass of Brander at the head of a horseshoe of tops around the Cruachan reservoir. The normal route starts from the Falls of Cruachan railway halt on the A85, climbs steeply past the dam and follows a narrow, rocky summit ridge. It is close to the sea and to the wettest ground in Scotland, and its weather reflects that.
What to expect
Ben Cruachan is a west-coast hill and gets west-coast weather: heavy rain, cloud on the ridge for much of the year, and wind straight off the Atlantic with nothing between it and the summit. The horseshoe ridge is narrow and rocky in places and is not a place to be in cloud and gale together. Snow can arrive early in autumn and linger on the northern corries into spring.
Wind exposure
Very high. The summit ridge is narrow and fully exposed to the west, and the hill is the first big obstacle the wind meets coming in from the sea. The bealach between Ben Cruachan and Stob Dearg (the Taynuilt peak) is a funnel. The route past the dam is sheltered; above the reservoir it is not.
Winter conditions
The Cruachan ridge is a winter mountaineering route: narrow, rocky and corniced on the north side, with steep snow on the approach to the summit from the bealach. Ice axe and crampons are essential and the ridge is not for beginners in winter. No avalanche forecast covers Ben Cruachan; the northern corries hold snow and the slopes above the reservoir need assessment.
Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ben Cruachan; SAIS forecasts six areas only. In winter, judge snow stability on the hill from first principles.
Official forecasts
Always check an official mountain forecast before setting out. Current conditions displayed above are from the Open-Meteo API and are indicative only.
Hills in this area
| Hill | Height |
|---|---|
| Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) | 999m |
| Beinn a' Bhuiridh | 898m |
| Beinn a' Chochuill | 980m |
| Beinn Eunaich | 989m |
Frequently asked questions
- How wet is Ben Cruachan?
- Very — it sits close to the sea in Argyll and takes Atlantic weather directly. Expect rain, cloud on the ridge and saturated ground for much of the year, and check the forecast for a dry window rather than assuming one.
- Is the Cruachan ridge exposed?
- Yes. The summit ridge is narrow and rocky with steep drops, and it faces the prevailing westerly with nothing in between. Strong wind on the ridge is the main reason to turn back at the bealach.
- Is there an avalanche forecast for Ben Cruachan?
- No. Ben Cruachan is outside the SAIS forecast areas. In winter the corniced ridge and the north-facing corries need your own assessment.
- Which forecast covers Ben Cruachan?
- The MWIS West Highlands forecast linked on this page names the Argyll hills, and the Met Office mountain forecast gives summit wind and temperature.
Weather for other locations
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