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
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 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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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 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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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
Friday 16th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Jan 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry for much of the Highlands, many northern mountains clear, in places above patchy valley fog, some weak sun through high-level cloud above the mountains. Breezy toward the west, some showers southwest coasts of Scotland, also S/W Wales. Areas of low cloud over Pennines and S Lakes may linger.
Headline for West Highlands
Breezy near coast, increasing, local showers; low cloud south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable or southeasterly, 10-15mph or less inland, some increase afternoon. Often 20mph up the west coast, increasingly in afternoon to 25mph, stronger gusts if in showers locally.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but marked wind chill if exposed, becoming more blustery coastal areas.
How Wet?
Mostly dry inland, coastal showers south.
Largely dry through daylight toward Lochaber, an odd rare brief light shower. Showers for the southwest coast and Isles, may develop more often here into the afternoon, pushing inland with time from the southwest, snow flurries above 500-600m, possible hail Kintyre.
Cloud on the hills?
Banks of low cloud, focused in the south.
Risk of stubborn patches of banks of low cloud, mostly across southern areas and central Highlands, some high tops for a time may poke above this, then drifting higher up. Also ribbons of fog in some glens. Clearer hills toward north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, best of the sun coming through in the north. Visibility very good, away from any fog or showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Feeling like -7C to nearer -10C if exposed to wind on tops near coast in south.
Freezing Level
700-800m, frost into the glens at first light.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 17th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 10 to 20mph, in places 25mph through some cols, passes and summits, particularly toward south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but wind chill still significant where exposed to the strongest breeze.
How Wet?
Mostly dry, risk a little rain south
Local fine spots of drizzle or snow grains possible across southern hills, local showers mainly Arran to Kintyre. Largely dry Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying banks some lower slopes up
Variable amounts on hills. Banks or patches at varying heights mid to upper slopes, patchy fog also some glens. Some hills often clear, mainly coast near Mull, perhaps more widely west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, but 60% west Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun toward north/west of Fort William area, where visibility good. Rather misty and murky southern areas into central Highlands.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to +1C, but feeling closer to -8C in the strongest breeze.
Freezing Level
Varied across the area, 600-1000m, highest towards west coast/north Lochaber. Also frost into glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 18th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, 25 to 35mph, risk 40mph, very gusty in places around high summits, locally downslope to north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance over hills. More challenging in some exposed spots. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Small amounts of precipitation
Risk of patchy rain around the islands, snow grains on high tops near coast, or lower down inland, mainly Loch Lomond NP, but very little if any north Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud widely, breaks north
Risk an extensive sheet of low cloud from mid-slopes up, particularly southern areas, but banks of cloud likely widely over hills - best breaks toward north/west of Ben Nevis group.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south, to 40% N/W Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly north Lochaber where visibility very good out of cloud. Hazy near coast, mistier to some lower slopes in south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C many areas, near or just above 0C coastal areas. Feeling like -10 to -13C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Inland near or just below freezing from glens upward, but near coast & islands typically above freezing up to 900m.
Planning Outlook
Often dry and chilly conditions into the weekend with a south to south-easterly airflow developing, gusty wind in places. General patterns into the second half of January favour a colder continental influence. The snow pack across the Scottish Highlands will be enhanced by further spells of snowfall where where fronts edge in from the west, whilst for England and Wales snow accumulating on the hills at times, perhaps in the form of showers from the east.