Keswick, Cumberland

The Activity Score rates outdoor weather conditions from 0 (terrible) to 10 (excellent) for activities like hiking, biking, climbing, and camping.

How it works: Wind speed is the dominant factor — it has the biggest impact on comfort and safety on UK hills. Rainfall risk is secondary: light showers score better than persistent heavy rain. Cloud cover has a light influence. Temperature is deliberately excluded because appropriate layering makes most UK temperatures manageable year-round.

What the scores mean:

• 8 to 10 — Excellent: Light winds, dry, pleasant. Make the most of it.
• 6 to 8 — Good: Generally comfortable. Maybe a breeze or some cloud, but nothing to worry about.
• 4 to 6 — Fair: Passable but imperfect. You might get rained on or buffeted, but it is still walkable.
• 2 to 4 — Poor: Challenging conditions. Expect strong winds, rain, or both. Only for well-prepared and experienced walkers.
• 0 to 2 — Terrible: Avoid the hills. Dangerous wind speeds, severe weather, or both.

Use the Score Customiser below to adjust the weighting to match your own activity and preferences.

The wind exposure map shows how terrain affects wind speed around your location. Sheltered valleys and lee slopes (the downwind side of ridges) experience significantly lower wind speeds, while exposed ridgelines and summits face stronger winds than the base forecast suggests. Use this to plan your route — approaching a summit from the sheltered side can make a real difference to comfort and safety.

Wind speed guide for walkers:

• Under 15 mph — Comfortable for most walkers. Enjoyable conditions on the tops.
• 15 to 30 mph — Noticeable. Take care on exposed ridges and narrow paths.
• 30 to 45 mph — Difficult walking. Standing upright becomes hard on exposed ground. Consider alternative routes.
• Above 45 mph — Hazardous. Walking is dangerous on ridges and summits. Seriously consider postponing.

Wind chill adds to the challenge — at 5°C with 30 mph winds, it can feel below freezing. Dress accordingly and carry extra layers.

The stargazing score combines cloud cover and moon illumination to estimate how good conditions are for observing the night sky. Cloud cover is the dominant factor — even the darkest location is useless under heavy cloud.

The Bortle scale measures light pollution from 1 (pristine dark sky) to 9 (inner-city sky). In the UK, the best accessible sites reach Bortle 2 to 3, found in areas like Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, parts of the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and the Scottish Highlands. At Bortle 3, the Milky Way is clearly visible and dozens of deep-sky objects are observable with binoculars.

Moon phase matters: A new moon (0% illumination) provides the darkest sky. A full moon floods the sky with light, washing out everything except planets and the brightest stars. The best stargazing combines a new or thin crescent moon with clear skies.

Practical tips: Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to dark-adapt after arriving at your spot. Avoid looking at phone screens (use a red-light torch instead). The hours after midnight are often best, as the atmosphere settles and any remaining cloud may clear.