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.
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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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.
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
Monday 9th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 8th Mar 26 at
3:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Humid air will bring extensive low cloud and bursts of showery rain to the mountains. However, in places breaks in the low cloud will allow sunshine through, whilst the cloud base will be very varied - making detail difficult. Windy northern and western Scottish Highlands.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy; areas of low cloud and pockets of drizzly rain
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 30mph, but mostly 20 or 25mph Loch Lomond and Arran, least windy Arran.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect considerable buffeting and wind chill across higher areas, particularly Lochaber.
How Wet?
Patchy rain moving east, snow for tops.
West of Loch Linnhe: A weakening front will bring a little rain and drizzle (snow above 900m), mainly morning. Elsewhere, patches of drizzle, mainly Loch Lomond NP and near Clyde sea lochs and an isolated burst of rain - but overall substantially dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive particularly morning; may break off some higher summits afternoon
Confidence in detail presently low: Almost blanket fog probable from dawn, the base very low near the coast. An improvement very likely, particularly north of Rannoch Moor, where some or perhaps many, higher areas clear in afternoon. The fog may well not clear elsewhere, particularly near Clyde sea lochs.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%; rising to 30% north of Rannoch Moor
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloud will tend to break, perhaps substantially in some areas (most likely Lochaber and central highlands) afternoon. Visibility becoming very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 8th Mar 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly; increasing markedly with height to a gusty 40mph or by late afternoon 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Markedly increasing buffeting and wind chill with height. Balance and general mobility increasingly difficult on higher slopes.
How Wet?
Rain now and again
Rain and drizzle on and off, total rainfall fairly small - very little reaching central highlands. Sleet above 750m.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent; lowest cloud base toward coast and Loch Lomond NP
Generally persistent cloud above 450 to 600m, but near the coast and southern Loch Lomond NP, sometimes below 300m. Highest cloud base will be toward and north of Lochs Rannoch and Treig and Glen Spean, where typically 750-900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly or only lower slopes near and north of Lochs Rannoch and Treig and Glen Spean. Hazy, particularly near the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C - little temperature drop above 900m. Will feel as cold as minus 10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits - some terrain above 900m may be frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 11th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 8th Mar 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly up to 60mph post dawn; through day dropping slowly, typically 35 to 45mph middle of day, strongest Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect significant wind chill and walking - sometimes any mobility - to be difficult across the hills, particularly near precipitation.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Particularly morning, succession of sudden hail and above 600m snow showers. Sometimes whiteout will occur.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistently covering higher areas; rapid variation in cloud base.
In precipitation, cloud forming below 300 to 500m (generally lowest morning near the coast). Otherwise, by midday (as average cloud base tends to rise) between 600 and 1000m, highest on easternmost areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, mainly afternoon lower slopes well inland. Very varied visibility: general haze, but abruptly appalling in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Will feel like minus 15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
750m
Planning Outlook
Later this week - with the current mostly cloudy and hazy or murky conditions clearing on Tuesday night. Bouts of upland severe or storm force winds will reach the Scottish Highlands and gales periodically affecting other mountain areas. Freeze thaw cycles will occur on higher areas south from S Scotland whilst the Scottish Highlands experience infrequent thaw, with fresh snow sometimes reaching lower slopes, whilst extensive higher up.