wthr exists to tell you the truth about conditions — including when the honest answer is don’t go. This page gathers the official guidance we signpost across the app, from the people who know: the RNLI, Water Safety Scotland, Scottish Mountain Rescue and AdventureSmart. When conditions turn dangerous at a specific spot — offshore winds at a paddle beach, cold-water shock temperatures at a swim spot — wthr surfaces these warnings live, on that spot, at that hour.
If you find yourself in trouble in the water: fight the urge to thrash — lean back, spread your arms and legs, and float until the cold-water shock passes. The RNLI calls it Float to Live, and it saves lives.
RNLI — Float to Live →Cold water shock is a killer in Scottish seas even in summer — the Firth of Clyde rarely tops 15°C. Enter slowly, know your limits, and never swim alone. wthr shows live sea temperature and a wetsuit guide on coastal spots.
Water Safety Scotland →Offshore winds (blowing from the land out to sea) can carry paddleboards and inflatables away from shore far faster than you can paddle back. Check wind direction before launching — wthr warns on affected beaches automatically.
RNLI — paddleboarding safety →Fishing from rocks or a boat? Anglers are among the most at-risk coastal water users — wear a lifejacket.
RNLI — angling →Before any hill day, ask the three AdventureSmart questions: Do I have the right gear? Do I know what the weather will be like? Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day?
AdventureSmart UK →Scottish daylight is a planning input — seven hours in December, seventeen in June. Check last light before you commit; wthr shows it on every forecast and keeps its recommendations inside daylight.
Scottish Mountain Rescue →Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back — and take a torch, even on a short evening walk.
Scottish Mountain Rescue →Scotland’s outdoor access rights come with responsibilities: care for the environment, respect livestock and land management, and take your litter home.
Scottish Outdoor Access Code →Guided activities (coasteering, gorge walking, canyoning) should always be with a qualified provider — the conditions call on the day is theirs.
AdventureSmart UK →wthr signposts guidance published by the organisations named above and links to their original materials — always follow the source guidance in full. Conditions scores and warnings in the app are decision aids, not safety clearances: conditions change fast, and the judgment on the day is always yours (or your guide’s).