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.)
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
Tuesday 4th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive rain and low cloud across Scotland, becoming thundery downpours into the afternoon from the south into the Highlands. For England & Wales, rain and low cloud most persistent in the morning, heavy showery bursts in middle of day tending to clear eastward afternoon. Strong and gusty winds widely.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, powerful gusts. Low cloud and rain, heavy at times.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 40mph, lowest speeds typically near Skye. Stronger gusts particularly northern areas where 50mph at times. Around Skye, turning southerly in afternoon, speeds tending to lower widely.
Effect of the wind on you?
Sudden buffeting in gusty winds both higher up and on some lower slopes and valleys. Often difficult walking on northern mountains, balance challenging. Some improvement from south. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain, some heavy
Rain affects much of the region in the morning, some sustained heavier falls at times. Least rainfall toward the west coast, intermittently dry. Pulses of heavy and possibly thundery rain moving northward in the afternoon, at times setting in again for periods.
Cloud on the hills?
Never clearing most summits
Blanket of fog across higher areas, sometimes the cloud below 300m Sutherland and eastern hills near Ben Wyvis. Breaks to 700, sometimes 900m within a few miles of the west coast south of Ullapool, but lower in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky. Visibility often poor due to rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C. Feeling below freezing in the wind, near -5C in stronger speeds in north.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly turning northerly, 20 to 35mph, speed likely to vary, a possible lull, then likely increasing afternoon-evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly affects ease of walking on high terrain, in places making balance more challenging. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain
Areas of rain affect the region much of the day, risk setting in heavier for periods, possibly some thundery downpours. May break up into more scattered showers from the north later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding mountains widely much of the day, with ragged patches from lower slopes up around heavier rain. Rare breaks toward some higher slopes. Bases may tend to rise with some breaks later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility poor during rain, occasionally improving, perhaps better generally later in the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C, coolest toward the north, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 6th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 3rd Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest then westerly, 15 to 30mph, strongest toward north, possibly more widely early morning, again by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but affecting comfortable walking at times on some higher slopes. Feeling distinctly chilly.
How Wet?
Brief showers, drier, then rain later
A few mostly light showers in the morning tending to fade to become often dry. Later in the afternoon, some patchy rain and drizzle moving in from the west, risk more persistent evening up to dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting with breaks to tops
Most cloud soon above 700-800m in the morning, lifting higher. May come and go in the west above 1000m, more often clearing eastwards. Tending to lower near coast over tops later in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6C afternoon. Feeling as cold as -5C if exposed to the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure over the country during midweek brings strong winds, rain and thundery showers. Trending toward westerlies later in the week and into weekend, by then most rain and low cloud in western Scotland, but showery rain elsewhere at times, accompanied by periods of strong to gale force mountain winds at times. Generally fresh temperatures widely, often in mid-single figures over Scottish high tops. Despite falls of rain, beware of ongoing fire management restricting access to hills locally.