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.
Sunday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Sunday 6th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 5th Sep 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales spread widely across Scotland, severe over high north and west tops. Drizzle over the Highlands, rainy early and late, wettest Northwest Highlands. Early showery rain over Wales passes into England, clearing northeast for sun through high cloud afternoon; windy here too. Warm, but feeling chilly in wind.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, becoming severe; drizzly, some patchy rain
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 45 to 55mph, powerful gusts through passes and on some downslopes to the north, and trending towards higher speeds, gusts approaching 65-70mph highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly challenging conditions on exposed terrain, walking and balance becoming difficult in gusts, not just on high terrain. Considerable wind chill despite mild air.
How Wet?
Drizzly, morning and afternoon rain
Rain fairly widespread at dawn, breaking into patches and increasingly less, but drizzle stays fairly persistent across most high terrain. Several pulses of rain will then sweep west-to-east later in the day as well.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket low cloud across many mountains particularly west and southern groups, where may only rise towards middle slopes for a brief window afternoon. Best of any breaks east of Loch Linnhe, locally to 800-900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Poor visibility in rain, hazy along the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, humid all day, rising on some slopes to 14C; cooling into night. Feeling near to 0C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 7th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 5th Sep 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, but likely often 70mph higher Ben Nevis group, generally rising, gusting 80mph highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains likely increasingly widely, any mobility very challenging high up. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent/prolonged rain, mostly Lochaber
Showery rain, sometimes merging into prolonged falls of heavy rain, particularly western areas from Lochaber to Mull. Chance of thunder. Wet underfoot, fast-flowing streams.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly persistent higher areas
Often capping most high mountains, bases varying around rain, but rarely above 800m toward coasts, at times 600m. Sometimes lifting to 1000m or above inland, best breaks near Rannoch Moor to Glen Spean, then more extensive again later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional brief sun well inland, some cloudier periods too. Hazy particularly toward coasts, visibility widely poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C; starting a degree milder. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 5th Sep 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50-70mph, strongest early north hill groups, gusting 80mph+. Shifting northwesterly, lessening somewhat.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult conditions with buffeting and significant wind chill; effects lessening but walking remains arduous.
How Wet?
Often raining
Pulses of persistent rain spill over the Munros from the north and west, heavy bursts with hail, and a mix of sleet and rain on highest summits. Some showery breaks but any dry windows brief.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Several periods of blanket cloud shrouding all hills from 500m upward, lower bases during heaviest rain. Some windows of rising bases, breaks locally towards 800-900m south and eastern hills, but returning lower in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare bright glimpses, perhaps more often towards southern islands later. Poor visibility, hazy towards west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 to 6C. Feeling like -5 to -7C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above the highest summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled onward into next week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point. A few high pressure ridges will briefly bring brighter drier spells: Wednesday likely sees a brief good weather window, though cloud moves into the west with time, and indications suggest another window may arise Friday into Saturday, though this remains uncertain. Longer settled windows forming from mid-month, particularly England and Wales. Temperatures will be generally near or above average, best sunny windows around east hill groups.