The Northwest Highlands
Areas north from Knoydart in the west, and the Great Glen towards the east (NB. Does not include Mull and areas west of Loch Linnhe, these are found in the West Highlands forecast.)
Today's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 16th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 15th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Mostly light rain and drizzle will drift in from the west, some western hills often damp throughout the day and shrouded in cloud. Rain patchier northeastward across the Highlands, but a risk of local bursts of rain forming in the afternoon. Mid & south Wales largely dry. Generally light winds.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Often damp in west, light rain, low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10-15mph, to 20mph in north for a few hours from dawn, dropping less and becoming variable direction, trending southerly 10-15mph on Skye, often less elsewhere afternoon onward.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, breezier start in far north.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, drizzle mostly west
A fine drizzle on the high tops and near western coasts and Skye much of the day, some steadier light rain in the morning. Drier windows more often inland and east, but patchy rain and odd heavier moments extend east with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest and most persistent west
Coastal hills shrouded most of the day, from 500m up in the morning, bases rising somewhat but unlikely breaking above 700-800m. Inland, bases to 900m during drier windows, local breaks east, but returning lower in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Skye and west coast; 30% Ben Wyvis area.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, a few odd glimpses of weak sun mainly east. Visibility largely poor on high terrain and towards west coast, locally better east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, slight rise inland and east. Feeling near freezing at first on northern tops in the breeze.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 17th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 15th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South then southwesterly, strengthening from 15-20mph or less early in day, to 30mph, later 40mph, soonest on Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, but increasingly affecting ease of walking, later risk more challenging over high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops, sets in heavy later
Patchy light rain spills in from the west in the morning, becoming increasingly persistent and heavier with time, prolonged heavy falls setting in widely over western mountains afternoon-evening. Then more showery into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive and low
Varied cloud banks at first, most persistent around Skye, here likely to shroud hills most or all day, filling in to lower elevations in steady rain. Cloud blanketing hills increasingly widely, bases 300-600m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Dropping widely below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
High cloud soon thickens to become overcast. Good visibility reducing to poor as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C. As wind increases, feeling nearer to freezing where exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 18th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 15th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking, in places more frequent buffeting making movement challenging. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Showery rain most frequent over western hills. Some drier windows toward east.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Often covering western hills above 600 to 800m, inland more often the cloud above 800m, whilst further east higher breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy with brief sun. Visibility good, but reduced in showers and slight coastal haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, trending cooler later in day. Feeling near or below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure initially to the north of Scotland early in the new week will eventually envelop the whole of Britain next week bringing generally unsettled and cooler conditions increasingly widely. Often blustery widely, west turning northerly winds later in week - becoming notably chilly over higher mountains. Rain extends into Scotland on Monday, turning heavy, then moves south over England and Wales by Monday night into early Tuesday. The rest of the week sees showery rain common for all areas, the rain most persistent in western Scotland, but heavier showery bursts and thundery downpours become widespread mid to late week.