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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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 and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 14th May 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Remaining cold, near to freezing all day on higher tops. Strongest northwesterly winds in the morning and toward eastern Scotland giving significant chill factor. A scattering of mostly brief showers with snow and hail, less intense than recent days. Cloud lifting above many summits, occasional sun.
Headline for West Highlands
Cold strong winds easing. Local showers with snow & hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 30mph from dawn, briefly 35-40mph at first well inland. Easing to 25mph into middle of day and afternoon, 20mph or less later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery start with significant wind chill and buffeting, but hour by hour easing down, still blustery into afternoon, but becoming small later.
How Wet?
Isolated snow and hail showers
Often dry, but local brief snow and hail showers, by afternoon mainly toward central highlands. Snow falling above 500m initially, rising to 900-1000m.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud rising, breaks form
Patches tending to come and go over higher slopes in morning, most persistent over the tops of the Ben Nevis group, but bases rise and increasingly clearing many tops into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, best early morning inland, then improving west coast afternoon. Visibility excellent, briefly lowering in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C at dawn, but lifting to +1 to 3C into afternoon. Feeling like -10C in early wind.
Freezing Level
700-800m at dawn, will lift to 1000-1200m, lowest toward north Lochaber.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 16th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 14th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable below 10mph at first. Becoming S-SW'ly 15 to 25mph, soonest coasts; by evening westerly 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, becoming breezier, feeling noticeable and rather chilly on exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops from west
Likely dry morning inland, though patchy rain may push onto islands and coastal areas, becoming more persistent afternoon and gradually extending inland, heavier in places; starting as snow flurries above 1100m.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any, then arrives from west
Patchy cloud around some slopes in morning, lifting and clearing. During afternoon, some cloud banks forming onto higher coastal slopes, extending inland and lowering later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, dropping to 30% later coasts
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun weakens as high cloud thickens, more overcast afternoon. Visibility excellent, reducing later near coast as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +3C afternoon. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
700-800m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Rising toward 1300m or just above during afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 17th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 14th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, may reach 40mph at times higher tops, particularly toward coasts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Making walking uncomfortable on exposed high terrain, affecting balance at times. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain, showery bursts, snow high tops
Rain on and off all day, but well inland may be drier for a few hours in morning. Increasing risk of heavier showery bursts forming, becoming concentrated further inland later. Snow on highest tops. Risk of hail & thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting toward high tops, some breaks
Often capping many hills above 600 to 900m in morning, lowest near coast. Bases tending to rise, then varying in and out of showers, some breaks to higher slopes, though often cap tops above 1100m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, a little sun well inland in morning. Visibility very good, but reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C rising to 3 or 4C afternoon. Wind chill feeling near -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
1000-1100m early morning, rising just above freezing to highest summits into afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A shift toward west-southwesterly over the weekend brings a gradual rise of temperature. A mixed weather story with some rain and lowering cloud moving in from the west into Saturday afternoon. By Sunday and Monday, some showery rain, passing eastwards during the daytimes, generally improving afternoons in western areas. Risk by later Monday of rain moving into Wales from the southwest. Damp south-southwesterlies then prevail for a few days next week, with rain at times Tuesday and Wednesday, most on western hills, particularly Scotland. A drier and warmer theme later in the week as higher pressure builds.