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.
Today's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C 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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C 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
Wednesday 30th July 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Jul 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Generally cloudy conditions, covering some hill slopes in the morning, but breaking and lifting above many tops. Occasional sun breaking through, mainly in the east. In western Scotland, a weak front pushing in will lower the cloud over coastal hills and bring a little drizzle at times. Light winds overall.
Headline for West Highlands
Drizzle mostly coast, some cloud breaks. Light-moderate breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10 to 15mph, but may start northwesterly 20mph Arran and near Clyde sea lochs.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Occasional drizzle, mainly coast
Local patches of drizzle mostly coastal areas at first, odd drizzly showers moving well inland in morning, largely fading out. Drizzle returning from west onto islands and near coast during afternoon, later in day a little drizzle further inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, rising for a time
Shrouding the mountains widely early morning, cloud banks lower elevations upward. Into middle of day, lifting to 600-800m west, breaks higher well inland afternoon. Low cloud likely filling in and lowering again from west later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 50% inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun develop. Misty start across hills, visibility becoming good below cloud, generally better afternoon inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, little change near coast and islands, rising to 12C well inland afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 31st July 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Jul 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15 to 20mph, to 25mph at times higher summits and coastal areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, in places more blustery, affecting balance over exposed tops and ridges in west. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Patchy rain from dawn into early morning, then a scattering of showers, briefly heavier mainly inland areas afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lifting to higher slopes
Covering the mountains widely in early rain, to mid-slopes in the west. Bases rising as rain eases, some breaks forming to upper slopes, but often capping higher tops. Ragged patches lowering in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through afternoon. Visibility poor in rain, becoming very good when dry afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C. Feeling close to freezing in the wind on highest tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 1st August 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Jul 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20 to 25mph, to 30mph for periods over higher summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on some higher exposed tops and ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional showers
Showers mostly near to the coast in the morning, some drifting further inland, mostly well scattered. Tending to fade.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops, some breaks
Banks of cloud drifting over hills above 800-1000m in morning, tending to lift mostly above 1000m. Breaks forming to higher slopes more often afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun, most near coast in afternoon. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8 or 9C. Feeling below freezing in wind, nearer -5C on higher tops Ben Nevis range.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds prevail in the extended outlook, with occasional fronts moving through - western mountains often shrouded in cloud, periods of rain and drizzle. Some showery bursts of rain further eastwards, particularly Thursday-Friday this week, but often smaller amounts of rain toward easternmost hills, and cloud bases often higher with breaks to eastern summits. Moderate breezes, sometimes more blustery - early next week looks windier for a time. Temperatures near average, though rather cool in Scotland late this week and again early next week. Ridges of higher pressure will build occasionally from the southwest for better windows of weather, particularly England & Wales.