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.
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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
Sunday 21st December 2025
Last updated
Sat 20th Dec 25 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A blustery, gusty morning in northern England and Scotland, gales for a time in northwest Scotland, tending to ease. Patchy rain from central Scotland down the spine of the Pennines eases into drizzle over the high tops, drizzle in east Wales too with extensive hill fog in these areas. Best of breaks west Wales and NW Highlands.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy, risk gales early, easing; patchy rain and hill fog
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 35-40mph from dawn; strong gusts over tops and downslope, may reach 45mph, risk higher Mull/Lochaber early in the day. Easing as the day goes, 20-30mph by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, turbulent airflow with sudden strong gusts running downslope and reversals in direction; expect considerable buffeting, stability challenges, and wind chill. Conditions improving with time.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and summit snow
Rain arrives onto the southern islands around dawn and drifts over the Clyde sea loch and towards Loch Lomond/Glencoe; falling as snow on high ground. Patchier rain drifts up towards Mull/Lochaber too. Largely dry east Lochaber/Creag Meagaidh area.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south, best breaks northwest coast
Cloud often shrouding the high terrain of central and southern Highlands, some higher breaks for a time but will tend to lower as rain arrives, bases down to 600-700m. Higher bases with some breaks are likely west of Loch Linnhe. Will fill in more extensively into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south, up to 60% coastal Lochaber
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun perhaps toward northwest coast. Otherwise cloudy. Visibility good, but poor in any rain or snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, some slopes reaching 3C near Glencoe/Loch Lomond. Feeling closer to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around 1000m, some local frosts in glens inland at dawn. Lifting, rising above the summits by dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 22nd December 2025
Last updated
Sat 20th Dec 25 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph; gusty over the tops and downslope, strongest may reach 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly arduous conditions for several hours, sudden and strong gusts will challenge balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain, then drizzle south/west
Widespread rain before dawn lingers through morning, some local breaks inland Lochaber. Largely clearing to the northeast, but drizzly rain continues around the southern islands/Glencoe.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, but breaks west coast
Fairly extensive banks at varying heights in rain. As rain clears, very disorganised cloud banks, ragged patches clinging to forest canopies for a time, best chance of clear hills coastal Lochaber.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
32%, rising to 50% northwest areas
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mainly overcast. Early rain and an increasing haze will limit visibility through the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, but feeling closer to -10C where exposed to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Last updated
Sat 20th Dec 25 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 10-20mph, may shift northerly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Periods of patchy rain for most mountains, likely more frequent on hills nearest the west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding the tops with variable lower bases
Fairly extensive over all high terrain, lower bases during rain, down to 400-600m near the coast much of the day, particularly Lochaber; some fog in the glens as well early in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy. Good visibility but variable as rain comes and goes.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C
Freezing Level
Above the summits, lowering to 1100m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Cloud and patchy rain lingers for a few more days early next week, then a slow change to drier and chiller weather into the Christmas period as high pressure builds to the north. Easterly winds will be dominant, the strongest winds in England and Wales. Cloud may be fairly sheet-like in the east sometimes, though variably more extensive or broken. The coldest air will reach England and Wales on the easterly wind with freezing levels reaching as low as 400-600m in Wales, staying slightly warmer in northern Scotland with freezing levels nearer the high summits for a time under the core of high pressure.