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.)
Wednesday'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.
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.
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
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Last updated
Tue 1st Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Much of the Highlands sees a fine day with fairly light winds; a veil of high cloud tends to thicken, risk of some rain later. S Scotland & N England has more cloud, some rain. Heavier rain moves across Wales into Peak District, followed by showers on a strong southwesterly wind, quite humid.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Dry much of day, wind increases and risk rain later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable mostly below 10mph in morning, locally starting westerly 15-20mph Ben Hope. Trending southeasterly, rising speeds afternoon to 20mph around Skye, later more widely, reaching 30-35mph into evening. Switching southwesterly into night rising further to 40-45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small in the morning, becoming more noticeably breezy with some gusty spots especially Skye and nearby coast, later in the day increasingly affecting ease of walking where exposed, deteriorating further into night.
How Wet?
Largely dry, some rain by evening
Most or all daytime dry. Into evening, risk of patchy rain developing from southwest toward Skye, becoming more persistent through dusk and extending northward.
Cloud on the hills?
Some patches, but mostly little until late
Patches at varied heights early in day will tend to lift and break up to leave most cloud above the hills, odd patches may drift around some upper slopes. Later in the day, increasingly on higher Cuillin, filling in widely as rain develops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, later deteriorating from southwest
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent sun in the north, and perhaps briefly south, tending to weaken as high cloud thickens across the sky. Excellent visibility, some early patchy mist in glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C, coolest north, rising to 7 to 9C and staying elevated into night. Feeling just above freezing in direct wind later in the day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Some sheltered inland glens may start with slight grass frost at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 3rd September 2026
Last updated
Tue 1st Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 35 to 50mph, will vary somewhat, tops speeds approach 55mph, more sustained later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure most of the day, some more challenging moments with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, showery for a time
Patchy rain drifts from the west much of the day, generally light and eastern hills often dry. Rain will become more frequent with heavy falls for a few hours in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases rise towards summits, breaks east
Fairly extensive along west coast to start, varied banks inland, mostly high terrain; bases rising, increasingly above 800m, high tops from Ben Wyvis northward may become substantially clear. Skye stays in cloud above 700-800m, and more widely lowering for a few hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40% west coast, to 70% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, sometimes more cloud around. Good visibility under cloud, but hazy particularly along the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 1st Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, turning westerly, 40 to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining west
Rain on and off throughout the day, most frequent in the west where some steady rain for periods mixed with heavier showery bursts, may break up a little into afternoon. Patchier rain furthest east.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, lower west
Fairly persistent over all western mountains above 500-700m, lowest near the coast and during rain. Well inland the cloud base higher, some breaks above 800-900m, tending to rise a little into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% west, 30% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brief glimpses of sun eastern areas. Visibility often reduced by rain, locally good below cloud especially east; a general haze near the west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change all day. Directly in the wind, feeling like -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A series of weather systems moves in from the Atlantic this week and next to bring spells of rain and showers, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather is likely this Saturday for Scotland and northern England, but further rain is expected to move into Wales, which then extends north by Saturday night and Sunday, possibly widely heavy rain and a risk of more powerful upland gales developing over Scotland into Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but some cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops close to freezing point.