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
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 27th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 26th Aug 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy, thundery rain moves north through Wales and England, showery thunderstorms following in Wales; beware sudden gusts, rapidly rising streams, and local flooding. Hill cloud and a little patchy rain in east Scotland; much of west Scotland clear of cloud, though some haze around.
Headline for West Highlands
Most cloud inland, breaking up; warm, particularly west valleys
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 20-30mph, gusty early, may approach 40mph over high tops. Easing with time, to perhaps 15mph or locally lower; staying strongest in southern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking to start with buffeting gusts affecting balance. Easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Little expected
A little fine drizzle on high tops in the morning, then a rising chance of a few spots of rain from midday, though any falls will be localised and light in nature, most Munros dry all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain well-inland
Cloud at dawn mostly inland, below 1000-1100m, little expected west of the higher hill groups. Lifting to shroud high tops from Rannoch Moor south, and may break up for a time, before returning over high southern terrain later. Hills west of Loch Linnhe may well be clear all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% inland; 80% north of Mull
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, increasingly breaking out, most extensive towards the coast where visibility will be very good (some early haze). Trending more overcast south with time.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 to 13C, warmest west, particularly Lochaber where may rise locally to 15C (to 20C in some glens).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 28th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 26th Aug 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly, but variable, 15mph southern islands, lighter elsewhere, 10mph or lower. Strengthening later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Rain on-and-off
Patchy rain over central highlands, heavy bursts forming and may set in for a few hours. More often dry near the west coast, though a rising chance of patches here though the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive well inland, variable
Hills shrouded, to low slopes towards central highlands where unlikely to lift above 700-800m. More broken towards the coast, patchy banks at varied heights, and likely filling in more widely over high terrain (at least) for a time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% towards the coast, lowering to 20% widely
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few bright glimpses in the west early, becoming overcast, dull on high terrain with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12 or 13C, locally rising to 14C. Cooling slightly overnight.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 29th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 26th Aug 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph and often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Some drizzle and patchy rain
Drizzly on high terrain, particularly early, may fade somewhat but odd patches of rain form here and there too; rainfall totals small. A chance of increased patches to the south with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds hills from 400-500m up early, lower patches here and there, and a lifting trend in bases. A few breaks may approach 900m or higher, but only very localised will return lower again with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of early weak sun, trending overcast. Visibility largely poor on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, rising a degree, locally to 12C well-inland.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Heavy, thundery rain affects England, Wales & eastern Scotland on Friday, prolonged heavy falls bringing a risk of local flooding. A westerly wind will establish over the weekend, drawing cloud and drizzle onto western high terrain, several frontal systems sweeping more broadly across the country. The strongest wind and heavy rain may pass mostly across England and Wales, with the lightest rain in Scotland. Hills often shrouded in cloud, low patches around rain; only local improvements. A west-southwesterly weather track prevails next week: cloud and drizzle on western hill groups (particularly west Scotland), breezy with areas of rain regularly spreading widely at times. A few brighter interludes through the week, and a chance of a more settled window in the south into the weekend.