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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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 4th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 3rd Jun 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and showers in Scotland, showers heaviest east afternoon with risk of thunder. Light wind early, increasingly blustery from south. Persistent rain and windy south Scotland and Lakeland/N Pennines. Very windy Peak District and Wales too, gales later, morning rain and afternoon showers.
Headline for West Highlands
Often raining; strong wind south spreads widely
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable at dawn, 10mph or less around Lochaber, but speeds nearer 20-25mph southern islands, generally westerly. Stronger speeds soon spread northward, 30-35mph across all Munros by afternoon, strongest south, up to 40mph or higher Arran to Ben Lomond.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible at dawn, but starting blustery south, and conditions deteriorating to strenuous or arduous conditions over tops. Balance becomes challenging in southern areas with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent showery rain, heavy bursts afternoon
Showery rain most of the day, merging in places into more constant falls, some heavy bursts particularly areas more inland by afternoon and into the evening, small risk of odd lightning flashes. Some chance of drier slopes for a few hours around midday in northern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, varied, later deteriorating
Covering the high Munros likely all day, but varying in extent and height, some ragged patches from forest canopies up during and after rain, particularly west where bases often to middle slopes. Some brief higher breaks early in the north, as well as later inland. Becoming extensive towards coast from later afternoon, locally lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, rare brief glimpses of sun, best chance between afternoon showers. Visibility often very poor due to rain and fog, but briefly very good during dry windows, best chance afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, may reach 7C well-inland, small chance towards 8C Creag Meagaidh. Notable drop later overnight hours. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 5th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 3rd Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph early, gusting 50mph summits at first. Turning southwesterly, easing to 20-35mph, lowest south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over summits at dawn, strongest wind knocking you off balance with significant wind chill. Easing trend.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Rain from Ben Lomond to Lochaber at dawn, some heavy falls towards the coast, some sleet onto high tops. Soon passing north, patchy rain follows, sometimes more frequent and showery in nature; greatest risk Mull and south.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting towards summits
Fairly extensive above 600-700m at dawn, lowest bases Ben Lomond to Lochaber to 500m or locally lower. Soon beginning to lift from south, breaks forming too, mostly above 1000m into afternoon. Bases generally lower with fewer breaks coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best well-inland. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C to start, rising to 5C, locally 6C inland north of Ben Nevis. Feeling like -7C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
May just touch the Ben Nevis summit in the morning but soon lifting above.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 6th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 3rd Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
S-SE'ly, later SW'ly, high uncertainty of extent of stronger winds - likely in range 25 to 40mph, but risk 50-60mph for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Beware of changing conditions and monitor subsequent forecasts - risk of being difficult at least part of the day.
How Wet?
Risk of rain developing
Early in the day at least may be substantially dry, for longest inland Lochaber, but risk of patchy rain moving in from the west, becoming more persistent and some heavier rain especially over southern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive
Cloud banks likely covering coastal hills from early in day, varied patches inland, locally clearer near Glen Spean for a time. Cloud likely to fill in and lower more widely across hills, to low-mid slopes near coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun weak at best through high cloud early in day, likely overcast, increasingly dull. Visibility very good where dry, but reducing in rain, risk becoming poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7C afternoon, then lowering into late evening-night. Feeling below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Friday sees a slight settling trend compared to recent days with sunny spells in east Scotland as well as England and Wales, some patchy showers. Unsettled again over the weekend, as southwesterly flow draws several areas of rain across the country, best of dry slopes to the northeast. Showers affect most hills Monday and Tuesday, lowest cloud and most persistent rain along western slopes, but with some breaks as well with sunshine. Wednesday is likely more unsettled as gales spread across most tops and heavy rain drives into northwest England and Scotland. Conditions settling into the weekend as high pressure builds from the south. Low cloud will gradually dissipate for increased sun. Scotland slower to settle, some cloud and drizzly rain lingering in the west.