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.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing 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.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 24th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly winds strengthening, reaching gale force over tops in the Highlands. Rain moves into northwest Scotland, setting in heavier during afternoon; patchy rain extending southeastwards later. Dry all daylight for England, Wales and southern Scotland, with good amounts of sunshine.
Headline for West Highlands
Increasingly windy, gales high tops. Rain into afternoon.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, a lull of around 20mph early morning before strengthening toward 35mph, up to 45mph Ben Nevis range.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small at first; but walking becoming arduous and wind chill significant where exposed through the day.
How Wet?
Rain developing afternoon
Morning: Largely or completely dry. Afternoon: Rain developing from west, soonest near coast around Mull, becoming persistent, later heavier; very little Loch Lomond NP & Arran until evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Confined to higher tops, lowering afternoon
Morning: Cloud base typically 700m near the coast, occasionally clearing to higher tops, whilst well inland only patchy cloud on the summits. Afternoon: Fog filling in across the hills in rain, to lower slopes near coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun will give way as cloud thickens from west. Excellent visibility, then becoming poor where rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, rising slowly through the day 5C. Wind chill feeling as cold as -10C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly 20 to 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect balance where exposed on high summits and ridges. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Chance of brief light showers on coastal hills near Mull in the morning, possibly a snow flurry on highest slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasional patches
Patches of cloud may come and go on higher slopes in the morning, mainly toward the coast above 800-900m. Lifting to be just rare patches above 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, best toward central highlands. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 to 4C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -8C.
Freezing Level
Around 1200m in the morning, lifting above highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 26th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening 35 to 50mph, risk 60mph higher mountains later afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating to make walking increasingly difficult on higher terrain, wind chill becoming significant.
How Wet?
Risk rain later
Dry start, spots of rain developing, then later in the day risk of more persistent rain moving in from the west, mainly Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches, filling in later
Banks of cloud on some slopes in the morning, higher tops may be above cloud for a time. Patchy cloud lifting onto higher tops, some clearer breaks inland. Later thickening from west to become extensive.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 20% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, a little sun through high cloud occasionally. Visibility very good, reducing later in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 4C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing some higher slopes above 900m at dawn; otherwise above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A mixed westerly regime for the next week to ten days - fronts coming in from the west bringing spells of rain, interspersed with better days under ridges of high pressure. Rain most frequent in western Scotland. Frequently windy, periods of gale force wind over the mountains. Temperature varied, sometimes just below freezing on higher Scottish summits, with some showers of snow at times on the Munros - chillier more widely by Friday into Saturday as wind turns northwesterly for a time.