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.
Wednesday'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.
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.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
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.
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
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Last updated
Tue 1st Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Much of the Highlands sees a fine day with fairly light winds; a veil of high cloud tends to thicken, risk of some rain later. S Scotland & N England has more cloud, some rain. Heavier rain moves across Wales into Peak District, followed by showers on a strong southwesterly wind, quite humid.
Headline for West Highlands
Dry for many hours; risk rain, lowering cloud and windier later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable or southerly, 10mph or less inland, 10-20mph southermost areas, tending to rise during morning. Becoming south-southeasterly widely 15-25mph afternoon, 30-35mph by evening and switching southwesterly, soonest near to coast. Rising further into night to 40-45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small in morning, becoming more noticeably breezy with some gusty spots especially western areas, later in the day increasingly affecting ease of walking where exposed, deteriorating further into night.
How Wet?
Largely dry, then some rain develops from south
Many hours substantially dry, but a little rain at times areas near Arran. An increasing risk during the afternoon of this patchy rain developing further over southwest coastal areas and then encroaching further inland and later northward, more persistent up to dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Generally best north, risk of low cloud in south, more extensive later
Varied patches early in day, but largely clearing many Lochaber hills, odd patches higher slopes. Further south, though some uncertainty, a greater risk of cloud banks persisting over hills, for periods may lift and break, but filling in increasingly if rain develops afternoon, later lowering cloud extending north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% Lochaber, to 40% south, later falling to 10% increasingly widely.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of sun mainly through a thick veil of high cloud. Visibility mostly very good, some early patchy mist into glens; reducing later from southwest as rain occurs.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 10C; starting warmer south, and temperature stays elevated into night; becoming humid. Feeling near freezing in direct wind later in the day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Some sheltered glens mainly inland may start with slight grass frost at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 3rd September 2026
Last updated
Tue 1st Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 35 to 50mph, will vary somewhat, tops speeds approach 55mph, more sustained later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure most of the day, some more challenging moments with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, showery for a time
Patchy rain drifts from the west much of the day, generally light and well-inland hills often dry. Rain will become more frequent with heavy falls for a few hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Rising towards higher inland terrain
Fairly extensive above 600m early, lowest towards the coast; bases rise, breaks approaching high terrain around Rannoch Moor. Elsewhere, breaks above 800-900m rare, and more widely lowering for a few hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some patchy sunshine, thin high cloud, and sometimes more overcast south. Good visibility under cloud, but hazy particularly along the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 1st Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then westerly, 40 to 55mph, at times 60mph higher summits, stronger gusts on highest tops 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous to difficult walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining
Rain on and off throughout the day, more frequent for periods with some steady rain mixed with heavier showery bursts, may break up a little into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, lower coasts
Fairly persistent over many western groups above 500-700m, lowest near the coast and during rain. Well inland the cloud base higher, some breaks above 800-900m, tending to rise a little into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% coasts, 30% well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brief glimpses of sun well inland. Visibility often reduced by rain, locally good below cloud especially east; a general haze near the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, little change all day. Directly in the wind, feeling like -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A series of weather systems moves in from the Atlantic this week and next to bring spells of rain and showers, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather is likely this Saturday for Scotland and northern England, but further rain is expected to move into Wales, which then extends north by Saturday night and Sunday, possibly widely heavy rain and a risk of more powerful upland gales developing over Scotland into Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but some cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops close to freezing point.