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.
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.
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.
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.
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 13th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 12th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Exceptionally hot in England and Wales, fire risk remains high. Despite haze and high cloud, beware sunburn and dehydration. Warm too in Scotland. Hill cloud and showery rain affects west Scotland from morning, patches spreading east; rain becomes frequent west Scotland later with heavy bursts.
Headline for West Highlands
Periods of rain, frequent later north, heavy bursts
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 15 and 25mph, strongest near and west of Loch Linnhe, where sustained speeds will approach 30-35mph through afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small, though walking becomes strenuous on high Lochaber summits later in the day.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, becoming frequent with heavy falls
Pulses of rain drift from the southwest through morning, most common Jura and northward; generally light and patchy eastward. Becoming more frequent as afternoon goes with extended heavy falls, risk of thunder in the north.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Conditions will vary, with breaks above 900m north from Rannoch Moor. But elsewhere, particularly in and after rain, cloud filling in at or below 500m, forming below 300m west of Loch Linnhe. As afternoon goes, cloud will fill in more extensively to middle slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, reducing with time
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun well inland through morning, overcast along the coast and more widely overcast with time. Visibility poor in cloud and rain, hazy south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
13 or 14C, warmest around the southern islands and Ben Lomond where rising a degree.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 14th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 12th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 15-25mph, slight northwesterly shift afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but some notable breezes over high tops at times.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, some drizzle
Periods of rain affect the hills near and west of Loch Linnhe most of the day, generally light in nature, drizzly on high terrain here. Further south and east, rain patchier, drier windows later.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Near and west of Loch Linnhe will be shrouded from lower slopes up much of the day, to coastal cliffs in rain. To the south and east, some variability, may lift towards 700-800m during drier windows but returning lower.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, often dull near the coast. Poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C at dawn, mildest inland, lowering towards 9 or 10C widely, coolest along the coast, further lowering overnight.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 15th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 12th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 20-30mph, strong gusts over high tops approaching 40-45mph early. An easing tendency.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure, strongest gusts challenging stability with a wind chill; effects easing.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Frequently raining on coastal slopes from Mull northward, showery patches drifting further south and east. Best chance of dry windows towards Loch Lomond, but clusters of heavier rain will pass eastward as well.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Hills near and west of Loch Linnhe shrouded from middle slopes up most of the day, to lower slopes at times towards the coast. To the south, cloud more variable, some breaks towards high terrain early, but filling in extensively at times too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% (40% southernmost hills early)
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, mostly south, trending cloudier. Varied visibility, sometimes good out of cloud and rain but a light coastal haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, rising a degree well-inland. Feeling near freezing in early strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Some rain and a fresh northwesterly breeze slips into England and Wales on Friday. Though weekend, high pressure is never far away to the southwest, keeping conditions generally drier and brighter across England and Wales, though a northwesterly flow will bring some cloud to western hills. Scotland is more often cloudy with patchy rain, mostly north and west. Mixed conditions early next week with periods of rain and sunny bursts. High pressure remains present to the southwest of the British Isles, maintaining the possibility of drier brighter days; detail remains uncertain regarding risk of more unsettled weather. Temperatures likely nearer average.