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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is 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.
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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 hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is 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
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 18th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong to gale-force northerly winds; severe chill factor on the mountains. Terrain widely frozen with fresh snow cover. Snow and hail showers frequent in the northern Highlands. Showers also north/west Wales. From the central Highlands into northern England, generally dry with sunshine and very clear air.
Headline for West Highlands
Bitterly cold; wind up to gale force. Mostly sunny, local snow/hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph, strongest sustained Ben Nevis group, squally gusts locally in showers near coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Often challenging walking conditions on exposed terrain, difficult on higher tops; significant wind chill, severe in places higher up.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers mostly coasts
Snow and hail showers mostly toward coastal mountains, frequent near Mull; chance of isolated lightning. A few showers may come into Lochaber at times from the north. More often dry central highlands and much of Loch Lomond NP. Snow lying into glens.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches higher tops, mostly coasts
Banks of cloud most frequent coastal slopes near Mull, varied above 600-900m in and out of showers. Inland, often above 900m with breaks higher up. Further south, patchier cloud, often breaking above many tops inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, to 70% inland Loch Lomond NP.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best inland around Loch Lomond NP, bursts of sun elsewhere. Visibility excellent, but suddenly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -5C (to -8C on higher summits). Wind chill feeling like -15C, to often -20C higher tops.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from glens upward, freezing level lifting up to 400-500m near coast and on islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 20th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 18th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25 to 40mph, strongest in morning; dropping lighter from dusk into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking on higher terrain early in day, significant wind chill; gradually improving, but blustery most of daytime.
How Wet?
Largely dry, local snow showers
A few snow and hail showers continuing to run down west coast, mainly areas near Mull, tending to fade out. Some snow flurries also into Creag Meagaidh area, but largely dry many places all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches higher tops mostly north
Some patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes, mostly Ben Nevis group to Creag Meagaidh, also toward Mull. Further south, many mountains often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% N/E Lochaber, to 90% south
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best across southern mountains, bursts of sun elsewhere. Visibility mostly excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C (to -6 or -7C Ben Nevis top). Wind chill feeling like -15C, to -20C early in day high tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen from glens upward, partial thawing only lowest sunlit slopes, up to 500m coastal slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 21st November 2025
Last updated
Tue 18th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West then southwesterly, strengthening during daytime - some uncertainty of timing - to 35-50mph, strongest Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect conditions to deteriorate, to give strenuous walking, difficult higher mountains, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow becoming rain from west
Snow likely to push increasingly inland, becoming persistent. Increasingly rain to higher elevations in coastal areas, may set in heavy. Turning to rain higher up inland later.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy, then more extensive
Prior to snow/rain, just patchy cloud on various slopes, clearer areas inland. With time, cloud lowering and filling in across the hills, soonest coasts/islands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak early sun soon obscured by thickening high cloud, becoming overcast. Visibility may start excellent, but reducing to poor in rain, very poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising from west to +1C, or slightly higher near coast later. In stronger wind feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen inland to lower slopes, but a gradual rise of freezing level toward 800m, or higher later; most rapid west coast.
Planning Outlook
Prepare for winter conditions - snow covering many mountains to lower slopes in Scotland, snow and ice cover varied for England & Wales, but much terrain frozen; hard frosts into inland valleys and glens the next couple of nights. Continuing strong northerlies into Thursday, showery snow and hail gradually fading from northwest Scotland. A front moving into Scotland from the west on Friday brings gales and snow, turning to rain lower down - in England & Wales more likely develops Friday evening-night. Less cold into the weekend, but higher mountains stay near or just below freezing, particularly Scotland; showers or locally more frequent upland snow over several days forward.