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.
Friday'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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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
Friday 5th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 4th Dec 25 at
3:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
South-southeasterly winds strengthen, reaching gale-force afternoon many areas, sooner Wales, here becoming severe. Some rain / hill snow NE Scotland fades, patchy rain west coasts, otherwise dry, then rain sweeps in from southwest later, snow inland mountains into evening. Best cloud breaks NW Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales develop, severe by evening. Patchy rain, low cloud south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, shifting southeasterly, 25-35mph, gusty around dawn, easing slightly for a few hours morning. Rising to 40-55mph afternoon, strongest soonest coast near Arran, further deteriorating after dark to 60-70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfortable walking affected from dawn, easing for a few hours, but then deteriorating first southwest coasts, then more widely into night. Significant wind chill developing later.
How Wet?
A little rain, then sets in from southwest later, hill snow inland evening
Patchy morning sleet/snow drifts north and fades to only isolated pockets, if any inland Lochaber. Rain arrives to the southern islands afternoon, spreading widely and persistent into night; heaviest falls near Loch Lomond (snow above 800-1000m inland).
Cloud on the hills?
Southern coasts and near inland often shrouded
Persistent cloud from middle slopes upward on coastal areas from Mull to Arran, as well as inland from Loch Lomond to Loch Lyon. More variable north, particularly Lochaber with some high breaks possible. Filling in more widely late into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% Lochaber for a few hours, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun likely obscured by high cloud, thickening to be overcast. Good visibility in northwest Lochaber, but mistier inland toward south; turning widely poor as cloud and rain set in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 0C, slightly warmer southern islands. Will rise a few degrees in the overnight hours. Feeling like -10C or nearer -15C as wind strengthens.
Freezing Level
Poorly defined inland, 600-800m, though frost at lower elevations, including in glens. Rising overnight variably to upper slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 6th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 4th Dec 25 at
3:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southeasterly 15 to 25mph, gusty in places around some tops and high passes, but locally often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small many areas, but risk sudden gusty spots around higher mountains.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mostly south
Rain on and off, greatest risk Loch Lomond NP, may be often damp. Some showery rain coastal areas near Clyde. May be more often dry Ben Nevis group and out west toward Knoydart.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering many hills, lowest south
Risk fairly extensive low cloud more southern areas all day, to mid-elevations or perhaps some lower slopes. Cloud base higher northward, but may often cover tops, some breaks west from Ben Nevis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun unlikely south, weak glimpses Lochaber, mainly in west. Misty particularly southern areas, better visibility further northwest, locally good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Wind chill feeling like -5C if exposed to stronger speeds.
Freezing Level
1300m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 7th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 4th Dec 25 at
3:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Very uncertain: Varied between southeast and southwesterly, may be only 20-25mph or less, risk abruptly 40mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
May remain fairly small, but note potential for rapidly worsening conditions, particularly coastal and southern hills.
How Wet?
Rain may become persistent
Risk setting in for steady rain, particularly areas toward south. Chance only patchy light rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding higher mountains likely all day, risk to lower elevations southern areas, or more widely in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy. Visibility poor if rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, small variation with height inland. Feeling like -5C or possibly colder if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above freezing to highest tops.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the weekend and into next week with areas of low pressure circulating near to the British Isles. Day-to-day detail will be uncertain even in short-range as complex systems move around slowly - a series of frontal systems bringing spells of rain and some high-level snow, mixed with showers with hail mostly near western coasts. Temperatures often on the milder side compared to recently, with typically only higher tops in the Highlands intermittently just below freezing point, expect periods of thawing up to these tops. Wind speeds will also vary, often south to southwesterlies, at times reaching gale force on tops, but intermittent lulls.