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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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
Friday 12th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly blustery north England and Scotland, gales over Scottish Highlands; lighter wind Pennines and Wales. Early patchy rain over east Scotland and the Pennines soon clears, slowest south Pennines; many hills then cloud-free. Scattered showers onto west coasts, most frequent and heavy west-central Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy, reaching gale force; coastal showers in the north
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph from dawn, soon rising to 40-45mph. Increasingly strong gusts over high northern tops, up to 55mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Uncomfortable winds from dawn strengthen to widely strenuous-to-arduous walking conditions. Gusts in exposure may require bracing to maintain stability. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some coastal showers northern areas
Showers drift onto Mull and Lochaber Munros near the coast and Loch Linnhe, falling as snow on high tops, the snow level lowering somewhat with time. Little or no rain inland and south during daylight. Showers begin to reach inland into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Tops often shrouded, variable lower banks
High tops will often be shrouded, particularly Lochaber and mountains near Loch Linnhe. A few breaks here and there, but some lower banks at times too where showers occur. More patchy around southern islands, some clear tops, though increasingly present with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%; 60% south for a time
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy cloud and sun, best of sunshine on lower slopes. Very clear air at first but becoming hazy from the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C most areas all day, always slightly warmer southern islands/Argyll. Locally 0C well-inland. Feeling as cold as -15C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1100m, lowering to 900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening from 40-50mph to 70-80mph, first north; risk stronger gusts from afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions from mid-elevations upward, increasingly any mobility difficult, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain developing
Starting as patchy rain, initially snow flurries on high tops inland. Gradually setting in more widely and persistently, incessant heavy falls with time, greatest risk Lochaber, rapidly rising streams.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive, lowering
Varied banks of cloud mostly on western slopes early in day, but increasingly filling in and lowering, becoming blanket fog from lower slopes upward many areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, increasingly dull. Hazy, visibility poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C rising steadily to later reach 5C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m up to dawn, gradually rising, above all summits with time.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty southwesterly, sustained winds between 40-55mph, may strengthen further. Gusts to middle slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including less exposed slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining
Often raining across all areas. Local breaks possible, though remaining drizzly on high southern tops with a risk of setting in more widely for periods too.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Extensive on coastal slopes, variable between 400-700m, lowering at times in rain. Higher bases Ben More to Creag Meagaidh, 700-900m, higher breaks possible but may lower as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, often dull on high terrain and at times lower. Best visibility out of cloud well-inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, variable. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled through the weekend and next week as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Rainfall will be frequent and heavy for periods, sometimes showery with hail in the west. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers. Best chance for dry and bright periods central and south Pennines, though these fleeting. Mild for the time of year, temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs.