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.
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 rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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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 rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Saturday 15th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 14th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fresh-to-strong westerly breeze across Scotland brings showery rain frequently to the northwest, cloud covering many western hills; fewer showers and higher cloud bases eastward. Moderate northwesterly breezes for England & Wales, cooler than recent days, early showers mostly fade with cloud lifting.
Headline for West Highlands
Breezy, cool on tops. Rain most often north, cloud on hills.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-30mph early in day, strong gusts over high tops approaching 40mph early morning in Ben Nevis range. An easing tendency to 20mph afternoon, slightly less by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strongest early gusts begin to challenge stability, trending toward smaller effects. Feeling rather chilly in exposure on high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain on and off north, showers form more widely inland
Showery rain most common on hills from Mull northward early morning, often drizzly near the coast. A scattering of brief showers form widely during morning into middle of day, most frequent Lochaber, drier windows Loch Lomond NP. Showers most common inland by afternoon, fewer near coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent Ben Nevis to Mull, varied south and well inland.
Hills near and west of Loch Linnhe shrouded from middle slopes up especially morning, some rise of base in afternoon, but rare breaks to upper slopes above 900m, lower near coast. Near Loch Lomond and inland near Rannoch Moor, cloud more variable, some breaks towards high terrain, patches mostly above 900-1000m inland by afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west Lochaber, to 50% south inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy north and west, bursts of sunshine, mostly south in morning. Varied visibility, sometimes good out of cloud and rain but a light coastal haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, rising a degree well-inland. Feeling near freezing in the wind much of the day, or below freezing on higher tops in the morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 16th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 14th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10-15mph, likely to ease and become variable. Near coast turning southerly 10-20mph afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle
Near the coast, drizzly on the hills much of the day and more widely damp for periods as areas of steady light rain drift from the west across the region, odd heavier falls locally.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding high terrain, lowest west
Fairly extensive, lowest bases toward coasts to middle slopes. Some breaks forming, but rarely above 1000m, and filling in more extensively lower during periods of rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, dull. Varied visibility, good visibility out of cloud and rain; poor visibility for periods.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, slight rise inland.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 17th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 14th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening from 20mph or less early in day, toward 40mph later afternoon onward, soonest coasts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting fairly small, but increasingly affecting ease of walking, later likely more challenging over high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops, sets in heavy
Patchy light rain spills in from the west in the morning, becoming increasingly persistent and heavier with time, prolonged heavy falls setting in widely for several hours afternoon through evening. Rain stays frequent into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive and low
Covering many hills all day, persistent to lower coastal slopes, some early breaks possible well inland. Cloud likely to widely lower to blanket the hills from 300-600m upward, highest well inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull. Good visibility reducing to poor as rain develops, becoming murky.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C. As wind increases, feeling nearer to freezing where exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly weather patterns prevail into the new week bringing generally unsettled and cooler conditions - single-figure temperatures typical on the Munros and high tops elsewhere. On Monday, extensive rain spreads across Scotland, heaviest in the west. Winds strengthen, risk reaching gale force on many hills later on Monday, staying blustery widely into midweek. Rain extends south over England and Wales by Monday night into early Tuesday. The rest of the week likely sees showery rain common for all areas as low pressure dominates toward the north, the rain most persistent in western Scotland, but odd heavier bursts passing eastward, with a chance of thunder, especially later in week.