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.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
Thursday 2nd July 2026
Last updated
Wed 1st Jul 26 at
4:04PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales early, severe over tops of north England and Scotland. Wind gradually eases, though staying blustery north. Showers, drizzle, and low cloud early, particularly west hills. England, Wales, and east Scotland largely dry afternoon, few cloud caps over high tops; cloud and drizzle linger in west Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Severe gales, easing with time; drizzle, some light showers
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly, 60-70mph early hours, lessening to 40-50mph through morning and around noon, further easing to 25-30mph through afternoon and into evening and trending westerly; may become quite gusty over high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions from overnight and still difficult in morning at least, walking and balance challenging with significant wind chill; gradually improving, though walking remains impeded in exposure all day.
How Wet?
Drizzly, some showery rain
Heavy rain from overnight likely clears as dawn approaches to leave drizzle on high terrain, some showers with brief heavier moments, mostly western hills from Mull northward.
Cloud on the hills?
High tops stay covered
Covering high terrain fairly widely from dawn, lowest west where locally to 300-400m. Lifting through the day, to upper slopes inland, but capping higher tops most or all day. Some breaks forming, best inland; bases stay lowest coast, 700-900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun breaking through, mostly well inland. A general haze near coast, visibility good below cloud further inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little variation all day, rising up to 8C well-inland. Directly in the stronger winds feeling like -5 to -10C on tops, nearer 0 to -3C later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 3rd July 2026
Last updated
Wed 1st Jul 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, speeds likely to fluctuate during the day, some stronger gusts over high tops, later deteriorating.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking, at times more strenuous on exposed terrain and balance may be challenging on ridges.
How Wet?
Generally damp, some rain
Drizzly over many hills, patchy rain an occasionally periods of steadier rain near the west coast, notably later. Rock surfaces slippery even if only small amounts of rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest coasts
Covering many hills much of the day, lowest bases over coastal areas and islands, sometimes to 500-600m. More often above 800m inland, local breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, to 30% well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun inland glens. Some haze below cloud near coast, better visibility inland where out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C mildest inland and southern islands. Feeling like 0 to -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 4th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 1st Jul 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly, 30 to 45mph, gusting 50mph in the morning, tending to lessen a little afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, particularly early, powerful gusts constantly challenging balance with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle
Damp likely all day, drizzle and some more persistent rain widely. Extended heavy falls with proximity to the coast. Rock surfaces remain very slippery.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west
Blanket cloud across many hills, from mid-slopes in coastal areas and often lower. Some breaks towards 700-800m further inland north and east of Rannoch Moor. Some chance of rising bases with odd breaks late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy and misty, some better visibility below cloud in glens well inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, slight cooling with time. Feeling like 0 to -5C where directly in wind on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerlies prevail across northern Britain. Rain, drizzle and low cloud most frequent over western hills from Lake District northward. Temperatures near average, but feeling cool in exposure to wind on tops, which could regularly be quite strong and gusty. An improving trend from the south into and over the weekend as higher pressure builds, best conditions for Wales and eastern hills elsewhere. A drier and warmer window looks probable from early-to-middle next week, very warm sunshine on some days England and Wales, southwesterlies still bring more cloud to western Scotland, some rain at times, wettest toward northwest. This pattern looks to continue into the following weekend with high pressure to the southwest maintaining drier conditions here with cloudier/damper conditions in the north and west.