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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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 23rd September 2026
Last updated
Tue 22nd Sep 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and strong winds soon clears east from Scotland, but lasts a few hours over northern England and Wales in the morning with some heavier bursts. A marked improvement follows as cloud lifts and breaks up. A few showers continue near west coasts of Scotland. Feeling rather chilly in a fresh breeze.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Showers, varied cloud and some sun, chilly wind.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest north, at times 30mph around Ben Hope; easing to 10-15mph later in day around Skye, more widely from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over the tops, feeling chilly, becoming smaller in afternoon toward Skye and nearby mainland.
How Wet?
Showers, brief bursts, then fading
Showers drift onto the hills from the west in the morning. Locally frequent with some brief heavy bursts with possible hail for a time, but tending to scatter, only isolated showers later.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going over tops
Cloud variably passes above 800-900m during showers, mostly western slopes, a few lower ragged patches during rain but the cloud breaking off the summits after showers pass. May more often cover west tops for a time but a lifting tendency.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun, most often sunny on lower slopes. Very good visibility, a little haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C. Feeling below 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 24th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 22nd Sep 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-40mph from dawn, strengthening to 50-60mph, soonest Skye, powerful downslope gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking soon challenging, notably west, gusts knocking you off your feet; feeling chilly despite mild temperature.
How Wet?
A little rain, later more widely
A little drizzle and patchy rain on Skye, sometimes spreading more widely, but most mainland Munros largely dry into the afternoon. Rain increasingly sets in Skye afternoon, then spreads widely later.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly clear morning, gradually increasing
A few patches graze the Cuillin through morning, but most hills stay clear. Through afternoon, banks more often covering the Cuillin, spreading more widely and filling in over high terrain with time, lowering towards 600-700m Cuillin later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of early sun, weakened by high cloud, trending cloudier. Very good visibility, a little coastal haze building, poorer later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, staying elevated into night. Feeling as cold as -5C in strongest wind later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 25th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 22nd Sep 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 55mph, may lessen a little toward Great Glen.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions and frequent buffeting on exposed terrain knocking you off balance; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Rain most frequent on coastal mountains, particularly near Skye; likely to come and go over many western hills, some heavier showers. More often dry further east.
Cloud on the hills?
Most frequent west
Varied cloud above 700 to 900m, most common Skye and coastal Wester Ross, likely anywhere in rain, but often higher with better breaks further north and east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% west to 60% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly inland and east. Fairly hazy west, reduced further in rain, visibility good toward east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little change all day. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Southwesterly winds increase again on Thursday and rain later moves into western Scotland, but elsewhere is likely dry, bright in Wales and much of England. A variable outlook continues into the weekend and beyond with high pressure building from the south at times with fairly warm and dry conditions, but Atlantic systems still pass to the north bringing occasional rain and showers toward western Scotland at least, strong wind here with sustained gales in the north. Next week remains on the unsettled side: west-southwesterly wind with bands of rain passing over most mountains, but a trend towards higher pressure brings longer settled windows into October.