West Highlands
Western Highlands accessible from, and south of, Glenfinnan (Road to the Isles) and Glen Spean (includes Creag Meagaidh). This area includes Ben Nevis and the mountains around Glencoe. In the east, from Ben Alder south to Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP. Also Arran and Mull.
Friday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes. Snow covering higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below freezing all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes. Snow covering higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below freezing all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 14th March 2025
Last updated
Thu 13th Mar 25 at
2:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold, staying below freezing on higher mountains. Northeasterly winds lessening over the Highlands, but staying brisk for northern England. Scattered snow or hail flurries. Patchy cloud lifting toward or above many tops. Sunniest toward western coasts. Early patchy snow in Wales clears to leave brief showers.
Headline for West Highlands
Cold, wind gradually easing. Largely dry, sun & broken cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly 20-25mph in the morning, easing to 15mph into afternoon, then below 10mph by dusk, at least in Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill and blustery in places in the morning, but becoming small during afternoon.
How Wet?
Isolated flurries
A fresh dusting of snow on some higher slopes from overnight. Often dry day, brief isolated flurries of snow or soft hail possible.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy banks, frequently clearing tops
Patchy cloud banks come and go in the morning with bases down to 900m in Lochaber on north-facing slopes. Very little further southwest. Cloud lifting above 1200m and clearing at times higher up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent sunshine particularly morning toward west and south, cloudy skies filling in a little inland with time. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising to 0C into afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -10C in the morning.
Freezing Level
Near or below freezing at most elevations from dawn, frost in glens mainly inland. Rising to between 800 and 1000m, highest on south-facing slopes in afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 15th March 2025
Last updated
Thu 13th Mar 25 at
2:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly 15 to 20mph, at times 25mph higher Ben Nevis range.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but noticeable wind chill where exposed on high tops.
How Wet?
Rare if any light showers
Chance of an occasional light shower, or snow flurry above 700m, mainly Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly toward Mull, patches high tops
Banks of cloud likely to drift over coastal mountains above 700 to 900m, mostly areas west of Loch Linnhe. Further inland and south, mostly above 1000m, or 1200m afternoon with breaks to higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun in and out, more frequent in the morning toward central highlands. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0C or slightly higher afternoon. Feeling near -10C in breeze in morning.
Freezing Level
500m rising to 900-1000m onward into afternoon. But also frost inland glens and sheltered lower slopes from dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 16th March 2025
Last updated
Thu 13th Mar 25 at
2:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly or variable 5 to 10mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly very little
Patches briefly forming around some higher slopes during the morning will lift toward or above many higher summits during middle of day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, more cloud by afternoon. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1C.
Freezing Level
Frost many glens and sheltered higher areas at dawn, becoming typically 1000m or above by afternoon.
Planning Outlook
High pressure drifts over the country through the weekend and early next week, bringing largely dry conditions, rare brief light showers. Chilly, becoming slightly less cold than recent days, but frost overnight into valleys; during the daytimes the freezing level lifting onto higher slopes. A covering of recent snow on many higher mountain tops. Sunny spells, variable cloud, and very clear crisp air. Winds fairly light overall this weekend and Monday - becoming southeasterly, strengthening soonest in Wales early in the new week, then more widely windy toward midweek, with some showery rain developing. A risk of more widespread spells of rain and some hill snow later in the week.