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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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 22nd May 2026
Last updated
Thu 21st May 26 at
4:04PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland; Strong, gusty south-westerly with extensive low cloud and patchy rain and drizzle. Tending to ease off for many hills, with rising cloud bases. England and Wales: South-west winds, but mostly dry with warm sunshine, some cloud banks, mostly coastal hills.
Headline for West Highlands
Blustery with hill fog and patchy rain and drizzle, most extensive in the morning.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 30-40mph dawn, strongest south; gusty, downslope too. Easing to 20-30mph, strongest west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, notably south early, balance affected in gusts including low terrain; feeling chilly. Easing somewhat.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and drizzle
Patchy rain and drizzle drifts in from the southwest, most widespread in the morning and evening near and north of Mull and Ben Nevis. Best chance of dry windows of weather early in the afternoon, but a lingering drizzle over summits. Heavier rain returning into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Extensive at dawn west coast to 400-600m, higher inland at first but soon lowering as cloud moves in. As midday approaches, bases lift, highest well inland to 800-900m Glen Spean. Arran to Loch Lomond and up west coast unlikely clearing above 600-700m, though some chance of breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, rare glimpses of weak sunshine. Very misty and murky with poor visibility in rain and drizzle. May become very good at times well inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 or 11C, mildest inland and north; least rise Lochaber coast. Feeling near freezing in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 23rd May 2026
Last updated
Thu 21st May 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, often gusting 35mph over high terrain, sustained speeds approaching 35mph Lochaber coast later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Locally fairly small, though nuisance gusts over most high terrain. Walking strenuous north and west with time, feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Some fine drizzle around high Lochaber summits and perhaps Ben Nevis range too. A small chance of an odd spot of light rain here too, but most hills entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lifting to high terrain with breaks
Fairly extensive above 700m at dawn, lowest Mull to south islands, banks to 500m. Lifting with a breaking trend, to banks above 900-1000m afternoon, summit breaks likely inland. Some thin banks linger near 800m Mull and south islands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun (weakened by a thin layer of high cloud). Visibility increasingly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, mildest southern islands where may rise to 10C; only to 8C north of Mull. Feeling near freezing in direct wind later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 24th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 21st May 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to south-westerly 25 to 35mph, in excess of 40mph for a time west coast, and some cols and summits elsewhere.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for widely blustery conditions, perhaps arduous at times, especially for the west coast, with considerable buffeting.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, little in the south
The humid south-westerly will continue to feed in drizzly rain in across hills, mainly near and west of Loch Linnhe. Very little if any south of Glencoe.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, clearer to the south
An extensive feed of low cloud will feed in to the hills, mainly near and north of Oban and Mull. Higher bases toward Loch Treig. Arran to Loch Lomond may be clearer.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, 60% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, but some sunny breaks, mainly in the south. Visibility poor in drizzly rain, but away from this, mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C, lowest west coast.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Pressure builds this weekend, centred over England and Wales where it will be warm and sunny. To the north of the high, a blustery and gusty south-westerly will persist across the Highlands with patchy rain and hill fog,mainly in the west and northwest. Very warm by Sunday and Monday valleys of Wales and England, mid to high 20s. Low 20s glens into southern and eastern Scotland. Next week, high pressure extends over Scotland, cutting of the low cloud and drizzle from northwest Scotland by midweek. Warm sunshine with light winds, still very warm into the valleys of England and Wales, although cooling down later in the week when a gusty easterly may develop for Wales and Pennines.