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.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Jan 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Freezing temperatures in Scotland and England; freezing level lowering with time to middle slopes, first in eastern hill groups. Blustery as well, gale force gusts on high terrain of Scotland and Wales. Snow flurries affecting eastern Scotland and the Pennines, mostly dry Lakeland to west Scottish Highlands.
Headline for West Highlands
Blustery, gale force gusts; some well-inland flurries later
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 30 to 35mph from dawn, strengthening, reaching 40mph over many high summits, sustained winds to 45mph in southwest regions. Gusty too, including downslope west of major summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becomes challenging on exposed higher terrain, buffeting gusts locally lower down will constantly challenge stability. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional light snow inland afternoon
Small amounts of flurries around Creag Meagaidh and central highlands for much of the day, a risk of more frequent flurries reaching towards eastern parts of Glencoe and Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis too. Western and coastal hills likely remain dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied higher tops, breaks west
Cloud banks drifting over higher slopes above 800 to 1000m from Arran to Rannoch Moor, as well as towards Mull. May become more extensive over central highland hills down to 800m later. Higher bases and broken westwards, clearer west of Loch Linnhe with only patches on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% east to 60% coastal Lochaber
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly toward coast, visibility generally good out of cloud, perhaps slight haze. Navigation more difficult in fog over snow cover on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C inland areas, up to +1C locally over coastal mountains. Dropping through afternoon, first southeast, widely -2 or -3C into nighttime (to -6C Ben Nevis summit). Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700m well inland, higher westwards and more variable, just above freezing to some upper slopes near coast and on islands. Lowering with time to mostly 600m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 30th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Jan 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40-55mph, very gusty in places around Ben Nevis group and downslope NW of major tops elsewhere.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over high terrain, strong buffeting gusts making stability a constant challenge. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Local snow mostly south
Patchy flurries, small amounts, most common toward central highlands. Showery rain or summit snow near Arran, some patches pushing north into Glencoe/Mull.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks northwest
Shrouding most hills in Loch Lomond NP, Arran and Kintyre, to some mid-slopes. Higher cloud base northwestward, mostly above 800-1000m, higher breaks near and west of Loch Linnhe; a risk of filling in towards Glencoe/Loch Linnhe later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sun through high cloud mostly west Lochaber. Cloudy and misty around southern hills, whiteout if in fog over snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, locally rising to 0C Arran to Mull. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
500-600m, rising slightly, notably on coastal slopes, up to 900m around Arran to Mull.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 31st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Jan 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 30-35mph, at times gusting 40mph in exposure. Speed may vary at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous in exposure, often arduous on high terrain with buffeting. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain/snow south and central areas
Snow most frequent on Munros around and south of Rannoch Moor, patches drifting to Glencoe/Ben Nevis range. Sleet and rain also affecting the southern islands for periods. West of Loch Linnhe mostly dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive east, high breaks Lochaber
Blanket cloud to the middle slopes from Rannoch Moor south to Loch Lomond. The cloud more patchy west of Loch Lomond, though with periods of more extensive coverage. Best breaks west of Loch Linnhe, often above 800m, perhaps some summit breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few sun glimpses of sun at times but mostly cloudy. Good visibility out of precipitation, though a light haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, highest temperature around southern islands; rising to -1 or 0C with time. Feeling like -10 to -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
600-700m, highest west coast, rising more widely to 700m or higher with time.
Planning Outlook
Slow-moving weather patterns and a broadly similar regime to recent times over the next week or so: periods of precipitation will affect most mountains at least every few days. Scottish Munros generally below freezing point, with snow cover and drifts most substantial from the Cairngorms to central and southern Highlands, some additional falls in the week ahead (with continued flooding risk too); much less northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, at times dropping sub-zero to middle slopes, but largely isolated to the high terrain of Lakeland and Eryri NP (Snowdonia). Wind speed will vary, some periods of lower speeds than recently, though gusty SE'ly winds remain common in the Highlands. Scope for widely colder conditions toward mid February.