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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
.jpg "Hazy, some fog banks"){kind=icon}
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 3rd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales over high terrain in all areas, severe on higher mountains making progress very challenging and feeling cold. Showery rain, most frequent in western Scotland, scattered heavy bursts passing eastward. Remnants of overnight rain soon clears from Wales to be more often dry, less windy southwards.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, severe on tops. Frequent bursts of rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then westerly, 45 to 60mph, peak speeds fluctuating in and out of showers, but more sustained for periods on higher summits, stronger gusts on highest tops over 70mph at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous to difficult walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Any mobility at times challenging on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining, heavy showery bursts
Rain on and off throughout the day, more frequent for periods, some steady rain mixed with heavier showery bursts - a more organised cluster moving inland in the morning, but further showers follow; small chance isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering tops, lowest coasts
Fairly persistent over many western groups above 500-700m, lowest near the coast and during rain. Well inland the cloud base higher and varying, some breaks above 800-900m, tending to rise a little into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% coasts, 40% well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brief glimpses of sun well inland. Visibility often reduced by rain, locally good below cloud especially east; a general haze near the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, little change all day. Directly in the wind, feeling like -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 5th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 3rd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph at dawn, soon easing to 20-25mph, turning southwest later southerly; rising from dusk to 50-70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and chilly start, but lessening to be fairly small until evening. Deteriorating significantly into night.
How Wet?
A few showers, risk rain later
Showers mostly coastal mountains early in the day tending drift inland but becoming well scattered and light, fading with time. From dusk into night, risk of sustained heavy rain developing from south.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, breaks to some tops
Cloud banks drift over hills above 800-1000m in the morning, lowest further west. Base rising mostly above 1000m by middle of day, but patches may come and go into afternoon on higher tops and near coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun inland, high cloud tending to build from south later. Visibility very good inland, slight coastal haze in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C afternoon, little change or rising a degree or so higher into night. Feeling like -5C in the wind at first.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 6th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 3rd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 45 to 60mph, powerful gusts through passes and on some downslopes to the north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions on exposed terrain walking and balance difficult in places. Feeling cool in exposure despite mild air.
How Wet?
Frequent to persistent rain
Rain and drizzle fairly persistent most western mountains, some sustained heavier falls possible. Patchier smaller amounts well inland and south.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket low cloud across many mountains particularly west and southern groups, higher bases some northern aspects.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Hazy at best, poor visibility in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, humid all day, rising on some slopes to 14C; cooling into night. Feeling near to 0C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the next week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather and less wind on Saturday, but further rain moves into Scotland from the southwest by Saturday night into Sunday, heaviest northwest Highlands; gales also return to many mountains by Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times next week bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point. Indications favour improving weather patterns during mid-month.