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.)
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 9th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Jul 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Warm-to-hot sun for most, risk of sunburn and dehydration. Early sea fog on low slopes near west coasts of England and Wales, may briefly lift but soon dissipating. Varied cloud western Scottish Highlands, mostly Mull to Skye, little or none eastward; high tops in and around Lochaber above the cloud layer.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Breezy, particularly west; broken cloud inland
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 35mph; gusty around high tops, strongest for mountains along the west coast, in places to 40-45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance over higher terrain, some buffeting gusts over tops passes and locally downslope; walking more strenuous to the north with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little drizzle west coast
Patchy drizzle on westernmost hills, most often affecting Sutherland and Skye. Drizzle may set in for periods over the Cuillin. Rare drizzle and largely dry further inland and particularly eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Periodically extensive west coast
Blanket fog over the Cuillin from lower elevations upward most or all day. More varied northward, coastal tops often capped, but periodically filling in more extensively, persistently foggy later. Breaks inland where bases rise to 700-800m; Ben Wyvis and Easter Ross hills may be largely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Cuillin, 30% west coast, to 70% easternmost hills
Sunshine and air clarity?
Varied cloud and sun along low west coast slopes, misty on high terrain, persistently cloudy on Skye. More often sunny inland, most extensive sun eastward with excellent visibility but weakened by high cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11C up to 14C if not in cloud on high terrain; approaching up to 22C in easternmost glens in the sun. Feeling like 0 to 5C if directly in wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 10th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Jul 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10 to 20mph, strongest in north toward Ben Hope, may drop below 10mph near Kintail.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling breezy and rather chilly on exposed high terrain, especially northern mountains.
How Wet?
Periods of rain
Patchy drizzle around Skye and nearby coast, steadier rain falling for a time more widely, risk of some local heavier bursts. Dry windows too, and more often dry later.
Cloud on the hills?
Some low cloud, possibly clearing
Varied extent of cloud, may shroud some areas from lower elevations upward for periods. Further northwest may disperse, to leave broken cloud mostly above the mountains.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through a veil of high cloud. Some misty areas, but visibility may improve to be widely very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C dawn, coolest near and north of Ullapool, rising slightly, up to 13C near/east Kintail.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 11th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Jul 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally easterly but variable, 10mph and often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Some patchy rain
Occasional spots of light rain, amounting to little, most hills see extended dry periods. A chance of steadier falls to the south and east, notably early.
Cloud on the hills?
Best chance breaks towards west coast
Fairly extensive at dawn, to at least middle slopes east coast, or lower near Kintail. A lifting trend in bases, slopes towards the west coast seeing more varied breaks, perhaps approaching summit level at times; Ben Wyvis southward rarely breaking above 700m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%, to 20% eastern hills
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some brighter moments towards the west coast but largely overcast; poor visibility on high terrain, to very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 to 11C, rising a degree and always mildest on western slopes.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying warm in Scotland, hot for England and Wales into the weekend. High pressure shifts northward, facilitating a strengthening easterly wind across most areas. Some lingering cloud and rain over the Scottish Highlands on Friday and Saturday, some risk of heavier thundery bursts on Friday. The weekend is likely dry across England and Wales with fairly extensive sun, some sea fog beginning to affect northeastern hill groups later weekend. Easterly wind will persist next week, sometimes quite strong England and Wales. Mostly sunny and quite hot, including Scottish Highlands. Low pressure south of the country may push showers into Wales, though confidence is low. Otherwise, this hot and dry pattern is likely to persist until late next week, at least.