Glen Coe
Buachaille Etive Mòr Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 1021m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:30
- Sunset
- 20:07
- Civil dawn
- 05:50
- Civil dusk
- 20:47
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Buachaille Etive Mòr (1,021m at Stob Dearg) is the pyramid that guards the entrance to Glen Coe from Rannoch Moor, and the most photographed mountain in Scotland. The walkers' route from Altnafeadh on the A82 climbs Coire na Tulaich to the ridge and then to the summit. The mountain is a long ridge with four tops; Stob Dearg is the one at the Rannoch end, and the one that takes the weather off the moor.
What to expect
The Buachaille stands at the meeting point of Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe, two of the wettest and windiest places in Scotland, and it is exposed to both. Cloud sits on Stob Dearg for much of the year and the Coire na Tulaich route is a wet, loose scramble in rain. The moor side of the mountain takes the full easterly and southerly winds; the glen side takes the westerlies. There is not really a sheltered side.
Wind exposure
Very high. The summit is fully exposed to Rannoch Moor with nothing between it and the moor for miles. The upper Coire na Tulaich and the ridge are open to the west. Wind here is as much a reason to turn back as cloud, because the descent through the corrie is loose and steep.
Winter conditions
Coire na Tulaich is the normal route and is also one of the most notorious avalanche sites in Scotland: its headwall loads with snow and has killed walkers descending it. The avalanche forecast linked on this page covers the Buachaille and should be read before every winter day, and the corrie should be avoided when it is loaded. The ridge and summit hold hard snow and ice, and the mountain in winter is a mountaineering objective.
Avalanche forecast: Buachaille Etive Mòr is in the SAIS Glencoe forecast area — the link is in the official forecasts below.
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 |
|---|---|
| Buachaille Etive Beag - Stob Coire Raineach | 925m |
| Beinn a' Chrulaiste | 857m |
| Buachaille Etive Mor - Stob na Broige | 953m |
| Creise | 1100m |
Frequently asked questions
- Is there an avalanche forecast for Buachaille Etive Mòr?
- Yes — the SAIS forecast area linked on this page covers Glen Coe including the Buachaille. Coire na Tulaich, the normal walking route, is one of the most avalanche-prone places in Scotland and the forecast should decide whether you go near it in winter.
- Why is the Buachaille so often in cloud?
- It is the first high ground the weather meets coming off Rannoch Moor, and the moor and Glen Coe are two of the wettest places in the country. Cloud on Stob Dearg with the A82 clear is the usual state, not the exception.
- Is Coire na Tulaich dangerous in summer?
- It is a steep, loose scramble that is unpleasant in rain and needs care on the descent. In dry weather it is a straightforward if strenuous route. In winter it is a different proposition entirely.
- How windy is the summit of the Buachaille?
- Fully exposed to the moor and the glen. There is no sheltered approach; strong wind on the summits forecast means a strong wind on Stob Dearg.
Weather for other locations
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