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
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.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
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
Thursday 23rd July 2026
Last updated
Wed 22nd Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Low cloud and drizzle across the northern parts of the Highlands in the morning, cloud tending to lift for central-southern Highlands, but northwestern areas stay damp, more persistent rain later and winds also strengthening. Cloudy skies for England and Wales, most hills clearing in the morning, low risk of a shower.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Breezy, increasingly windy. Drizzle later rain, low cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over northern mountains, strengthening toward 40mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling breezy over the hills, quite cool on higher tops, increasing buffeting gusts around exposed summits and ridges.
How Wet?
Damp much of day west, wetter later
Drizzle frequent over west coastal hills, patchy drizzle drifting inland. Light rain more persistent in west late afternoon into evening, some steadier falls of rain developing over a few hours, less toward eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, base rising, persistent west
Shrouding hills from many lower elevations upward early in the day. Bases tending to gradually lift to 800-900m, higher breaks inland and east, but many west coast tops remain covered, lowering again more widely in evening, some banks return to lower elevations west coastal slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, rising to 40% inland/east afternoon, lowering into evening.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, misty poor visibility lower elevations up in the morning, improving to become good below cloud where dry, reducing again to poor in rain later west. Glimpses of sun mainly in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, little change all day in west, may rise a degree or so toward Ben Wyvis. Feeling near/below 0C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 24th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 22nd Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 40mph, at times to 50mph, strongest speeds most sustained around Ben Hope, but more widely later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting over high terrain, making walking strenuous, affecting balance on ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, heavier later
Drizzle over many mountains much of the day, some steadier light rain in western areas. Some drier moments toward east. Later in day, increasingly persistent heavier rain develops more widely, continuing into the night.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west
Shrouding west coastal mountains above 500-600m most or all day, bases nearer 700m inland, some breaks occurring on easternmost hills near Ben Wyvis. Lowering again widely by evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy and dull, misty over western hills. Better visibility well inland and toward east below cloud and where dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C slight rise to 9C; little change with added height on Munros. Feeling nearer -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 25th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 22nd Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly, 35 to 45mph with stronger gusts at dawn, easing to 25mph middle of day, 15mph or less later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery conditions and marked chill in morning, buffeting gusts at first, gradually improving to become small later in day.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain and showers
Persistent rain from overnight, heavy on western hills, likely to ease into the morning, breaking up into drizzly showers, fading out at times. Risk of some heavier showery rain at times during day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, rising, local breaks east
Shrouding hills fairly widely from low elevations upward early morning. Base tending to rise, but likely to persist western areas above 600-700m, mostly 800m inland, some breaks best further east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, poor visibility early in day, staying misty over hills especially in west, better visibility where dry below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C. Feeling below freezing directly in the wind early in the day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds reaching gale-force over Scottish tops on Friday; low cloud across western Scotland, drizzle and steadier light rain, turning heavier later in the day. A swathe of persistent rain and strong winds moving southwards across Britain into Saturday, leaving a legacy of showers for Scotland, winds tending to lessen. Further areas of showers into Sunday. A changeable west to southwesterly pattern into next week and likely into early August, bringing spells of rain and showers; varying wind speeds, strengthening at times to gales on high tops. Often cooler for Scotland, a mix of cooler and warmer days for England & Wales.