Perthshire
Ben Vrackie Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 842m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:25
- Sunset
- 20:02
- Civil dawn
- 05:45
- Civil dusk
- 20:42
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Ben Vrackie (842m) is the Corbett above Pitlochry, climbed from the car park above Moulin by a good path past Loch a' Choire to a steep, stepped final climb. It is the hill Pitlochry looks at, and one of the most-walked Corbetts in Scotland for that reason. The summit is a rocky point with an indicator, open on every side.
What to expect
Ben Vrackie is on the eastern side of the Highlands and enjoys drier weather than the west, but it stands slightly apart from the hills behind it and gets wind and cloud on its summit while Pitlochry sits in sunshine. The final climb from the loch is steep and exposed, and the summit is a small point in the wind. Showers come up Strath Tay with little warning.
Wind exposure
High on the final climb and the summit. The path to Loch a' Choire is sheltered by the corrie; the steep final section and the summit are open to the south and west. It is a short hill, and the exposure is short, but the summit is not a place to linger in a gale.
Winter conditions
The final climb to Ben Vrackie ices readily and the stepped path becomes a slope of hard snow in winter, where a slip runs down towards the loch. Ice axe and crampons are sensible when snow is lying on the upper hill. No avalanche forecast covers Ben Vrackie; the steep upper slopes should be assessed on the day.
Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ben Vrackie; 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 |
|---|---|
| Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath | 976m |
| Blath Bhalg | 640m |
| Ben Vuirich | 903m |
| Beinn a' Ghlo - Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain | 1070m |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ben Vrackie drier than the western Highlands?
- Yes — Pitlochry is on the drier east side and Ben Vrackie gets less rain than the Munros to the west. It still catches cloud on its summit while the town is clear, so check the mountain forecast.
- How exposed is the final climb?
- Steep and open. The path to Loch a' Choire is sheltered, and then the last section climbs directly into the wind on most days. The summit itself is a small rocky point with no shelter.
- Can I climb Ben Vrackie in winter?
- Yes, and it is a popular short winter hill. The final slope ices and holds hard snow, so carry an ice axe and crampons. No SAIS avalanche forecast covers this hill.
- Which forecast covers Ben Vrackie?
- The MWIS forecast for the south-eastern Highlands linked on this page, and the Met Office mountain forecast for summit conditions.
Weather for other locations
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