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.
Sunday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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
Sunday 18th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Jan 26 at
3:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cloudy and damp air over many hills, more persistent rain and drizzle develops over northern England and east Wales. Clearer toward north-northwest Scotland. Near or below freezing on Scottish mountains. South to southeasterly winds, gusty in places; strongest toward Skye.
Headline for West Highlands
Gusty wind. Largely dry; low cloud south, some breaks northwest.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, 25 to 35mph, strongest western mountains; very gusty around high summits, downslope northwest of tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance over higher tops and ridges, particularly western areas. Varied inland, but in places very blustery. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare if any precipitation
Patchy showery rain around the islands, mostly staying offshore from the mainland; snow grains on some high tops near coast. Substantially dry inland, rare flurries mainly southern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud widely, higher northwest
An extensive sheet of low cloud from mid-slopes up, particularly southern inland areas, higher bases and some breaks toward the coast and north/west of Ben Nevis group, but many high tops often covered.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Loch Lomond NP, to 30% N/W Lochaber and coast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly north Lochaber where visibility very good out of cloud. Hazier toward coast, mistier to some lower slopes Loch Lomond NP.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C many areas, near or just above 0C coastal areas. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Inland near or just below freezing from glens upward, but near coast & islands typically above freezing up to 900m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 19th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Jan 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 35mph, gusty around some higher mountains and downslope to north, particularly Ben Nevis to Mull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure, starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on some ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain or snow
Patchy areas of rain, or snow flurries mostly on higher terrain, most frequent near coast and on islands. Small amounts further inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks north
Low cloud shrouding most hills Loch Lomond NP and up coast to Mull, to many mid-slopes. Higher bases northward, some breaks to tops near/west of Ben Nevis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% south, to 40% N/W Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little if any sun, glimpses mainly north Lochaber where visibility good. Murky southern areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C, small change with height inland. Feeling like -10C where exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m. Also slight frost inland glens early morning.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Jan 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 45mph, tending to strengthen, very gusty in places including downslope north of higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and making balance challenging on exposed ridges; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain mostly south, snow on tops
Frequent or persistent rain coastal areas in south, snow falling mostly above 800-900m. Patchier inland and northwards into Lochaber, but occasional flurries on tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding southern hills to mid slopes all day, higher bases Lochaber, some breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brightest in north Lochaber, visibility good below cloud. Hazier toward south, poor visibility in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m. Patchy slight frost some lower slopes.
Planning Outlook
South to southeasterly winds prevail into the new week, trending more easterly in Scotland, widely strengthening to become persistently windy, gales over mountains with powerful gusts. Mountains staying near to freezing point in Scotland, typically just above freezing to high tops in England and Wales for a few days. Initially weak fronts try to push in from the west bringing occasional rain and high-level snow, then some more persistent falls later in the week; generally driest in northwest Scotland. Colder air trying to move in from the east into later January, leaving most mountain terrain frozen in the longer range.