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.
Tuesday'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.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
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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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.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
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
West Highlands
Tuesday 24th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Feb 26 at
3:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widely windy, gales over high terrain and more widely Scottish Highlands. Most rain in northwest Scotland with extensive coastal cloud, some drizzle on other high northwestern terrain with low cloud, most persistent on south/west aspects. Largely dry central and east areas, early low cloud, sun breaks with time.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales in exposure; murky, drizzly near many summits
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35 to 45mph and gusty; strongest wind coastal Lochaber, risk reaching sustained speeds of 50mph with stronger gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over the mountains, difficult in places higher up near northern coasts where maintain stability will require constant effort.. Significant wind chill despite milder air.
How Wet?
Rain/drizzle high slopes and northwest
Fine drizzle drifts around the high summits in cloud. With time, a greater risk of light rain west of Loch Linnhe. Some patches may drift as far east as Ben Nevis, Creag Meagaidh. Wet underfoot where snow melts upper-mid slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest south and coasts
Shrouding the Munros widely, from lower slopes up coast & islands, 600-800m inland Lochaber. Highest bases near Glen Spean/Creag Meagaidh, though breaks above 900m will be rare and fleeting; some ragged cloud in glens and corries here in the morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy, murky many areas, poor visibility and also hazy near coasts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C. In exposure to wind, feeling like -8 to -10C.
Freezing Level
Above all summits with thawing to upper slopes, though icy surfaces remain on high tops with local refrozen snow patches.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 25th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Feb 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 20-30mph, notable gusts, not just high slopes, likely strongest near Arran/Loch Lomond.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking affected by inconvenient buffeting, at times strenuous in highest wind.
How Wet?
Persistent rain
Rain affects most mountains nearly all day, persistent to nearly constant near the coast and with heavy falls. Some breaks further south, lighter falls near Creag Meagaidh.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds nearly all hills to the middle slopes, often to lower slopes, most persistently low near the northern coastal areas. Some higher breaks possible towards Creag Meagaidh, but unlikely above 700m at best.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Very poor visibility in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C; only small change with added height. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 26th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Feb 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-45mph, some variability in this range and notable gusts on high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking at least strenuous and often arduous with considerable buffeting in exposure and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining, snow high terrain
Bands of rain sweep west-to-east, precipitation lingering near the coast between pulses; snow from 900m up. Most persistent Ben Nevis group and west of Loch Linnhe; best chance of dry moments south/inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, best high breaks inland
During rain, fog shrouds high terrain, lowest bases towards 600-700m during heaviest falls. Drier periods bring higher bases, breaks to inland summits; highest peaks may struggle to clear. On coastal slopes Islay and northward, fog persists from middle slopes up all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright/sunny bursts during breaks in the rain, best inland. Mixed visibility, at times very good, though very poor if in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Feeling like -12 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1000m, 900m at dawn in Lochaber. A general lifting trend, likely to the high summits by dusk, lowering overnight.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail from mid-week into the weekend as areas of low pressure move toward northwest Scotland; regular rainfall here, most frequent and heavy over western mountains. Bands of rain from the west also affecting England and Wales. Milder temperatures from mid-week with freezing levels above all summits for a few days, substantial thawing to the summits in England and Wales, some high slope thawing in Scotland too. Extensive gales, only a brief easing on Wednesday, then soon unsettled again with cooler temperatures returning, showery west with bands of rain passing east, some snow on Scottish Munros. Some drier, brighter weather is possible over the weekend, though interruptions by bands of rain are likely with low confidence in detail.