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.
Heavy showers, snow and hail
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail on higher terrain, rain or hail lower down. Risk of a rumble of thunder and isolated lightning.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 4 to 8C 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.
Heavy showers, snow and hail
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail on higher terrain, rain or hail lower down. Risk of a rumble of thunder and isolated lightning.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 4 to 8C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 5th June 2025
Last updated
Thu 5th Jun 25 at
8:02AM
Summary for all mountain areas
Still cold, particularly Scottish Highlands where in morning higher summits below freezing point. Here showery, particularly NW - hail, and snow higher tops. Further south rain on and off morning before improving to sunshine and scattered showers. Much less windy - still strongest N Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Wind slowly easing. Showers; frequent Lochaber; hail and sleet higher up.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Between west and southwest, dropping from 25 to 30mph (strongest Lochaber); to by mid afternoon 20mph southern hills. 20, tending to ease toward 15mph Arran.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small by midday, although likely to impede ease of walking at first - mainly Lochaber.
How Wet?
Showers all day; driest Loch Lomond NP. Rain unlikely near Clyde sea lochs.
North from Rannoch Moor & A85/railway Tyndrum to Oban: Continuing showery; sometimes the rain constant for an hour or so. Loch Lomond NP: progressively fewer showers southward. Largely or completely dry near Clyde sea lochs, especially Arran. Hail, and sleet/snow above 800m at first, in afternoon 1200m.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent most higher areas; lowest cloud base near west coast
Cloud base will tend to rise morning, particularly well inland and near central belt. From midday, near the coast cloud base ranging between 450 and 700m (highest near Clyde sea lochs), lowest near showers, whilst well inland between 650 and 950m - perhaps higher east Loch Lomond NP.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, but 30% afternoon Loch Lomond NP
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare sunshine and hazy within a few miles of the west coast Lochaber to patches of sun (mainly lower slopes) and very good visibility elsewhere. Poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C. Will feel near or below -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
1150m at first; just above highest summits by afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 6th June 2025
Last updated
Thu 5th Jun 25 at
8:02AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly 10 to 15mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Small or negligible
How Wet?
Continuing showery. Hail, snow.
Widespread showers - relatively few more central highlands morning, then through afternoon and evening showers become isolated western hills, initially the improvement near the coast. Hail, and snow above about 1050m.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most, perhaps nearly all summits by afternoon
Coastal slopes, mostly cloud covered above 600 to 800m, although in afternoon base may rise above 900m. Elsewhere, cloud base rising; by late morning most cloud above or well above 1000m, particularly central highlands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% by midday
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sunshine, although particularly morning mostly cloudy western mountains. Excellent visibility - temporarily poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C near the coast, rising to 7C well inland.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 7th June 2025
Last updated
Thu 5th Jun 25 at
8:02AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varied, 10mph or less morning. From the west becoming northwesterly 10 to perhaps in evening 20mph or 25mpht.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small or negligible until late in day.
How Wet?
Heavy slow moving showers; thunder
Showers or drizzly rain here and there until late morning. Then dry coastal areas, but inland heavy showers forming and drifting about only slowly. Hail and on highest tops sleet. Small risk thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits cloud free for periods, but forming widely in heavy rain.
Confidence in detail low: Many summits probably clearing for periods as through morning cloud base rises. But in rain, very varied as patches form from lower slopes up, particularly above forest canopies - whilst in other areas breaks persist to higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine coming through only rarely. Excellent or superb visibility in very clear air, but expect areas of very poor visibility in and after rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C rising to 5 to 7C away from coastal areas.
Freezing Level
Just above highest tops.
Planning Outlook
Remaining chilly until Sunday night (intermittently near freezing point highest Scottish summits). Rainfall and low cloud will remain frequent across particularly western mountains until well into next week. Intermittently windy.