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.
Monday'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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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
Monday 19th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine but chilly day for the Highlands with sunshine, but cloud will roll in from the southeast to increasingly cover hills in southern areas in the afternoon. Cloudier all day for northern England with a little rain, strong and gusty easterly winds. Early rain in Wales clears, low cloud tending to break with time.
Headline for West Highlands
Sunshine, then low cloud moves in south. Gusty in places.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 15 to 20mph, locally variable and some gusty spots around higher tops and passes, locally downslope early morning. Speeds tending to rise to 25mph afternoon, 30mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling chilly and later may affect comfortable walking in exposure.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Some fine drizzle may develop later afternoon around Loch Lomond to Arran.
Cloud on the hills?
Most hills start clear or above fog; low cloud filling in from south during day
Some fog banks on low terrain from dawn into morning, but the hills widely above this; some patches drift upslope during morning. Gradually a layer of cloud spills in from the south to cover hills above 600-700m up to tops. Patchier cloud northwest and highest tops may remain above most cloud until late in day when the layer thickens.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90% early, dropping to 20% south or 50% northwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and excellent visibility in morning, and into afternoon near/west of Loch Linnhe. Becoming cloudier from the south in the afternoon, misty around some hills but visibility good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, slight rise during day; small variation with height over the mountains. Feeling like 0 to -5C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost widely inland glens and some sheltered higher areas early morning; otherwise above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 20 to 30mph, speeds varying, at times some gustier areas around Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect ease of walking and balance if gusty on some exposed ridges. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle mostly south
Drizzly rain most frequent toward Loch Lomond and the central highlands, likely becoming steadier rain with time, later heavier. Small patchy amounts in Lochaber, drier for a time in morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, locally better north
Toward the south, low cloud blanketing many hills in fog from lower elevations upward. Cloud base higher northwards, but fairly extensive above 700-800m. Some breaks may occur toward Mull & Knoydart.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull and misty from many lower slopes upward, but locally better visibility toward coast and Fort William area mainly morning.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, little change all day. Feeling like -2 to -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable low speeds 10-15mph or less, becoming westerly 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but becoming more blustery and feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, later snow tops
Highly uncertain as areas of rain move around slowly, a risk of rain on and off widely, but may set in heavier southern areas particularly the islands and coast, turning to snow on the Munros later.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering many higher mountains, varied bases, often 700-900m, but dropping to 600m in rain in south. Some breaks mostly inland in Lochaber if drier for a time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Visibility good if dry below cloud, but reduced in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C tending to drop to 2C later. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits much of the day, but later likely dropping to 1200m, then nearer 1000m into night.
Planning Outlook
A complex weather setup into midweek with slow-moving fronts bringing areas of rain and fairly extensive low cloud over the hills, varied wind speeds. Thursday may offer a window of drier weather and light winds, but by Thursday night into Friday a storm system likely moves across England & Wales with heavy rain and gales, possibly turning to snow on higher mountains. Scotland may avoid this system and just see showers mostly in the west for Friday, wintry on tops. Another Atlantic storm is then forecast to track further north over the weekend bringing widespread severe gales to high terrain, heavy rain then showery westerlies. Generally unsettled weather likely prevails to the end of October.