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.)
Sunday'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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Sunday 18th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine but cool day with sunshine and mountains largely free of cloud, fragments on some slopes and early mist on low terrain. Cloud banks drift onto Skye more often. Light winds for much of Scotland, a fresher northeasterly breeze for England and Wales, which brings odd light showers.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly, moderate breeze. Dry with sun, patchy cloud mostly Skye.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-25mph, strongest Skye and quite gusty over high terrain, speed rising a little inland during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though strongest gusts particularly over the Cuillin will begin to impede walking in exposure; marked wind chill.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over high Cuillin, otherwise little if any
Patchy mist in sheltered glens from dawn will soon begin to lift and dissipate, most hills substantially clear much of the day. Skye will see a deck of cloud come and go above 700m, more extensive over the Cuillin at times and occasionally banks drift over nearby mainland summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% Cuillin, 80% elsewhere
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sun for most, some patchy cloud towards west coast. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, rising a degree, locally 5C northern areas; little change with added height. Feeling as cold as -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but frosts common at dawn on sheltered slopes/into glens, thawing in the morning.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 19th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 15 to 25mph, locally variable and some gusty spots. Speeds tending to rise later, 30mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling chilly and later may affect comfortable walking in exposure.
How Wet?
Very likely dry
Cloud on the hills?
Very little
Patchy cloud may drift around some slopes at times, plus early patchy mist on lower terrain possible. Later in day, cloud banks may drift in more from the east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and some thin high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, little change all day and small variation with height over the mountains. Feeling like 0 to -5C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost widely inland glens and some sheltered higher areas early morning; otherwise above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 25 to 35mph, may vary during day, at times gusty 40mph in places, not just the highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking, on some terrain more strenuous with gusts affecting balance. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain locally
Substantially dry, particularly coastal hills Torridon to Ullapool area, but local pockets of drizzly rain may drift in from the south.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, locally better west
Banks of cloud on many hills above 700-800m, local lower patches on south-facing slopes. Some marked variation may occur near coast north from Torridon area, possible good breaks on north slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, local glimpses of weak sun toward the north. Visibility very good if dry, but reduced to be poor around drizzle and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, little change all day, locally slightly warmer spots toward northwest. Feeling like -2 to -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
The new week starts with some rain and wind in Wales and south Pennines, staying drier for much of Scotland on Monday, but with strengthening southeasterly wind, cloud increasingly shrouding all hills and becoming widely damp onward into Tuesday, blanket low cloud shrouding hills to some lower elevations. A more unsettled pattern returns widely as the week goes on as winds return to Atlantic southwesterlies. A few windows of brighter weather in eastern areas, but periods of strong wind and heavy rain into late week and next weekend as a series of fronts and low pressure systems sweep in from the southwest, risk of gales becoming severe at times on higher mountain terrain.