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.
Friday'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Friday 29th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very windy Scottish Highlands, afternoon gales, strongest north. Extensive low cloud and rain, most west, some breaks east but little sun. Morning cloud over England and Wales, clearing Wales and S Pennines for afternoon sun. Cloud slow to clear west slopes of Lakeland and N Pennines, spotty rain and blustery here.
Headline for West Highlands
Powerful gales, persistent rain, low clouds
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph at dawn, soon strengthening widely, mostly 40-50mph, gusting 60mph over Ben Nevis and high tops north of here for several afternoon hours. Trending westerly in direction. Gradually easing overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting challenging balance on high tops, particularly afternoon when standing upright will be difficult. Significant wind chill higher areas.
How Wet?
Morning rain and showers, afternoon drizzle
Rain fairly persistent over Lochaber hills most of the day, heavy at times. Patchier southeastwards though perhaps more widespread for a few midday hours, rain only drizzly in the far south. A gradual easing through afternoon but a lingering drizzle.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Coastal slopes shrouded above 500m likely all day, often to coastal cliffs Lochaber, Mull, and Loch Linnhe. Extensive inland at first, lifting, but any breaks above 800m unlikely. As evening approaches, breaks forming southern islands and towards Ben Lomond.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%, to 30% southernmost Munros late in the day
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull, some sun glimpses in the far south late in the day. Poor visibility in cloud and rain, also hazy towards the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C, up to 9C southern islands. Wind chill feeling like -7 to -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 30th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly soon rising to 20 to 35mph, may reach 45mph in gusts higher mountains, mainly Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions on exposed terrain, more frequent buffeting higher up. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and showery bursts
Patchy rain soon moving in from the west, likely to become more persistent fairly widely with time, some heavier rain mixed in. Later trending showery, but quite frequent.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Patchy cloud banks mostly coastal hills at first, starting clearer inland. Cloud lowering and filling in over many mountains to 600-800m, or lower slopes near coast from Loch Linnhe southward; higher bases mainly near Glen Spean.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Soon largely cloudy and dull after a brighter start. Visibility starts good, then reducing to poor in rain, a haze building near coasts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, 9C afternoon most hills except Mull northward; small change with added height. Wind chill feeling near 0C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 31st May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking affected on high terrain, at times strenuous over highest summits with a chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Some showers
Showers drive in from the west in the morning, perhaps a brief period of more persistent rain. With time, the showers easing, particularly south of Loch Linnhe, extended afternoon dry spells.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some improvement
Cloud shrouds most hills from 400-600m up from dawn, lowest west coast. A lifting trend and rising chance of breaks with time, but bases will struggle to rise above 800m near the coast, to 1000m well inland, an may occasionally return more extensively.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few bright or sunny glimpses but often cloudy. Mixed visibility, poor in rain (most often west), but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, rising to 7 or 8C inland and south. Mull and coastal Lochaber seeing little change. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Nearer average temperatures for all into the weekend onward as changeable southwesterlies prevail. England and Wales remain fairly sunny through Saturday, only beginning to deteriorate afternoon. Sunday will see showers for all, most in the west, and more frequent with heavy bursts in Scotland. A generally unsettled theme is expected during the first ten days of June with lower pressure dominating. Frontal systems come in from the Atlantic - rain, drizzle and low cloud most common on western coastal mountains, but showery days are likely more widely at times, possibly rain more widely further south later in week. Wind speeds will vary, but reaching gale force on mountains for periods. Occasional cooler spells when the wind turns northwesterly.