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.
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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 21st October 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Oct 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Slow-moving areas of cloud and rain make for variable conditions fairly widely. A swathe of gales sweeps across Wales, later into England with heavy rain and low cloud. Brighter, showery weather follows into Wales later. Several pulses of rain in Scotland; steady falls in the east through morning, tending to lessen.
Headline for West Highlands
Rain on-and-off, brief lighter wind but strengthening
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable low speeds 10-15mph or less, becoming west-northwesterly 25-30mph, briefly gusting up to 40mph with strongest sustained wind near and south of Mull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but becoming more blustery and feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, a period of more sustained strenuous conditions across southern mountains.
How Wet?
Rain on-and-off
Several bands of showery rain moving generally west-to-east through the day, some dry windows between but a few patches forming here and there even between major areas of rain. Into evening, tending to ease into just scattered showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, brief better windows
Covering many higher mountains, varied bases, often 700-900m, but dropping to 600m during rain. Some breaks mostly inland during breaks in the rain, but ragged patches will cling around higher terrain, and most terrain above 1000m stays in cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Visibility mostly poor on high tops, some local better windows during dry spells.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C most of morning, dropping from midday to 1C. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits much of the day, but later dropping to 1200m, then nearer 1000m into night.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Oct 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-25mph, gusty; trending south-southeasterly into/overnight and greatly strengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during daylight, a few blustery moments in exposure and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Showers, snow on tops
Showers drift onto Munros nearest the coast, sometimes clustering together and slipping inland, but dry windows inland too, best towards Creag Meagaidh. Snow falling to 700m at first, this level rising.
Cloud on the hills?
Often over high terrain, often varied, lowest west
Summits above 1100m will rarely clear (and likely only well-inland). Cloud often lowering towards 700-800m in showers, more extensively towards the coast. A few windows of more broken cloud possible, but will deteriorate again.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun. Varied visibility, very good out of cloud and rain, but suddenly poor, to very poor in snow on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lifting to 2C. Feeling like -5 to -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, lifting to just the high summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 23rd October 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Oct 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 15-30mph to start, will vary and locally lessen, then shift northwesterly, strengthen towards 30-45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied, locally fairly small but trending more strenuous with considerable wind chill, first along the coast.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day, often heavy
Heavy rain fairly widespread from dawn, some torrential falls from Mull to Loch Lomond. Rain will turn to sleet/snow on high tops, and tend to break up from the west later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Hills shrouded to middle slopes well into the day, often to lower slopes around heavier rain with patches into glens. Some local variability as wind shifts, though unlikely breaking above 700m. May begin to lift and break up westernmost hills late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull. Poor visibility, though locally better if out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 2C to start, or milder south, lowering to 0C. Feeling like -10C or colder in later wind.
Freezing Level
Will vary around 1000-1200m, may later lower towards 900m or lower.
Planning Outlook
Thursday offers a window of brighter weather, a few showers will linger on west coastal areas, particularly west Scottish highlands. Thursday evening into Friday sees a deep area of low pressure move across England & Wales. The exact track of the low remains uncertain, but expect periods of heavy rain widely, turning to snow on high Scottish summits. Varied wind, perhaps a lull in some north areas on Friday, but gales soon sweep into Wales and gradually spread widely. Varied conditions follow over the weekend: another brief window of high pressure on Saturday morning, followed by another area of low pressure for widespread rain and gales. Atlantic westerlies remain dominant next week, bringing several low pressure systems with rain and wind, punctuated by brief clearer windows.