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.
Monday'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 12th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 11th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive low cloud blankets the mountains, poor visibility widely; generally damp with drizzle and some steadier rain. Best chance for drier conditions and local higher cloud breaks to the north of major hill groups. Wind speeds will vary, but often blustery around tops. Fairly mild southerly air.
Headline for West Highlands
Murky and damp most hills all day; varied wind.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, speed varying, 30-40mph at first, strongest Ben Nevis to Mull, then periods where dropping to 20mph inland; near coast often 30-35mph. Rising again afternoon, by evening widely 50mph, or 60mph Lochaber tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Often blustery around higher exposed terrain toward coast, but variable moments of lower impacts on some slopes, more often inland. Deteriorating to more difficult conditions later in day, then rapidly severe from dusk.
How Wet?
Generally damp, some steady rain, setting in later
Rain and drizzle much of the day, some persistent steadier rain in the morning. During the day, rain eases off at times inland across Lochaber, but often damp south and coastal hills. Later afternoon into evening, rain returns widely heavier from southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, highest north
Shrouding most hills all from low-mid elevations upward, rarely above 600-700m even inland in many places. Higher cloud bases typically north toward Glen Spean, some higher breaks may form in the afternoon locally to 900m or above, but high tops generally stay covered.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil most places, 10% north Lochaber inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull or murky. Some improvement below cloud well inland in Lochaber in afternoon if dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C, local warmer spots Lochaber, little change with added height; slightly warmer into night. Increasingly humid. Feeling below freezing if in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 13th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 11th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly, overnight gales ease for a brief early lull to 25mph or less, but rise again during day to 40-50mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
A window of fairly small effects in morning, but beware of deteriorating again quickly during the day to become challenging.
How Wet?
Heavy showers set in again
Heavy overnight rain sweeps away eastward by dawn, but leaves a legacy of showers. Bursts of rain cluster to become widely frequent or more constant, with hail, chance of thunder, later snow highest tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Changing rapidly, extensive in rain
Varied cloud banks from dawn, but for a few hours may break well toward upper slopes especially well inland. Often capping high tops, but in showers then varying, lowering and filling in widely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine for a few hours in morning, but then often cloudy. Visibility at times very good where dry, but then suddenly poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Mild 10C overnight but dropping to 6C by dawn, lowering further during day to 3C. Feeling later like -10C as wind increases.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but dropping toward 1300m later in day.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 14th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 11th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, in range 50 to 80mph, notable increase with height; sustained speeds rising during daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting even on lower hills, but severe conditions on high terrain, mobility difficult; powerful downslope gusts.
How Wet?
Often raining, heavier later
Rain in the wind much of the day, most persistent near/west of Loch Linnhe, but well inland and south sometimes only light spots. Later a belt of heavier and more widespread rain arrives from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Banks of cloud shrouding many west-facing hills above 800m, in places 600m near Mull. Higher bases and breaks north & east of Rannoch Moor, locally also some breaks Arran and Loch Lomond at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun occasionally. A general haze, visibility better well inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 8C. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A very unsettled Atlantic pattern this week. Southwesterly gales strengthen to become severe on the mountains into Wednesday, moderating into Thursday. Frequently raining particularly over western hills, some bands of more extensive heavier rain passing eastwards through midweek. Milder early in the week, then cooler later, with showery conditions by Thursday into Friday on westerly winds - Scottish high summits may drop back close to freezing with some snow falling on higher tops. Indications start to favour higher pressure building into next weekend and early next week for a period of quieter weather and scope for inversion conditions on high terrain.