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.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
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
Tuesday 4th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive rain and low cloud across Scotland, becoming thundery downpours into the afternoon from the south into the Highlands. For England & Wales, rain and low cloud most persistent in the morning, heavy showery bursts in middle of day tending to clear eastward afternoon. Strong and gusty winds widely.
Headline for West Highlands
Rain and thundery downpours, low cloud; strongest wind easing.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 30 to 35mph early morning, gusts over 40mph for a few hours from dawn in Lochaber. Turning southerly and lowering to 20-25mph afternoon, but sudden powerful gusts around rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions at first, buffeting gusts higher and lower slopes around Ben Nevis range at least. Staying blustery all day though some improvement. Feeling cool in exposure higher up.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain; thundery bursts
Rain affects much of the region all day, some heavier falls at times. Least rainfall on west coastal hills, where in places occasionally dry. Some heavy downpours forming inland particularly afternoon onward, drifting northwards, with risk of thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Never clearing most summits
Blanket of fog all day across higher areas, sometimes the cloud below 400-500m particularly central highlands and Arran. Breaks likely to 700, sometimes 900m within a few miles of the west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky. Visibility often poor due to rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C. Feeling near to freezing directly in the wind, colder early in day in Lochaber.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Speed and direction likely to vary considerably, a lull below 20mph, then risk increasing N-NW'ly 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for a few hours, but likely worsening conditions affecting ease of walking and balance on ridges.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain
Areas of rain affect the region much of the day, increasingly setting in heavier for periods with some thundery downpours mixed in. Local drier windows possible.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding mountains widely much of the day, with ragged patches from lower slopes up around heavier rain. Rare breaks toward some higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility poor during rain, occasionally improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, coolest in Lochaber, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 6th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest then westerly 15 to 25mph, likely strongest early morning, again by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling rather chilly in exposure to breeze on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Brief showers, rain later
Well scattered light showers, often dry. Light showers may come and go near the coast and islands during the day, later risk of some steadier rain, pushing inland evening up to dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting with breaks to tops
Most cloud soon above 700-800m in the morning, lifting higher. Patches likely to come and go above 1000-1200m, best breaks further inland. Tending to lower over coastal tops later in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7C afternoon. Feeling as cold as -5C on higher tops if exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Only just above freezing point on Ben Nevis summit.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure over the country during midweek brings strong winds, rain and thundery showers. Trending toward westerlies later in the week and into weekend, by then most rain and low cloud in western Scotland, but showery rain elsewhere at times, accompanied by periods of strong to gale force mountain winds at times. Generally fresh temperatures widely, often in mid-single figures over Scottish high tops. Despite falls of rain, beware of ongoing fire management restricting access to hills locally.