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 7th August 2026
Last updated
Thu 6th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain in the Scottish Highlands, persistent central/west areas; windy too, gales developing over summits. Some early rain in England, cloud covering high terrain, improving for frequent sun and minimal hill cloud. Light wind and mostly sunny Wales, just some early cloud and dampness high Snowdonia terrain.
Headline for West Highlands
Rain most of the day, wind strengthens to gales over tops
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-35mph in the morning, strongest north. Strengthening, sustained speeds to 50mph Mull and Lochaber, some stronger gusts over the high tops; staying nearer 35-40mph southern hills.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery from dawn, deteriorating to difficult conditions with significant wind chill; strongest wind over the high tops will become a constant challenge to balance and forward progress.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day
Persistent rain in the morning, some steady heavy falls along the coast, sometimes drifting well-inland. Rain will tend to ease in frequency and intensity towards southern areas, though still often wet before sunset, the falls remaining frequent and sometimes heavy Mull and northward; becoming wet underfoot.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Extensive to middle slopes (at least) at dawn, to lower slopes west of Loch Linnhe; ragged patches to forest canopies during heavier rains. Some variability further south, may rise towards 800m during breaks in rain, but also returning lower.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull, poor visibility with a haze building along the coast. A few brighter glimpses here and there in the far south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, rising a degree, locally towards 9C but some coastal areas may see little or no rise as well. Feeling like 0 to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 8th August 2026
Last updated
Thu 6th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40-55mph, strongest speeds north with stronger gusts over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions in exposure with significant wind chill; strongest gusts can knock you over.
How Wet?
Constant rain sets in, often heavy
Showery rain from the southwest sets in through the morning, constant heavy falls forming in Lochaber and spreading more widely with time; very wet underfoot.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive
Varied cloud in the early hours with coming and going of rain, some improvement inland but any breaks above 1000m unlikely. Cloud filling in extensively to middle slopes with ragged patches increasingly forming to forest canopies.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% inland early, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few bright moments inland, soon overcast and increasingly dull with very poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, mildest south and very humid. Feeling like -5C in direct wind (or colder northern summits).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 9th August 2026
Last updated
Thu 6th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 30-35mph, notable gusts; may lessen somewhat.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous on high exposed tops and ridges, buffeting gusts affecting balance with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, some extended falls
Showers drifting from the west most or all day, some extended falls come and go with heavy bursts. Southern Munros may see a few early hours of steadier rain, this clearing south.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain
May be fairly extensive over southern hills at dawn, bases soon rising from the north towards 800-900m, increasing higher breaks, this pattern spreading south with time. Best chance of summit breaks inland, but returning to middle slopes where showers occur, lowest Mull northward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40% inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
A mostly cloudy start gives way to a patchwork of cloud and sun. Varied visibility, often good but suddenly deteriorating during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C, dropping slightly, towards 6C Lochaber coast. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds prevail into the weekend: Saturday will see extensive cloud and heavy rain develop across Scotland with gales; bands of rain passing to the south and east into England and Wales through Sunday with showers in Scotland. A ridge of high pressure early next week brings warmer temperatures and clearer hills, though western areas likely remain fairly cloudy with some drizzle on the high tops. Westerly flow returns through mid-week and a series of low pressure systems will pass west-to-east across the country with periods of strong wind (sometimes gales), rain, and low cloud, western hill groups always most affected. Mild-to-warm temperatures and sometimes quite humid. Changeable conditions persist into next weekend.