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.)
Monday'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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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
Monday 21st September 2026
Last updated
Sun 20th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Warm and humid air across the country brings low cloud shrouding hills extensively, foggy to some lower elevations in the west. Some rain moves east across Scotland then generally damp air with fairly persistent drizzle over western hills. Strongest winds toward northern Scotland, gusty not just on highest tops.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gusty wind, gale-force in places; rain, drizzle, very low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Mostly southwesterly, 35 to 45mph, very gusty in places, locally risk over 50mph mainly northern mountains, the strongest gusts not confined to highest summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, affecting ease of walking and knocking you off balance, sudden buffeting gusts in some passes and downslope.
How Wet?
Rain then drizzle
Steady rain widely for a time early in the day, easing and becoming patchier light rain, but staying generally drizzly over western hills all day; drier windows on eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, very low west
Blanket cloud across the hills, foggy from lower elevations upward near the west coast likely all day. Some breaks may emerge at varied levels further inland and east, but rarely clearing any summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil west, 10% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun unlikely, misty poor visibility widely, hazy even below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, small change with added height and little change into night; quite humid, but still feeling near 0C if directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Last updated
Sun 20th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40mph gusts 50mph around dawn, but soon likely to drop substantially to 20mph, or less in afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Soon fairly small, but for a few hours around sunrise more challenging conditions over high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain mostly morning
Constant steady rain with heavier moments for a few hours likely in morning. Smaller patchier amounts northeast. Becoming drier into afternoon with occasional drizzly showers west.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive low cloud, then rising
Shrouding hills from lower elevations upward around Skye and nearby west coast, fairly extensive most western hills above 600m. Higher bases northeast, breaks to 800m or higher. Tending to lift and break into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy, murky poor visibility in rain in west, then improving to occasional sun and very good visibility with time.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C and quite humid early morning, lowering during day to 6C afternoon. Feeling near/below 0C in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Last updated
Sun 20th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 15-25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Locally blustery over the tops but otherwise fairly small.
How Wet?
Showers, tending to fade
Showers drift onto the hills from the west in the morning. May be frequent with some heavy bursts for a time, but will tend to fade through afternoon, few if any remaining into evening.
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, breaking up more later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, later 80%
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.
Planning Outlook
Rain affects western Scotland on Tuesday, patchier rain extending eastward. Then into Wednesday, a heavier swathe of rain moves east, more likely over England & Wales, clearing from the west leaving a few showers. South-southwesterly winds increase again on Thursday and rain may move into western Scotland, but elsewhere is likely dry. A variable outlook continues into next weekend and just beyond with high pressure building from the south at times with fairly warm and dry conditions, but some Atlantic systems still pass to the north bringing occasional rain and showers toward western Scotland at least. A trend toward drier conditions more widely around the change of month.