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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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 2nd May 2026
Last updated
Fri 1st May 26 at
2:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very varied weather across the country: wettest in far northern and later eastern Scotland as cold and blustery weather penetrates southwards. Rain will later set in from south across Wales. Otherwise, areas of low cloud and pockets drizzle lifting to give patchy sunshine.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Much colder. Rain on and off; most summits foggy.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Morning: Direction varied; widely 10mph or less. Middle of day onwards: North to northeasterly 25 to 30mph, initial far north before through afternoon the stronger winds penetrate south across region.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly negligible morning, but from north marked wind chill and and fairly widely uncomfortable walking in gusty winds (including on some lower slopes).
How Wet?
Rain on and off, isolated heavy bursts
Rain intermittently or extensively, mostly fairly light, but particularly near Great Glen risk of heavy bursts. Will turn to sleet highest tops far north. Often dry with total rainfall small near Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive; forming some lower slopes, may well not clear all day.
Cloud may for periods form below 300m Sutherland and eastern summits elsewhere. Otherwise, fragments may well form upward from forest canopies, although most cloud above 600m, and perhaps some breaks to 900m (most widely toward Skye).
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little if any sunshine. The air very clear, but visibility widely poor due to rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Between 2C, perhaps 0C evening near north coast, 4 to 6C elsewhere.
Freezing Level
Above most summits, perhaps as low as 900m Ben Hope (far north) evening.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 3rd May 2026
Last updated
Fri 1st May 26 at
2:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varied, but mainly northerly; 15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly negligible.
How Wet?
Occasional showers/snow flurries
A few showers, not heavy, mostly or only north of about Ullapool. Expect small hail and snow flurries, by evening as low as 500m.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little if any
Fragments may shroud highest summits, particularly morning, but increasingly the cloud layer above the tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, possibly more widely close to the coast. Excellent or superb visibiity.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C far north; otherwise 2 to 4C, warmest near Great Glen.
Freezing Level
Above most or all summits, but 800 or 900m near Ben Hope. Frost some valleys at first.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 4th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 1st May 26 at
2:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20mph, perhaps 25mph for a few hours.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small
How Wet?
Occasional rain
Frequently dry; although scattered showers and a trough may bring an hour or so of constant rain. Total rainfall small.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive; particularly near the coast
Cloud base likely to vary, generally rising through the morning to 650 to 900m, lowest coastal hills. However, near rain, expect cloud to be extensive for a couple of hours above 400 to 600m, temporarily on lowest slopes near the coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine. Visibility generally good, most haze toward the coast. Temporarily poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C within a few miles of the coast, coldest far north. Inland, rising by mid afternoon to 3 to near Great Glen 6C.
Freezing Level
900m far north; otherwise above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Lower than normal temperatures on the mountains most or all next week, particularly across the Scottish highlands where fresh snow in some areas and freezing level sometimes below 750m. Generally though, although the weather mixed, total rainfall will be fairly small and winds often light (at least until toward the weekend). Cloud will frequently be above mountain summits.