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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing 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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing 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
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A sunny start, frosty in England and Scotland; freezing levels at middle heights in Wales. Some snow showers north and west Scotland early. High cloud builds from the west; patchy snow and rain arrive afternoon, spread east, and increase in frequency into night. Rain increasingly to higher slopes as temperature rises.
Headline for West Highlands
Sun breaks early; snow flurries to rain later, becoming breezy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-30mph up to dawn, strongest far north. Soon shifting westerly and easing to 15-25mph, lower speeds possible too. Reorienting southwesterly through afternoon and gradually strengthening, up to 35mph along the coast into nighttime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Effects fairly small much of the day, nuisance wind in the morning. Into evening, walking increasingly strenuous, near the coast where coasts where gusts may challenge stability, notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Dry morning, rain slowly sets in through afternoon
Largely dry through morning. From midday, patchy snow arrives from the west, rain below 500m, precipitation slowly setting in along the west coast, rain gradually reaching higher elevations. Into evening, rain spreads more widely, some heavy falls along the coast.
Cloud on the hills?
High tops early, becoming extensive
Most hills clear in the morning, a few cloud caps over high tops from Mull to Clyde Sea Lochs, cloud caps often on tops above 1200m as well. Cloud lowering to the tops from the west through afternoon, filling in across high terrain by evening, to middle or lower slopes near the coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 20% through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine early in the day, soon weakened by high cloud from the west and increasingly overcast. Excellent visibility, deteriorating afternoon as fog lowers, dull and murky into night.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, gradually rising to -1 or 0C afternoon, then a sharp rise from the west as evening approaches, up to +5C for several overnight hours, later cooling again. Feeling as cold as -15 in direct wind early.
Freezing Level
200-500m, lowest inland, frosts in glens. Rising, 700m afternoon, then sharply rising to high terrain evening, then well above summits for several overnight hours.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-35mph, trending towards higher speeds, first Lochaber and south islands, 40-45mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly strenuous in exposure with significant wind chill, conditions deteriorating through afternoon.
How Wet?
Snow showers become widespread
Showers affecting Lochaber after dawn, snow to 600m, some hail too. Drier to the south, but showers gradually spread more widely, heavier falls for a time afternoon with the snowfall level lowering.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowest and most persistent west
Cloud comes and goes all day above 700-800m, most persistent along the west coast and as low as 600m during showers, more persistent for a time midday. Well-broken inland early, more frequent during afternoon showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% early, lowering to 30% west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, mostly inland, perhaps rare along the west coast. Variable visibility, intermittently good, but poor or appalling during snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, sunny southern Munros may briefly rise a degree; lowering, -2 or -3C by night. Feeling like -13 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 800m at dawn, lowering to 600-700m through the day.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 28th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 40 to 55mph, strongest on Ben Nevis group in morning, sudden squalls. Gales likely strengthen again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging mobility on higher mountains at least in morning, frequent buffeting all day. Significant-to-severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow, fewer showers later
Showery morning, frequent precipitation coastal areas, particularly west Lochaber, hail and snow falling to some lower elevations. With time becoming fewer and less heavy showers and mostly rain below 700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking higher during day
Often covering higher slopes above 600-800m in the morning, lowest and most persistent toward coast. Base tending to rise, breaks to higher slopes for periods into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun breaking through more often as the day progresses. Visibility very poor in showers, then more often becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600-700m in morning, rising to 900-1000m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.