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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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 rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 18th Jun 26 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A swathe of heavy rain extends across the Highlands, southern Scotland then into Cumbria and west Wales, some torrential bursts, thunder and lightning possible. A belt of gale-force upland winds just ahead of the rain. Warm and humid. Winds ease in western Scotland, rain fades, cloud lifts, dropping cooler.
Headline for West Highlands
Heavy rain, may fade. Low cloud. Risk gales for a time.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, some marked variations, in morning 30 to 45mph, risk briefly gusts 60mph high tops mainly inland and in south. Dropping from west to 20-25mph or at times less.
Effect of the wind on you?
For a few hours in morning at least, risk challenging walking, sudden buffeting on some downslopes. Likely to improve to smaller effects. Feeling cool in exposure.
How Wet?
Heavy thundery rain for several hours
Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, some more prolonged heavy or torrential falls. Risk of thunder. Breaking up in afternoon, later scattered lighter showers, but chance further pulses of rain moving up from south into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, some very low cloud
Very low cloud likely to lower slopes near coasts, islands and sea lochs. Covering many higher slopes inland, varied, but widely low ragged patches in rain. Brief breaks higher up. Some improvement in afternoon, but most tops remain shrouded.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Misty coasts; widely hazy, murky around rain, some local improvements afternoon mainly inland Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 to 12C, warmest well inland, quite humid, then later in the day dropping to 6C. Feeling close to freezing if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 20th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 18th Jun 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 25mph, may increase a little later, some gusts 35mph high tops in Ben Nevis range by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, some more noticeable gusty spots mainly in Lochaber later. Feeling cool in exposure on high tops.
How Wet?
Showers easing
Showery rain most frequent over western mountains early morning, a scattering of brief showers extend inland, tending to widely fade to lighter showers and often dry afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest and most extensive in morning
Covering the hills fairly widely early morning above 600-800m, lowest near coast. Bases rising, tending to thin and break, patches lifting above 900-1000m, increasingly breaking higher afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 60% afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy start, improving with some sun breaking through and visibility becoming very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little change all day toward coast, up to 7C inland areas afternoon. Feeling around 0C in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 21st June 2026
Last updated
Thu 18th Jun 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10 to 15mph in morning, possible 20mph briefly Lochaber, dropping widely below 10mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Rain not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Soon lifting, clearing
Patchy cloud around some slopes in morning, also mist briefly in some glens at dawn. All lifting and clearing the tops during morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, best near coasts in afternoon. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C at dawn, rising to 10C, local 12C well inland afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Cooler and less humid for Saturday, some showery rain and low cloud in the west, tending to improve. Sunday is a dry day for most with clearer hills, light winds and feeling warmer, becoming more humid again from the south. More uncertainty early next week - some rain possible for Scotland into Monday, potential scattered thunderstorms for England and Wales as it becomes very humid. A fresher westerly wind is indicated into Tuesday with some showers, then higher pressure likely expands over the country from the south midweek with drier weather then likely for a few days. Scope for higher temperatures and humidity to build toward next weekend, which may eventually break into thunderstorms.