The Northwest Highlands
Areas north from Knoydart in the west, and the Great Glen towards the east (NB. Does not include Mull and areas west of Loch Linnhe, these are found in the West Highlands forecast.)
Today'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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
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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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 19th August 2025
Last updated
Mon 18th Aug 25 at
4:31PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A cooler feeling day with a rather gusty east to north-east airflow. An extensive cloud sheet, with local drizzle, covering many hills from dawn, but some westernmost hills still clear. Low cloud will burn back to eastern and northern hills, with sun most widely in the west, but low cloud persisting for parts of coastal western Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Feeling cooler. Persistent cloud banks in north and east, with drizzle. Best in west..
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 10 to 20mph, gusts 25mph around some higher mountains, particularly west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling breezier on some exposed terrain and noticeably chilly especially over northern areas.
How Wet?
Pockets of drizzle from low cloud
Pockets of drizzle around cloud banks, mainly in the north and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud banks most persistent north/east
Low cloud will cover hills from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis most of the day, base around 600-700m, very slow rise. Patchy cloud reaching western areas at times, but more often clearing. Top of cloud layer near highest tops around 1100-1200m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% north/east, to 70% west coast/Wester Ross.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best toward west coasts, occasionally breaking through inland,but may stay dull in north and east. Visibility very good west, good below cloud elsewhere, slight haze near North Sea.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 11C, locally near 13C west coast slopes, coolest north and east areas and in cloud; here later in day dropping to 5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 20th August 2025
Last updated
Mon 18th Aug 25 at
4:31PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally north-northeasterly but highly variable 5-15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Likely dry
Small chance of spots of drizzly rain drifting around Skye and nearby coastal slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud eastern slopes
Banks of cloud come and go from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis and eastward, bases down to 600m on slopes nearest the North Sea. Most western slopes often clear, though Skye may see low cloud for a time early. Bases tending to lift to 800m in the east later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine between cloud banks, most extensive coastal Wester Ross. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
From dawn, 5 to 7C, up to 9C on the Cuillin. Most areas rising to 8C, though northernmost mountains staying cooler.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 21st August 2025
Last updated
Mon 18th Aug 25 at
4:31PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeast 10 to 20mph at dawn. Tending to drop further through the day, as high pressure builds overhead.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked chill at first in the wind, but tending to become small.
How Wet?
Dry, bar local spots of drizzle in cloud.
Scope for some spots of drizzle from the areas of low cloud as they drift south, mainly in the morning across northern and eastern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
May persist tops north, lifting elsewhere.
Cloud drifting south in morning, covering tops above 700-900m. Bases will lift and break up, with hills likely to clear, but may be slow to clear northern tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% north, but lifting to 70% in south
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy morning, before sun breaks through. Most widely in south, may be limited in north. Visibility mostly very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C at dawn, lifting to 7 to 10C in the afternoon, but still perhaps only 6C Ben Hope.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but chilly start, with heavy dew for inland glens.
Planning Outlook
High pressure centred toward the northwest this week, before building overhead again toward weekend. East to northeasterly winds prevailing, gusty for periods, easing out later in week. Extensively dry with sunshine best in west, low cloud for periods northern and eastern mountains with occasional drizzle. Still very dry underfoot with significant fire risk. Turning cooler through midweek, mountain temperatures falling, chilly into the valleys and glens pre-dawn, risk slight frost in Highland glens. Fine weather likely next weekend too; will likely begin to break down from the west into the following week, but uncertainty on timings of such a transition.