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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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 4th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 3rd Dec 25 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A complex weather situation with areas of frequent or persistent rain and hill snow, focused from the southern Highlands to northern England; often strong SE'ly winds. Further north in the Highlands, generally drier with higher cloud breaks. In Wales, becoming showery westerlies with risk of hail.
Headline for West Highlands
Strongest wind likely morning. Patchy rain, hill snow; low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, becoming variable or south-southwest near to coast, 30-40mph in morning, gusty in places around high tops and locally downslope to north for a time; tending to ease, may drop below 15-20mph afternoon. Likely increasing into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure early in day, marked wind chill; some buffeting gusts around higher mountains. Generally improving, may become small, particularly near coast.
How Wet?
Areas of rain and upland snow
Fairly persistent rain, snow above 800-900m, most widespread from Mull and Glencoe southward. A few patches drift north. Trending patchier more widely as the day goes on, though around Loch Lomond may remain damp.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent and lowest in south
Fairly extensive in morning above 600-800m from Mull and Glencoe southward, lower bases near coasts. Higher bases Lochaber, a few local breaks north/west of Loch Linnhe. Some improvement south coast hills afternoon, but staying persistent inland into central highlands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 30% west & northwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally overcast, dull toward south. Visibility poor in rain/snow, may improve a little afternoon, better visibility mainly at low-mid levels in Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C, some variability, locally a degree or so higher western Lochaber. Feeling like -10C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, highest along the coast and some variability, may rise higher some slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 5th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 3rd Dec 25 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, shifting southeasterly, 30-35mph. Rising to 45-55mph, strongest coast, further deteriorating into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfortable walking affected from dawn, deteriorating first southwest then more widely into night. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain sets in widely afternoon
Patchy morning sleet/snow drifts north and fades to only isolated pockets, if any. Rain (snow on high terrain) arrives to the southern islands afternoon, spreading widely and persistent into night; heaviest falls near Loch Lomond.
Cloud on the hills?
Southern coasts and near inland often shrouded
Persistent cloud from middle slopes upward on coastal areas from Mull to Arran, as well as inland from Loch Lomond to Loch Lyon. More variable north, particularly Lochaber with some high breaks possible. Filling in more widely late into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% Lochaber for a few hours, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
No sun expected. Good visibility in northern areas at first, turning poor as cloud and rain set in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 0C, slightly warmer southern islands. Will rise a few degrees in the overnight hours. Feeling like -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
Poorly defined, 600-800m though frost at lower elevations, including in glens. Rising overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 6th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 3rd Dec 25 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southeasterly 15 to 25mph, gusty in places around some tops and high passes, but locally often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small many areas, but risk sudden gusty spots around higher mountains.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mostly south
Rain on and off, greatest risk Loch Lomond NP, may be often damp. Some showery rain coastal areas near Clyde. May be more often dry Ben Nevis group and out west toward Knoydart.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering many hills, lowest south
Risk fairly extensive low cloud more southern areas all day, to mid-elevations or perhaps some lower slopes. Cloud base higher northward, but may often cover tops, some breaks west from Ben Nevis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun unlikely south, weak glimpses Lochaber, mainly in west. Misty particularly southern areas, better visibility further northwest, locally good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Wind chill feeling like -5C if exposed to stronger speeds.
Freezing Level
1300m.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the weekend and into next week with areas of low pressure circulating near to the British Isles. Temperatures often near to freezing point on higher Scottish mountains, at times on tops elsewhere, though some thawing will occur periodically even to high tops in the Highlands. A complex series of frontal systems bringing spells of rain and some upland snow, mixed with showers with hail mostly near western coasts. Wind speeds will also vary, often south to southwesterlies, at times reaching gale force on tops, but intermittent lulls.