Climbing Forecast › Dorset — Swanage › Boulder Ruckle

DORSET — SWANAGE · LIMESTONE · tidal bird ban

Boulder Ruckle weather & climbing conditions

Poor — wet, too windy or closed

Right now

Temp13°C
Wind49 km/h
Gusts74 km/h
Humidity63.9%
Rain 48h4mm
Last rain0h ago

Assessment

1.3mm rain forecast
Tidal access: Abseil-in. Non-tidal ledges at most points but base floods at HW springs. Check sea state — southerly swell makes this serious.
Friable rock on upper exit ramps — take care topping out

Drying Time

3% dry · 6-13h to dry

7-day forecast

Scroll through each day — hourly detail is shown inline.

Today Wednesday 21 October
Poor
Temp0°C
Rain1mm
Wind49 km/h
Gusts74 km/h
Humidity64%
1.3mm rain forecast
  • Wet limestone is dangerously slippery
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
11:00 — dry — — null%
19:00 13° dry 49 — 63.9%
20:00 13° dry 47 — 67.5%
21:00 13° dry 47 — 68%
Thu Thursday 22 October
Poor
Temp14°C
Rain18mm
Wind30 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity65%
17.6mm rain forecast
  • Wet limestone is dangerously slippery
  • Breezy — helps drying
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 12° dry 48 — 80.9%
07:00 12° dry 43 — 79%
08:00 13° dry 41 — 76.2%
09:00 13° dry 40 — 72.3%
10:00 14° dry 39 — 68.6%
11:00 14° dry 35 — 65.7%
12:00 14° dry 32 — 64.5%
13:00 14° dry 29 — 65.8%
14:00 15° dry 25 — 66.2%
15:00 15° dry 24 — 63%
16:00 15° dry 23 — 63.6%
17:00 15° 0.1mm 25 — 67%
18:00 15° 0.6mm 32 — 70.9%
19:00 14° 1mm 36 — 84.2%
20:00 14° 1mm 39 — 83.7%
21:00 15° 2mm 46 — 84.1%
Fri Friday 23 October
Poor
Temp12°C
Rain22mm
Wind61 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity78%
21.5mm rain forecastWind 61 km/h, gusts 0 km/h — too windy
  • Wet limestone is dangerously slippery
  • Very windy — consider sheltered alternatives
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 14° 4mm 44 — 80.4%
07:00 14° 4mm 27 — 78.7%
08:00 13° 3mm 25 — 88.2%
09:00 12° 0.3mm 46 — 93.3%
10:00 12° dry 41 — 92.5%
11:00 13° dry 54 — 89.2%
12:00 13° 0.1mm 69 — 79%
13:00 12° 0.1mm 74 — 77.1%
14:00 12° dry 66 — 75.9%
15:00 12° dry 63 — 67.8%
16:00 12° dry 62 — 64.1%
17:00 12° dry 59 — 63.2%
18:00 11° dry 56 — 63.9%
19:00 11° dry 53 — 64.7%
20:00 11° dry 50 — 64.4%
21:00 11° dry 45 — 64.6%
Sat Saturday 24 October
Poor
Temp14°C
Rain4mm
Wind51 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity77%
4mm rain forecastWind 51 km/h, gusts 0 km/h — too windy
  • Wet limestone is dangerously slippery
  • Very windy — consider sheltered alternatives
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 13° dry 39 — 71.2%
07:00 13° 0.8mm 39 — 70.1%
13:00 14° 3mm 51 — 77.2%
19:00 16° 0.4mm 61 — 90%
Sun Sunday 25 October
Caution
Temp14°C
Raindry
Wind37 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity62%
Should be dryWindy — 37 km/h, gusts 0 km/h
  • Limestone should be fine if dry
  • Very windy — consider sheltered alternatives
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 13° dry 44 — 66.1%
12:00 14° dry 37 — 62.4%
18:00 13° dry 31 — 68.7%
Mon Monday 26 October
Poor
Temp16°C
Rain2mm
Wind43 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity91%
1.8mm rain forecastWindy — 43 km/h, gusts 0 km/hHumidity 91% — potential fog
  • Wet limestone is dangerously slippery
  • Very windy — consider sheltered alternatives
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 14° 1mm 42 — 74.9%
12:00 16° 0.1mm 43 — 90.9%
18:00 16° 0.1mm 37 — 92.1%
Tue Tuesday 27 October
Poor
Temp15°C
Rain0.5mm
Wind43 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity68%
0.5mm rain forecastWindy — 43 km/h, gusts 0 km/h
  • Wet limestone is dangerously slippery
  • Very windy — consider sheltered alternatives
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 16° dry 45 — 88.1%
12:00 15° dry 43 — 67.8%
18:00 15° dry 36 — 67.2%
Wed Wednesday 28 October
Good
Temp16°C
Rain0.2mm
Wind27 km/h
Gusts—
Humidity83%
Should be dry
  • Limestone should be fine if dry
  • Breezy — helps drying
Time °C Rain Wind (km/h) Gust Hum
06:00 14° dry 34 — 76.8%
12:00 16° 0.1mm 27 — 82.7%
18:00 15° dry 21 — 87.9%
Tidal access
Abseil-in. Non-tidal ledges at most points but base floods at HW springs. Check sea state — southerly swell makes this serious.
Bird ban (03-01 to 07-31)
Partial restrictions each year on specific buttresses (guillemot/razorbill/fulmar). Sectors vary annually — check BMC RAD before going.

About Boulder Ruckle

Huge serious trad adventure. Upper walls dry fast in SW wind; lower tiers stay damp 24-48h after rain. The crowning jewel of Swanage trad — massive, continuous wall of hard limestone with crisp crimps, pumpy juggy breaks, and technical crack systems. Facing south across open ocean, sun exposure is superb, but heavy sea swells can drench bottom platforms. Approach involves an abseil descent from the coast path — allow extra time for gear management.

Region
Dorset — Swanage
Rock type
Limestone
Aspect
south-facing
Altitude
30m
Exposure
medium
Seepage
medium

Other crags in this region

Blacker's HoleCattle TroughsDancing LedgeGuillemot LedgeLighthouse Cliffs (Anvil Point)Seacombe & HedburySubliminalWinspit Quarry