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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
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
Friday 9th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force winds across all mountains will make walking challenging and lower temperatures also adds to a significant chill factor. A front clears south over England & Wales with a spell of early rain. Then broadly showery, frequent in west, falling as snow on Scottish Munros, also hail.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales on tops, frequent showers with hail, and snow on tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly sustained 35-45mph, very gusty, top speeds approaching 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking, powerful gusts constantly challenging balance, sometimes requiring bracing. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain increasingly persistent, with hail
Frequent showers stream in from the west, hail mixed in with snow above 900m. Rain becomes more persistent, some steady heavy falls near and west of Loch Linnhe. Chance of isolated lightning afternoon near coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Tops above 1100m may rarely clear cloud, bases variable early between 700-1000m, or lower along the coast, and tending to fill in extensively, particularly Lochaber where bases reach as low as 400m in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun here and there. Visibility generally poor on high terrain, very poor in snow, hazy to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just around the Ben Nevis summit.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 10th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 40 to 50mph, very gusty, risk sustained speeds to 60mph over Ben Nevis.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking, constant buffeting knocking you around with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain rarely ceases, snow tops
A near-constant stream of showers from the northwest most or all day, falling as snow on higher terrain above 900-1000m, and may well set in for several hours with sustained heavy falls on hill groups towards the coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Coastal terrain shrouded from 600-700m up nearly all day, higher breaks possible to the far south, also regularly lowering during rain, patches to forest canopies. Base generally higher inland, though unlikely rising above 1000m, and widely lower in sustained rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun east, more often overcast. Poor visibility, sometimes very poor on high tops in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, will vary in showers, perhaps towards 0C. Feeling like -10 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Around 1200m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 11th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25mph from dawn into early morning, easing to 10mph afternoon. Likely to increase southerly after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Early in day, considerable wind chill and blustery wind on tops may affect comfortable walking; becoming small.
How Wet?
Early local showers fade
Brief scattered showers in morning, mostly west Lochaber, of snow above 900m. Fading to be largely dry into afternoon. Rain may move onto coast into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most tops
Patchy cloud around higher slopes mostly above 900m by mid morning, lifting and dispersing more with time to leave most mountains free of cloud in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun; high cloud may start to build from west later. Visibility excellent away from early showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C much of day, then lifting slightly higher onward into evening-night. Feeling like -5 to -8C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Slight frost inland glens at dawn. Around 1100-1200m in morning, rising higher, above all tops mid-afternoon onward.
Planning Outlook
The weekend begins windy with gales over all mountains, severe on some high tops; showers or more constant rain west, brighter breaks east. Sunday sees a more settled day as a small ridge of high pressure builds from the west; wind eases, sun and cloud clearing most tops, cool temperatures. Next week sees continued mixed weather: bands of rain coming and going, temperatures similarly fluctuating: generally mild, briefly chilly in Scotland with freezing levels temporarily onto high Munros where rain turns to snow; any accumulating snow soon thaws. West-southwesterly winds will be dominant, often quite strong, gales at times, but this allows for drier, brighter windows on eastern hill groups between weather systems.