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
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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 6th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 5th May 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Odd early snow flurries in north Scotland, otherwise clear Munros until late; some snow returns to the west and north Highlands near evening. Little or no rain south Scotland and England, several hours of morning sun and any hill cloud soon clearing. Spotty light rain for Wales, cloud clearing hills, but only glimpses of sun.
Headline for West Highlands
Dry and largely clear hills, late snow flurries north
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less in the morning, soon trending southerly, strengthening afternoon, to 15-20mph over summits by evening, gusting to 25-30mph Mull and nearby coastal tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small much of the day, but a nuisance breeze forming over tops, walking becoming impeded on high coastal slopes from Mull northward late in the day with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Odd snow flurries, risk more in the north late in the day
A few snow flurries early around Lochaber, soon substantially dry, a few odd spots of flurries southern coastal areas (rain below 700m). Later afternoon, a rising risk of snow/rain forming Lochaber to Creag Meagaidh, may stay showery and light until nighttime.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting largely above the tops until late in the day
Some patchy cloud forming on upper slopes in the morning, but rising to higher tops then most cloud above the hills by midday onward. Where snow forms later, cloud lowers to high terrain, as low as 900m in heaviest falls as dusk approaches.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, perhaps sunnier for a few midday hours but weakened by high cloud. Visibility mostly excellent, but will significantly deteriorate if snow forms later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C at first, rising to +1 or 2C afternoon, mildest Loch Lomond/southern islands, reaching 3 or 4C. Feeling as cold as -8C in strongest wind late in the day.
Freezing Level
600-800m from dawn, plus frost inland glens; perhaps only patchy frosts near coasts from Mull southward. Rising to 900-1100m, highest Mull southward.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 7th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 5th May 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25-30mph, stronger gusts early; trending southwesterly, sustained speeds to 35mph some coastal summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure, conditions increasingly strenuous along the coast and highest tops; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Showery rain from dawn, falling as flurries from 1100m up. Some risk of heavier, persistent falls for periods, this risk increasing later in the day west of Loch Linnhe.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied early, rising, but variable around showers
Banks of cloud above 600-700m near south coastal areas, nearer 800m and up well-inland but may be fairly extensive at dawn. Lifting to largely above 800m, some higher breaks, but lower again where showers return, risk more widely later west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few glimpses of sun. Mixed visibility, often excellent but poor during rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C lifting to 4 or 5C. Feeling like -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1000m, a few patchy frosts in well-inland glens. Lifting to 1200-1300m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 8th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 5th May 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, shifting westerly and easing with time, to 10mph south, staying near 20mph north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced, locally strenuous in the morning with wind chill, an easing trend with time to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Showers, may ease somewhat
Frequent showery rain through morning and perhaps into the afternoon. The rain may ease with time, most likely Mull and Lochaber. Precipitation may linger all day Loch Lomond.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, lifting with some breaks
Fairly extensive from 600m up in the morning, perhaps lower in the south. A lifting trend, particularly near/west of Loch Linnhe, breaks to summits here but caps over highest and coastal summits. Southern Munros slower to clear, ragged lower patches around rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy cloud and sun, more often cloudy south. Variable visibility, poor in rain but very good during drier spells.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 5C well-inland; little chance Mull and north, later +1C here. Feeling as cold as -8C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Around 1200m or above, lowest Lochaber, and above summits south of Glen Coe.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure to the north of Scotland brings stronger wind and a greater risk of showery rain from Thursday. Cooler temperatures, high Munros staying below freezing for several days, the freezing level as low as 800-1000m. Showers affecting England and Wales, always a risk of heavier bursts afternoon, but timing and location of showers uncertain. Early varied cloud tends to lift to higher slopes, often above summits but some tops shrouded for longer. Into the weekend, low pressure south of the British Isles, facilitating a strong easterly wind with increasingly heavy rain and showers for Wales and southern Pennines. Pressure may remain higher in Scotland for a few days, but staying cold here with freezing levels perhaps to 700m. Indications of increasingly widespread unsettled weather into next week.