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.)
Friday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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
Friday 24th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 23rd Apr 26 at
3:19PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Some valley fog/mist at dawn, notably east, local frosts as well. Soon after sunrise, cloud dissipates for widespread strong sunshine and warming temperatures, many valleys approaching 20C, including Scottish Highlands; high UV levels, beware sunburn risk. Negligible wind, though a blustery start in south Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Mild-to-warm sunshine; chilly glens at dawn, patchy mist
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally westerly but variable, 10mph or less, though at times breezes around Ben Hope reaching up to 15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud not expected, local fog
Patchy light mist in sheltered glens at dawn soon dissipates for cloud-free hills. Possibly a layer of fog over the sea off the west coast may lap onto some lower northern hills; tops clear above this.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Practically certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some thin high-cloud around. Excellent visibility
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 9 or 10C, mildest in the south where may locally reach 11C. Glens start much cooler, then approach 18C afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. At dawn, slight frost in some inland glens and possibly sheltered corries.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 25th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 23rd Apr 26 at
3:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable mostly 10mph or less. A southwesterly trend into night, up to 15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud forming over north/east tops
Some low-level mist mainly eastern glens and toward North Sea in the morning. Cloud forming across higher slopes from the north with time, most extensive Caithness. Western mountains toward Skye also Great Glen likely remain clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, lowering to 50% north and east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely sunny, but clouding over in northern areas. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C south, nearer 5C in the north, and likely cooling several degrees in Caithness/Sutherland, locally 1C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Patchy frost at dawn inland glens and sheltered higher areas.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 26th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 23rd Apr 26 at
3:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 15-20mph, some variability and gustiness, stronger speeds along the coast at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though blustery and gusty over coastal terrain and high tops at times.
How Wet?
Rare spots of rain
A few spots of rain here and there, greatest chance coastal slopes, but many Munros stay dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud increasingly covering high terrain
Patchy fog in sheltered inland glens at dawn, this soon dissipating after sunrise. A layer of cloud soon arrives onto the high Cuillin, gradually approaching coastal Munros, mostly above 800-900m, and later drifting further inland. Ben Wyvis/east Ullapool clearest well into the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90% at dawn, lowering to 40% from west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, generally weakened by high cloud, sometimes cloudier. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C; notable local variability, mildest east.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A generally dry spell of weather continues into the weekend and next week, with mostly light winds and pleasantly warm temperatures, reaching 10C+ on many tops. Valleys and some sheltered higher areas will see some frosty and misty dawns but by the afternoons many valleys will warm up toward 20C. Briefly cooler air drifts back into northeastern areas later on Saturday, with a risk of some patchy nuisance rain here and there Sunday into Monday. Strong April sunshine widely across the mountains, beware risk of sunburn. Some uncertainty about the location of the centre of high pressure, with a risk of strong, gusty winds across England and Wales next week.