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.
Thursday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Oct 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong winds early in the day, gale force particularly toward the Cairngorms, lessening to lower speeds with time for all areas. Some early rain and upland snow in northeast Scotland clears. A few showers near west coasts fade. Cloud breaks above many tops with some sunshine, but remaining chilly all day.
Headline for West Highlands
Early strong wind eases. Scattered showers and sun.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph from dawn, easing during morning to 20-25mph, shifting southwesterly afternoon 15-20mph. Then southerly into night 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and considerable wind chill early morning, walking more arduous at first on high tops, but becoming fairly small as the day goes on, but a chilly feel in the breeze.
How Wet?
Showers mostly near coast, snow on tops, fading
Showers drift onto Munros nearest the coast, locally more frequent in the morning. A scattering of showers move inland, but tending to fade. Snow falling to 700m at first, this level rising above 1000m. More often dry all areas afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over high terrain, mostly west
Summits above 1100m will rarely clear (and likely only well-inland). Cloud often lowering towards 700-800m in showers towards the coast. A few windows of more broken cloud above the tops increasingly as the day goes on.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun. Varied visibility, often very good, some coastal haze for a time, reduced further in showers locally.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lifting to 2C. Feeling like -10C in direct wind at first, then nearer -5C by middle of day.
Freezing Level
900-1000m early morning, lifting to 1200-1300m middle of day onward.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 23rd October 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Oct 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 15-30mph to start, will vary and locally lessen, then shift northwesterly, strengthen towards 35-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied, locally fairly small but trending more strenuous with considerable wind chill, first along the coast.
How Wet?
Rain most of day, often heavy, snow tops
Heavy rain fairly widespread from dawn, some torrential falls from Mull to Loch Lomond. Rain will turn to sleet/snow on high tops, and tend to break up from the west later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Hills shrouded to middle slopes well into the day, often to lower slopes around heavier rain with patches into glens. Some local variability as wind shifts, though unlikely breaking above 700m. May begin to lift and break up westernmost hills late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull. Poor visibility, though locally better if out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 2C to start, or milder south, lowering to 0C. Feeling like -10C or colder in later wind.
Freezing Level
Will vary around 1000-1200m, may later lower towards 900m or lower.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Oct 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising rapidly from dawn to be soon 40mph, reaching 60-70mph+ as the day goes on.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, may soon be arduous walking on exposed terrain, significant wind chill; increasingly severe conditions.
How Wet?
Heavy rain sets in
Dry start mainly inland, but soon patchy rain comes in from coast, briefly snow highest tops, then all rain, setting in widely heavy, some torrential falls afternoon. Showery into night, snow on tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering to become extensive
Initially most cloud above the hills, apart from odd patches at varied heights. Increasingly cloud will lower onto hills, forming to lower elevations coastal areas; some higher breaks remain well inland north/east of Ben Nevis group.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% at first, dropping to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak sun at dawn soon gives way to overcast and increasingly dull conditions. Good visibility soon becomes hazy and then poor visibility as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising to 5C afternoon, then falling again to 1C into evening. Feeling around -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000-1200m plus patchy frost some inland glens at dawn; rising well above summits by afternoon; lowering evening-night.
Planning Outlook
A deep area of low pressure moves toward northwest Scotland into the weekend to bring widespread rain and gales, stormy conditions develop over many mountains, the strongest sustained winds over Scottish tops into Sunday in excess of 70-80mph with more powerful gusts. Temperature will vary, briefly above freezing to all tops, then back just below zero on Scottish Munros by Sunday with frequent showers of hail and snow on high mountains. Atlantic west-southwesterlies remain dominant next week, bringing several low pressure systems with rain and wind, punctuated by brief clearer windows.