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.
Saturday'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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Most terrain frozen, snow cover over many hills, beware icy surfaces even lower down. Wind fairly light, but feeling blustery at times over Scottish mountains and later northern England. Some snow showers and flurries, mostly toward the west. Varied patchy cloud around hills, sunnier Pennines & NE Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Chilly wind. Occasional flurries, varied cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southwesterly 15 to 25mph, gusty in places on some downslopes to the north of higher mountains, mainly Lochaber. Strengthening rapidly later evening into the night to gales 50-70mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small some slopes, but gusty spots may feel more noticeable locally, giving considerable wind chill. Deteriorating significantly into night.
How Wet?
Coastal showers, snow flurries move inland
Showers most frequent near to coast, intermittent snow flurries pushing inland, here falling to lower slopes, but near coast mostly rain below 500m, some hail. Into night, snow to lower slopes inland or soon mostly rain near coast setting in.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches, more widely in showers
Patchy cloud around some slopes and tops, may linger around corries. Some mist possible lower slopes inland. Cloud drifting over upper slopes above 800m more widely where showers occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun. Visibility mostly very good away from showers, but in places beware difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, nearer 0C coastal tops. Feeling like -10C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen inland; just above freezing around 300-500m, up to 600-700m near coast, slightly higher islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 11th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, in range 50 to 70mph much of daytime, but risk 70-80mph early morning and likely again into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains; frequent buffeting and powerful gusts to some lower slopes, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow soon turning to heavy rain
Snow and freezing rain starts overnight - well inland heavy snow may fall to lower slopes for a few hours. Into daytime, increasingly rain toward higher levels, often heavy widely. Very wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding most higher terrain all day, to lower slopes near coasts and over southern-facing groups widely. Highest cloud base north Lochaber, breaks above 800m at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and mostly dull. Visibility generally very poor, appalling early in day if in snow on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2 or 3C, small variation of temperature with height inland. Wind chill feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen to lower slopes inland from dawn, 600-800m+ coasts; rising variably above freezing toward all tops.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 12th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 50 to 70mph, may fluctuate during the day, risk 80mph for a time higher Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, any mobility challenging, frequent buffeting even lower elevations. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain much of day, snow high tops
Frequent to constant precipitation most of the region, often heavy near/west of Loch Linnhe; smaller amounts Loch Lomond to Arran. Falling as snow above around 900-1000m. Very wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest coasts
Covering the hills most or all day above 800m, often 500-600m coasts and islands. Some higher bases at times mainly north and east of Rannoch Moor.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare or no sun. A general haze; visibility very poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Wind chill feeling around -15C where directly exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Near or just below freezing above 1000-1100m, chance of lowering further after dark.
Planning Outlook
Thawing develops during Sunday, snow turning to rain, rising just above freezing toward highest tops in Scotland, whilst in England and Wales a more rapid and substantial thaw - beware unstable snowpack conditions, then becoming very wet underfoot where melting occurs. A complex and unsettled outlook next week, generally less cold than recently, but still often below freezing over Scottish mountains above 800-1000m, and at least intermittently below freezing over tops in England and Wales. A mix of snow and rain will fall, often snow on Scottish tops with fresh accumulations. Some showery days with hail. Wind will vary in speed and direction day-to-day, some lulls, but risk gales at times on hills.