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.
Saturday'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.
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.
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
Saturday 20th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 19th Dec 25 at
7:02PM
Summary for all mountain areas
South to south-easterly winds, reaching gale force for western hills, local drizzly showers southwestern Scotland as well as Wales, with rain into Pembrokeshire later. Elsewhere, areas of weak sun and low cloud. Low cloud focused on eastern side of Pennines and also southern and eastern Highlands.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy, gales up west coast. Isolated showers. Hill fog focused in the south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to south-easterly 25 to 40mph, but western coastal hills and Arran 45 to 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous, or near west coast and Isles difficult, with a very turbulent airflow. Significant wind chill and buffeting.
How Wet?
Mostly dry, bar isolated showers.
Isolated showers with snow falling above 1000-1100m, mainly from Loch Lomond, Arrochar Alps and Arran.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks in north, covering hills in south.
Banks of cloud giving fairly extensive hill fog on upper slopes from Loch Lomond to Arrochar Alps and Arran. Bases rising progressively further north into Lochaber, where bases at times at or above tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%, but 60% N Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun Visibility good or very good. General haze west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, small rate of change in temperature with height. Directly in the wind feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Around 1200m. Fresh snow coverage on higher tops, particularly Lochaber.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 21st December 2025
Last updated
Fri 19th Dec 25 at
7:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-easterly backing easterly 20 to 30mph, perhaps lifting to 40mph at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, turbulent airflow with significant wind chill. Sudden gusts running downslope and reversals in direction.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and summit snow
The legacy of a front may give patches of rain and summit snow, mainly towards the west coast and Arran. Otherwise mostly dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, best breaks west coast
Be prepared for fairly extensive cloud on the hills of the central and southern Highlands, but higher bases with some breaks are likely west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun perhaps toward west coast. Otherwise cloudy. Visibility good, but poor in any rain or snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 1C, small change in temperature with height. Feeling closer to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around 1000m
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 22nd December 2025
Last updated
Fri 19th Dec 25 at
7:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph, easing to 20 to 25mph in afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly arduous conditions for several hours, sudden and strong wind gusts running downslope. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Early rain, then patches here and there.
A warm front will bring widespread rain and drizzle for a time in the morning before clearing west. Then drier, but still with patches of rain here and there.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, but breaks west coast.
Fairly extensive banks at varying heights in rain. As rain clears, very disorganised cloud banks, some hills in fog, whilst others clear, with best breaks west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, but 60% toward west coast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mainly overcast. Poor visibility in the rain morning, but improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, but feeling closer to -10C where exposed to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A much drier and chiller theme develops into the Christmas period and perhaps into the New Year, as high pressure builds to the north and northeast and maybe later in the period overhead over Scotland when inversion conditions would be in place. An extensive cloud sheet will likely come in from the North Sea over many days with light snow showers or flurries likely, rain to lower slopes, but many areas dry. Best breaks in the west.