| Many people planning to holiday in Snowdonia, the | | | | bottom - particularly in low cloud. The average |
| Highlands of Scotland or the Lake District this | | | | temperature on the summit of Ben Nevis is -1 degree |
| summer will be considering a walk on the hills or | | | | centigrade. You will need to take a jumper even if |
| mountains. If you are planning one of the high walks, | | | | you start off on a warm summer's day, and will also |
| apart from your fitness and how sore your feet will | | | | need a waterproof in case of low cloud or mist - this |
| get, one of your main considerations will be the | | | | can be very wet, and if you are not suitably |
| WEATHER. | | | | prepared, your clothes will get sodden. |
| Before you start on your walk you will be getting | | | | Visit to see examples of weather changes on walks |
| together your hiking shoes, filling your backpack with | | | | up Snowdon and Ben Nevis. The photographs on this |
| provisions but please don't forget to CHECK THE | | | | page were all taken on the same walk on an early |
| WEATHER! The Met Office has forecasts for the | | | | August day up the Watkins Path of Mount Snowdon. |
| Lake District, Snowdonia and Scotland. Even if it looks | | | | The day started off without a cloud in the sky - |
| like it is going to be a nice day you can never be | | | | three hours later we were scrambling through thick |
| certain what is going to sweep in across the hills. If | | | | cloud and near gale force winds, getting very wet. |
| you are walking Ben Nevis or Snowdon you can be | | | | Once the summit of Snowdon was reached there |
| on the hills for most of the day - plenty of time for | | | | were no photo opportunities - apart from being able |
| the weather to change! Knowing and being prepared | | | | to see nothing through the cloud, there was also the |
| for the weather conditions will add to your | | | | strong wind that threatened to blow walkers off the |
| enjoyment of your day, and will keep you safe. | | | | top of the cairn! |
| Weather on the mountains is very unpredictable - | | | | Snowdon does have the benefit of its summit cafe |
| almost unbelievably so at times. It is very possible | | | | although it can get very crowded. When you walk up |
| that you will choose a lovely clear day for your climb, | | | | Snowdon you can feel that you have achieved |
| and will start the day in a tee shirt with the sun | | | | something, even if mist spoils the view. |
| beating down on your back. | | | | And just to show mountains have the same typical |
| As you start to climb higher you may find that cloud | | | | weather, the same web page shows a walk up Ben |
| begins to form, and the summit will be hidden from | | | | Nevis. Again the start of the walk up has the sun |
| view! You will be safe if you keep to the well | | | | shining, but the summit shrouded in mist! |
| trodden paths, but it is really not advisable to go too | | | | The lesson is be prepared - and especially so on in |
| far from the track. The cloud and mist can form | | | | late spring or early autumn where you could finding |
| very quickly and become very thick and it is very | | | | yourself scrabbling through snow on the higher peaks |
| easy to quickly become disorientated and lose your | | | | and hills. |
| way. | | | | And if you are a novice walker it is best to avoid the |
| Another thing you will notice as you climb the | | | | worst weather of the winter months entirely, unless |
| mountain is that the temperature will drop. It will | | | | you go with an experienced guide. |
| certainly be much colder at the top than at the | | | | |