Perthshire
Schiehallion Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 1083m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:27
- Sunset
- 20:04
- Civil dawn
- 05:47
- Civil dusk
- 20:43
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Schiehallion (1,083m) stands on its own between Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel, which is why it looks like a perfect cone from Loch Rannoch and why it gets the weather from every direction. The John Muir Trust path from Braes of Foss climbs the long east ridge on a good surface, then the final third of the hill is a broad boulder field with no path to follow. In mist that boulder field is the whole problem.
What to expect
An isolated hill catches wind and cloud that a hill in a range would share with its neighbours. Schiehallion often sits in its own cap of cloud while the glens either side are clear, and the summit ridge is a long, exposed crest with no shelter on it. Showers coming up from the south-west hit the east ridge with nothing in the way. The lower path is sheltered enough to lull people; the change of character above the end of the built path is sudden.
Wind exposure
High. The east ridge is the route, and it is a whaleback with steep drops either side and no boulders large enough to hide behind. Cross-winds on the boulder-field section make the hopping between rocks genuinely awkward. There is nowhere on the upper hill to sit out a squall.
Winter conditions
The boulder field fills with snow and ice in winter and the gaps between rocks become leg-breaking traps under a thin cover. The summit ridge holds ice on the north side well after the east ridge has cleared. Navigation off the summit in cloud needs a compass: the ridge is broad enough that it is easy to drift off the crest onto steep ground, particularly on the north side above Gleann Mor.
Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Schiehallion; 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 |
|---|---|
| Carn Mairg | 1043m |
| Meall na Aighean | 982m |
| Meall Garbh | 968m |
| Beinn a' Chuallaich | 892m |
Frequently asked questions
- Why does Schiehallion get more cloud than the hills around it?
- It is an isolated peak, so moist air is forced straight up its flanks rather than being deflected along a range. That produces a summit cap of cloud on days when the surrounding glens are clear. If the top is in cloud from Braes of Foss, expect it to stay that way.
- Is the Schiehallion path exposed to the wind?
- The lower path is reasonably sheltered, but from the top of the built path onwards you are on an open ridge with the prevailing south-westerly hitting it side-on. Turn back at the end of the path if the wind is already difficult there — it gets worse, not better.
- Can I climb Schiehallion in winter?
- Yes, and it is a popular first winter Munro, but the boulder field under snow needs care and the summit ridge ices. Carry an ice axe and crampons and know how to use them. No avalanche forecast covers Schiehallion; use the mountain weather forecast and judge the snow yourself.
- What is the best time of year for clear views from Schiehallion?
- Settled high-pressure days in late spring and early autumn give the clearest air. Summer haze and the hill's habit of sitting in cloud mean a fine forecast in the glen is no guarantee — check the cloud-base line in the mountain forecast.
Weather for other locations
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