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.)
Saturday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Saturday 10th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly gales across many mountains will make walking challenging and bring significant chill factor; air temperature close to freezing point on highest summits. Rain most persistent in western Scotland, snow falling on high tops. Frequent showery rain for northwest England, fewer showers south across Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, gales on tops lessen; often raining, snow high tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 40 to 50mph early in day, strongest around Skye, dropping to 30-40mph middle of day onward; very gusty, squally around showers. Gradually lowering further onward into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with considerable buffeting, balance nearly always challenged; moderating a little with time. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain, some heavy, snow tops
A near-constant stream of showers from the northwest, sleet/snow on high tops above 900m or occasionally 800m in morning; fairly persistent over several hours with heavy falls on western mountains, some hail possible. Chance isolated thunder. Breaking to be somewhat more showery and less heavy afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Often shrouding hills along the west coast, will vary above 500-700m, briefly higher, best chance of breaks approaching 800m or higher more often towards Ben Wyvis, but also lowering to at least middle slopes here in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun east, more often overcast. Poor visibility, sometimes very poor on high tops in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C in morning, 3C afternoon, but will vary and lower slightly in showers. Feeling like -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1100m in morning, lifting slightly higher afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 11th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-25mph around dawn, easing to 10-15mph during morning. Increasing southerly late in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Considerable wind chill at first becoming small. More noticeably breezy again toward evening, deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Early showers fade
A few scattered showers in the morning, of snow above 900m. Fading to be largely dry into afternoon. Rain pushes onto west coast into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most tops
Patchy cloud around higher slopes mostly above 800m by mid morning, lifting and dispersing more with time to leave most mountains free of cloud in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun; high cloud may start to build from west later. Visibility excellent away from early showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C much of day, then lifting slightly higher onward into evening-night. Feeling like -5 to -8C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some inland glens at dawn. Close to highest summits near 1100m in the morning, then above all tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 12th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, speed likely to vary considerably, risk 50mph at first, then a marked lull, later rising again 50mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Possibly a window where mostly small during daytime, but beware changing conditions, more difficult early and late.
How Wet?
Rain becomes patchy, locally drier
Rain and drizzle fairly widely from dawn, most persistent Skye and Torridon area, soon patchier elsewhere. A little rain may linger in the west, but some drier periods north. Late in day, rain may return heavier.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, local breaks north
Shrouding many hills all day, from low-mid elevations upward from Skye to Wester Ross, higher cloud bases northward. Some breaks forming to upper slopes in afternoon away from rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally overcast, murky west, some brighter moments develop toward north and perhaps more widely afternoon, visibility then good out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, tending to fall a little during daytime, then rise again into night. Feeling below freezing if in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
After a fine but cool day on Sunday, damp and mild southwesterly air moves back across the country into Monday. Southwesterly winds strengthen late Monday to widely gale-force over the hills, heavier rain likely into early Tuesday, followed by showers and a slight drop of temperature. Very unsettled west-southwesterlies continue into midweek - sustained mountain gales, possibly stormy at times and spells of heavy rain for all areas. A changeable westerly theme likely continues beyond mid-month - occasional windows of drier weather, but more often windy with rain or showers coming in from the Atlantic, sometimes cold enough to fall as snow on Scottish high tops.