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.
Monday'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.
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.
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.
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
Monday 22nd December 2025
Last updated
Sun 21st Dec 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong and gusty SE'ly winds. Rain fairly widely across the Highlands in the morning, easing but leaving patchy drizzle and low cloud shrouding the hills. Low cloud and some drizzly rain for England and Wales, but some breaks for the Lakes, also clearing conditions moving into south Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy, gusty. Rain easing to drizzle, low cloud persists.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph; gusty over the tops and downslope, strongest gusts reach 45mph early in day; lessening into middle of day onward.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly arduous conditions for several hours, sudden and strong gusts will challenge balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain, then drizzle south/west
Widespread rain before dawn lingers through morning, some local breaks inland Lochaber. Largely fading and clearing to the northeast, but some drizzle continues around the southern islands and areas south from Glencoe.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, but breaks west coast
Shrouding hills widely from dawn, banks at varying heights in rain. As rain clears, very disorganised cloud banks, ragged patches clinging to forest canopies for a time, best chance of clear hills coastal Lochaber in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 50% northwest areas
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mainly overcast, some brighter skies develop into afternoon, best west Lochaber. Early rain will limit visibility, some improvement, but rather hazy or some hills staying misty toward south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, but feeling closer to -10C where exposed to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Last updated
Sun 21st Dec 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable between southerly and easterly, 10 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, local lulls, though some uncomfortable gusty spots possible.
How Wet?
A little rain on and off
Periods of patchy rain for most mountains, likely more frequent on hills nearest the west coast, but total amounts likely small.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding the tops, lowest south
Fairly extensive over all high terrain, lower bases during rain, down to 400-600m near the coast and possibly widely Loch Lomond NP much of the day. Patchy fog also some glens.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy. Good visibility in places, but variable as rain comes and goes, hazier or mistier further toward the central belt.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, little change with added height.
Freezing Level
Just above freezing point on some slopes above 1000m, mainly east-facing aspects.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 24th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 21st Dec 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 15-20mph, may be gusty in exposure.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly mid-slopes south and east
Cloud banks cling to the hills between 800-1100m from Glencoe to the southern islands, bases variable and may lower near Loch Lomond. Patchier further west and north, many coastal slopes Mull and north clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best of sunshine in coastal Lochaber, patchier sun near Glencoe/Loch Lomond. Very good visibility though a slight haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C
Freezing Level
Around 1000m, lifting to the summits though variable, may remain lower in the south; some dawn frosts inland glens.
Planning Outlook
Cloud and patchy rain lingers early this week, then a slow change to drier and chiller weather into the Christmas period as high pressure builds to the north. Easterly winds will be dominant, the strongest winds in England and Wales. Cloud may be fairly sheet-like in the east sometimes, though variably more extensive or broken, best northwest. The coldest air will reach England and Wales on the easterly wind with freezing levels reaching as low as 400-600m in Wales, staying slightly warmer in northern Scotland with some inversion conditions likely over higher terrain; frost into glens.