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.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 17th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 16th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong westerly winds, gales widely on Scottish mountains; cool air and significant wind chill factor. Showery rain with heavy bursts mixed in most frequent in western Scotland, but tending to extend eastward. Showers develop more often for northern England too. Fewer showers for Wales after early rain clears.
Headline for West Highlands
Mountain gales, feeling distinctly chilly; rain often heavy.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 40 to 55mph, squally gusts in showers, at times sustained speeds over 60mph on higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure all day, considerable buffeting will challenge balance, gusts could knock you over in places; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, setting in, heavy bursts, risk hail
Showers stream from the west from dawn, increasingly pushing inland and becoming frequent throughout the day, or setting in - the most persistent heavy falls near and north of Glencoe, some risk of hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Varied bases between 700-900m from dawn, lower towards the coast in showers; best of high breaks inland and south. Cloud more persistent with time, bases widely to 800m, variably lower, approaching 400-500m coast from Mull northward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun mostly well inland. Visibility often reduced by showers, a general haze at best.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C. Feeling like -5C, to as cold as -10C in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 18th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 16th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West turning S-SW'ly 35-45mph, briefly less in morning, then increasing further to 50-60mph by early afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous conditions in exposure, deteriorating to become more widely difficult with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Some showers, more rain afternoon
Showers drifting from the west through morning, tending to ease briefly, then more persistent rain arrives from the west into afternoon, for several hours of rain with heavier falls. A legacy of patchy rain and drizzle into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops, later filling in
Most cloud towards west coast, above 700m, and tending to lift with breaks above 1100m inland at times. Through afternoon, cloud fills in, widely above 900m and lowest south and west, locally towards 400-500m. May break up somewhat later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, increasingly cloudy afternoon and dull for a time. Generally hazy, and deteriorating in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, rising to 7C, and rising another degree or two into evening. Feeling at or below 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 19th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 16th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 55mph, powerful squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions, balance frequently challenged on high exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain
Showery all day, rain rarely fully ceasing for long, a mix of drizzle and some heavier bursts. Some drier windows more often further inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Often covering mountains above 700-900m, some lower patches near coast and islands. Brief breaks higher up inland and base lifting a little during daytime.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun, more often inland. Hazy, particularly coasts, widely poor visibility in rain, better at times inland, good where dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, trending slightly cooler later in the daytime. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Into the night, may drop close to freezing on highest tops in Ben Nevis group.
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale-force winds continue extensively on the mountains into the weekend, southwesterly turning westerly with time. Frequent rain over western hills, showers passing eastwards, tending to fade during Sunday as higher pressure begins to build from the south, allowing wind speeds to lessen too over England & Wales. Warmer into early next week, though higher humidity brings more cloud some drizzly rain to the west. A generally more promising forecast for late September as high pressure nearby offers drier and warmer weather for more places. Weather systems grazing past Scotland to the north still bring locally stronger winds and occasional rain mainly to the northwest.