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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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 23rd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Prolonged heavy rain for south & eastern Scotland, increasingly snow over higher mountains. Patchier showery rain toward the west coast. Very variable wind for Scotland, but gales will be severe on Welsh mountains, heavy rain also persistent here. Rapid increase of wind over northern England into afternoon.
Headline for West Highlands
Wind strengthening. Rain and upland snow, most inland.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Highly variable, mostly low speeds early in day, but toward southern hills easterly 20-25mph at first. Into afternoon, becoming north-northwesterly rising to 25 to 40mph, strongest coastal areas from Jura south, risk 50mph Arran.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied, locally fairly small but trending more strenuous with considerable wind chill, particularly along the coast toward the south later, more challenging Arran.
How Wet?
Rain most of day, often heavy, snow tops
Dry start in Lochaber. Heavy rain soon fairly widespread southern areas, some torrential falls Loch Lomond NP. Extending widely north, rain will turn to sleet/snow on high terrain, to 700-800m inland with time. Patchy smaller amounts west of Loch Linnhe. Tending to break up from the west later, becoming dry evening-night.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive, lowest south
From dawn, varied banks and locally clearer in north Lochaber. Otherwise, hills shrouded to middle slopes most of day, often to lower slopes around heavier rain with patches into glens. May begin to lift and break up westernmost hills late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull. Poor visibility, appalling in snow on tops; though locally better if out of cloud and rain at first in Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 2C to start, lowering variably to 0C. Feeling like -10C or colder in later wind.
Freezing Level
Will vary around 1000-1200m, tending to lower during day in heavier precipitation to 900m or slightly lower inland areas and more widely by evening.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising rapidly from dawn to be soon 50mph, reaching 70-80mph+; marked increase with height.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, soon arduous walking on exposed terrain, significant wind chill; increasingly severe conditions.
How Wet?
Heavy rain soon sets in
Dry at dawn mainly inland, but soon patchy rain comes in from coast, briefly snow highest tops, then all rain, setting in widely heavy, some torrential falls afternoon. Showery into night, snow on tops. Very wet underfoot, streams in spate.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering to become extensive
Initially most cloud above the hills, apart from odd patches at varied heights. Increasingly cloud will lower onto hills, forming to lower elevations coastal areas; some higher breaks remain well inland north/east of Ben Nevis group.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% at first, dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
High cloud soon thickens from dawn to be overcast and increasingly dull conditions. Good visibility soon becomes hazy and then poor visibility as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising to 5C afternoon, then falling again to 1C into evening. Feeling around -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000-1200m plus patchy frost some inland glens at dawn; rising well above summits by afternoon; lowering evening-night.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 60 to 80mph, gusts to 100mph or possibly stronger over highest mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility very difficult, repeatedly blowing you over; challenging even modest hills with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rarely ceasing rain, hail, upland snow
Near-constant precipitation, snow often falling above 800-1000m, also hail at all elevations, mixed with rain. Frequent heavy showery bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, but often covering tops above 800-1000m, some banks to 600m or lower especially coastal areas. Brief breaks higher up well inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief bursts of sun. A general haze at best, visibility often poor due to precipitation, to appalling if in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C. Wind chill feels like -15 to -20C in exposure.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, lowest in north Lochaber likely in the afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Stormy conditions widely across the mountains this weekend, peak wind speeds into Sunday over Scottish mountains with gusts 100mph on higher tops. Heavy rain will sweep in again from the west during Saturday, leaving showery conditions for Sunday, turning back to snow on higher terrain in Scotland. Very wet ground conditions, beware flooding of many streams and rivers making some routes impassable. A relative lull by early Monday in Scotland, but the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with more heavy rain and extensive mountain gales, continuing into Tuesday. Mild south-southwesterlies mid-late week; smaller amounts of rain, some drier windows toward east and south.