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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C 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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C 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
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Jan 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Freezing temperatures in Scotland and England; freezing level lowering with time to middle slopes, first in eastern hill groups. Blustery as well, gale force gusts on high terrain of Scotland and Wales. Snow flurries affecting eastern Scotland and the Pennines, mostly dry Lakeland to west Scottish Highlands.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery, gale force gusts; western hills dry and often cloud-free
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 35mph from dawn, rising with time to 30-40mph, locally variable. Becoming very gusty too, particularly around Skye, speeds reaching up to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, arduous on some exposed higher terrain to start the day, deteriorating to arduous conditions: buffeting gusts challenge balance, locally lower down as well. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional snow mostly northeast
Snow flurries mostly over hills from Ben Hope to Easter Ross, sleet or rain on lower slopes toward coast. Rare light flurries or spots of rain to the west, likely dry
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering eastern tops, breaks west, best around Skye and Torridon
Fairly persistent cloud banks over eastern hills. Bases mostly above 700-800m inland, well broken towards the west coast with breaks to summits at times. On Skye, only patches on the summits which will be clear at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% east to 60% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly near west coast around Torridon and Skye where visibility good. Little sun in the east where also hazier.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C inland and east, up to +1C locally nearest to west coast and on Skye. Lowering afternoon to -2 or -3C into night, always warmest on west coast slopes. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, or slightly lower toward Caithness. Higher toward west coast, just above freezing on some upper slopes. Lowering with time to 600-700m by dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 30th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Jan 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40-55mph, powerful gusts in places downslope toward the north/northwest of higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over high terrain, strong buffeting gusts making stability a constant challenge. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Occasional light flurries, or spots of rain toward east coast, but amounting to very little, odd patches reaching Skye with time too. Many northwest areas stay dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Banks north and east, clearer west & south
Patchy cloud around higher inland Munros and toward the east coast. Often clearer much of west coast, clearest to the south around Skye and Torridon where some summit breaks may occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and some high cloud, very good visibility west and northern areas. Cloudier toward east and Great Glen.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, locally rising to 0C west coast. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
500-600m to start the day, rising slightly, most notably Skye and nearby where reaching up to 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 31st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Jan 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 30-40mph. Some variability in strength, at times lower speeds south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous in exposure, often arduous on high terrain with buffeting. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some snow flurries east
Snow flurries and sleet falling into Caithness at times, only odd patches drifting further west. The snow level will lift slightly with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Inland Munro summits shrouded, breaks west
Cloud covers the Munro summits from Kintail north to Ben Hope, eastern high terrain often foggy with lowest bases in Caithness, to middle slopes. More patchy Skye/Wester Ross, mostly high terrain, perhaps occasional summit breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few bright breaks at times but mostly cloudy. Good visibility out of precipitation, though a light haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, highest temperature Skye/Torridon, rising to -1 or 0C with time. Feeling like -12 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
600-700m, highest west coast, rising more widely to 700m or higher with time.
Planning Outlook
Slow-moving weather patterns and a broadly similar regime to recent times over the next week or so: periods of precipitation will affect most mountains at least every few days. Scottish Munros generally below freezing point, with snow cover and drifts most substantial from the Cairngorms to central and southern Highlands, some additional falls in the week ahead (with continued flooding risk too); much less northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, at times dropping sub-zero to middle slopes, but largely isolated to the high terrain of Lakeland and Eryri NP (Snowdonia). Wind speed will vary, some periods of lower speeds than recently, though gusty SE'ly winds remain common in the Highlands. Scope for widely colder conditions toward mid February.