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.
Tuesday'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.
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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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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.
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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 28th July 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Jul 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Challenging conditions over high terrain with gale-force winds, severe gales on the higher Scottish mountains. A few hours of persistent rain, some heavy for the Highlands, leaving drizzly conditions, low cloud across most hills. Some heavier rain again later in western Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales strengthen, severe high terrain. Rain and low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 55mph, rising during morning, then more sustained higher speeds into the afternoon with gusts 70mph around higher mountains in Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions on exposed higher terrain, gusts could knock you over, particularly afternoon, any mobility then challenging on tops in Ben Nevis group. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain, some heavy morning and evening
Rain or drizzle much of the day across the region, some more prolonged heavier falls in the morning. Rarely fully easing off, but some drier moments for areas well inland in afternoon. Heavier rain returns from west later in day, risk of local thundery bursts in evening mainly southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket low cloud across the mountains, shrouding coastal areas from lower elevations upward for periods. Some higher bases above 700m inland mainly afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally overcast and dull, poor visibility much of day coastal areas, widely in rain, local improvements inland afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, little variation all day, local 12C Loch Lomond NP, quite humid. Feeling below freezing directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 29th July 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Jul 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 30mph, nearer 40mph around dawn. Tending to lessen a little through afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in morning at least, considerable buffeting at first lessening, but likely to affect balance in exposure all day.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain, some heavy
Rain on and off much of the day, a mix of drizzle and some showery bursts, increasingly setting in for a few hours locally, heavy and possibly thundery.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding most high terrain all day, lowest bases on south-facing slopes toward coasts, to some mid-elevations. Breaks above 1000m inland Lochaber, best north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Visibility poor around rain, improving below cloud inland if dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, mostly little change, but some inland areas may reach 12C. Feeling near/below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 30th July 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Jul 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph at first, shifting westerly and strengthening during morning to 35-40mph, gusts 50mph for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Likely soon deteriorating to make walking challenging, buffeting gusts. Increasingly significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, locally frequent
Broadly showery, but may become more frequent or locally a cluster of heavy rain over an hour or so, greater risk Lochaber, chance of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some breaks
Covering much high terrain in the morning, varying banks lifting to upper slopes with some breaks forming particularly inland, but lowering patches around showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some moments of sun breaking through. Visibility very good when dry, but reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, lowering to 4 or 5C later in daytime. Feeling like -5 to -7C in exposure to stronger winds on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A complex pattern into the start of August as weak low pressure is nearby to the west. Some showery bursts of rain, possibly thundery in places on some days, locally persistent rain possible, but some places may well escape drier. Cloud varying over the hills from day to day. Strong southwesterly winds later this week, then becoming more variable in speed and direction over the weekend into early next week, may strengthen again for periods. A generally showery westerly may then prevail during next week. Temperatures near average or on the cooler side for Scotland, warmer for Wales and Peak District. Beware ongoing fire management restrictions to access despite rain in the forecast.