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.
Wednesday'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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 8th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 7th Apr 26 at
4:09PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Light wind and warm England and Wales; mostly clear hills and often sunny; some haze weakens visibility, notably Pennines. Some hill-cloud lingers in Lakeland. Morning cloud and summit drizzle west/central Scotland, cloud moves east but an improving trend; wind strengthens northwest, cooler here too.
Headline for West Highlands
Morning cloud and drizzle, breaking; strengthening wind
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10-25mph, strongest Lochaber to Mull; gradually strengthening, approaching 25-35mph; lightest wind around Arran/Loch Lomond. Gusts over coastal Lochaber approaching 40mph late in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small inland & south for many hours, but becoming more blustery, locally more gusty and challenging with time along the Lochaber coast.
How Wet?
Some morning drizzle, dry afternoon
Through morning, some fine drizzle drifting around the high tops, this gradually easing for a dry afternoon. A chance of some light patchy rain reaching the Lochaber coast as night falls, then rain overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, lifting and breaking with time
From dawn, a fairly extensive layer of cloud from at least the middle slopes upward, likely to low slopes from Ben Nevis southward. A lifting trend with time, some breaks forming Lochaber through morning, then more widely broken afternoon. Cloud lingers longest from Loch Lomond to central highlands, largely above 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast in the morning, sun gradually breaking out as hill cloud clears, but high cloud will weaken the sun's strength. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, little change in added height in the morning. Briefly cooler along the Lochaber coast afternoon, 3 to 4C. Later, feeling as cold as -5 to -8C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 9th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 7th Apr 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty westerly 20-30mph, strongest south, particularly afternoon, up to 40mph or stronger high southern tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced in exposure, particularly south where more arduous with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain followed by showers
A band of rain passes east across all areas through morning, locally heavy early, soon followed by showers, falling as snow to 500m, some hail mixed in too.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going on high terrain
Extensive from dawn to at least middle slopes, lower in the west. As rain eases, cloud lifts and breaks to mostly above 800m, clear summits at times, but returning in showers; west coastal hills most often covered, locally to 600m in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine between showers; cloudier early in the day. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or 0C most of the day, to +1C central highlands in the morning. Feeling like -10 to 13C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 1000-1200m at dawn, lowering further to 700-900m, highest Loch Lomond/central highlands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 10th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 7th Apr 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph at dawn, shifting southerly and strengthening to 50-60mph by evening, strongest along the coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult with severe wind chill; you may struggle to stay on your feet in exposure near the coast.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, chance more later
Scattered patchy precipitation drifts from the south, mostly coastal slopes, falling as snow to 300m or lower at dawn, but this level rising. A risk of precipitation setting in for periods afternoon, snowfall level approaching 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Coastal high terrain, inland breaks; deteriorating
Banks of cloud will often cover coastal slopes above 700-800m, best chance of breaks in the morning; higher bases well inland, breaks off high summits too. Through afternoon, cloud thickening, to lower coastal slopes, mid-slopes inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% briefly, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine through high cloud through morning, trending cloudy afternoon. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C, rising to +1C, staying lifted for a few hours into night. Later, feeling as cold as -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, lowest central highlands, also some light frosts in inland glens. Gradually lifting, to 900-1000m.
Planning Outlook
Variable weather regimes in the extended forecast. Atlantic west-southwesterly winds will be dominant, with low pressure to the northwest of the country, brining cloud, rain, and mild temperatures, often followed by sun, showers, and cooler temperatures; rain will be increasingly common to the high Munros, but the snowfall level will lower too during periods of cooler weather, and perhaps to high Lakeland fells too, though any snow unlikely to accumulate here. In the longer term, indications of high pressure increasingly building from the southwest, brining drier, brighter, and milder conditions to England and Wales and occasionally Scotland too, though the risk of occasional rain and cooler temperatures remains.