Perthshire
Meall nan Tarmachan Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 1044m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:28
- Sunset
- 20:04
- Civil dawn
- 05:48
- Civil dusk
- 20:44
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Meall nan Tarmachan (1,044m) is the Munro across the Lochan na Lairige road from Ben Lawers, and the start of the Tarmachan ridge — a short, entertaining traverse over Meall Garbh and its rocky pinnacles. From the high car park on the road the ascent is one of the quickest of any Munro, which means the weather is on you within an hour and the ridge beyond the summit is where it matters.
What to expect
The Tarmachan ridge shares the Ben Lawers weather: between west and east, wet more often than not, and high enough that cloud sits on it for much of the year. The summit is reached easily; the ridge beyond, with its pinnacles and the steep descent off Meall Garbh, is exposed on both sides and narrow, and a wind that is manageable on the summit is not manageable there.
Wind exposure
High along the ridge. The ascent from the road is on open ground but broad; the Tarmachan ridge is narrow with steep drops, and the Meall Garbh pinnacles are the crux in wind. Retreating from the summit the way you came is always an option and often the right one.
Winter conditions
The Tarmachan ridge is a winter mountaineering traverse rather than a walk: the pinnacles and the descent off Meall Garbh become steep snow and ice, and the ridge is corniced. The summit of Meall nan Tarmachan itself is a reasonable winter objective on its own. No avalanche forecast covers these hills; the steep slopes off the ridge need your own assessment. The road to the car park is often closed by snow.
Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Meall nan Tarmachan; 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 |
|---|---|
| Meall Corranaich | 1067m |
| Beinn Ghlas | 1103m |
| Meall nam Maigheach | 779m |
| Beinn nan Oighreag | 910m |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Tarmachan ridge exposed?
- Yes — the pinnacles beyond Meall Garbh and the steep descent off it are narrow with drops on both sides. The summit of Meall nan Tarmachan is easy; the ridge is where the wind decides things.
- Is Meall nan Tarmachan a quick Munro?
- From the high car park on the Lochan na Lairige road it is one of the fastest Munro ascents there is. That cuts both ways: you are exposed to the summit weather with very little warm-up, so dress for the top before you leave the car.
- Is there an avalanche forecast for Meall nan Tarmachan?
- No. The Lawers and Tarmachan hills are outside the SAIS forecast areas. In winter the ridge is corniced and the slopes below it steep; assess the snow on the day.
- Which forecast covers Meall nan Tarmachan?
- The MWIS forecast for the south-eastern Highlands linked on this page covers the Ben Lawers group; the Met Office mountain forecast gives summit wind and temperature.
Weather for other locations
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