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.
Saturday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 10th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly gales across many mountains will make walking challenging and bring significant chill factor; air temperature close to freezing point on highest summits. Rain most persistent in western Scotland, snow falling on high tops. Frequent showery rain for northwest England, fewer showers south across Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales on tops, lessen slightly; often raining, snow high tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 40 to 50mph, very gusty, over higher Ben Nevis range in morning sustained speeds to 60mph and in gusts elsewhere; dropping a little during afternoon from north to 35-40mph. Gradually lowering further onward into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking, constant buffeting knocking you around, gusts could blow you over; moderating slightly in Lochaber afternoon. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain rarely ceases, snow tops
A near-constant stream of showers from the northwest most or all day, falling as snow on higher terrain above 900-1000m or occasionally 800m in morning; sustained heavy falls on hill groups towards the coast. A little more showery in nature and less heavy toward later afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Coastal terrain shrouded from 600-700m up nearly all day, higher breaks to the far south, but regularly lowering patches during rain. Base generally higher inland, though rarely above 1000m, widely lower in sustained rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare glimpses of sun well inland, more often overcast. Poor visibility, sometimes very poor on high tops in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C in morning, 3C afternoon, but will vary and lower slightly in showers. Feeling like -10 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1100m in morning, lifting to 1200-1300m or at times just above highest tops afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 11th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20mph around dawn, soon easing to 10mph in morning. Increasingly southerly afternoon-evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small. More noticeably breezy toward evening, risk deteriorating further into night.
How Wet?
Early local showers fade
Brief scattered showers in morning, mostly west Lochaber, of snow above 900m. Fading to be largely dry into afternoon. Rain moves onto coast into night, later further inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most tops
Patchy cloud around higher slopes mostly above 900m by mid morning, lifting and dispersing more with time to leave most mountains free of cloud in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun; high cloud may start to build from west later. Visibility excellent away from early showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C much of day, then lifting slightly higher onward into evening-night. Feeling like -5 to -8C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Slight frost inland glens at dawn. Around 1100-1200m in morning, rising higher, above all tops mid-afternoon onward.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 12th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, may be 20mph or less much of day; risk 40mph+ at dawn, then late in day rising again 50mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Possibly mostly small much of the daytime, but beware changing conditions, later likely to deteriorate, significantly into night.
How Wet?
Generally damp, some steady rain
Rain and drizzle much of the day, some persistent steadier rain in the morning. During the day, rain may ease of at times inland across Lochaber. Into evening, rain may return widely heavier from southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, highest north
Shrouding most hills all from low-mid elevations upward. Higher cloud bases typically north toward Glen Spean, some higher breaks may form in the afternoon locally, but tops generally covered.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull or murky. Some improvement below cloud well inland in Lochaber in afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, tending to fall a little during daytime, then rise again into night. Feeling below freezing if in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
After a fine but cool day on Sunday, damp and mild southwesterly air moves back across the country into Monday. Southwesterly winds strengthen late Monday to widely gale-force over the hills, heavier rain likely into early Tuesday, followed by showers and a slight drop of temperature. Very unsettled west-southwesterlies continue into midweek - sustained mountain gales, possibly stormy at times and spells of heavy rain for all areas. A changeable westerly theme likely continues beyond mid-month - occasional windows of drier weather, but more often windy with rain or showers coming in from the Atlantic, sometimes cold enough to fall as snow on Scottish high tops.