West Highlands
Western Highlands accessible from, and south of, Glenfinnan (Road to the Isles) and Glen Spean (includes Creag Meagaidh). This area includes Ben Nevis and the mountains around Glencoe. In the east, from Ben Alder south to Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP. Also Arran and Mull.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 18th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 17th Jun 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and low cloud affects many mountains, most persistent in the west, patchier and lighter for the Highlands by afternoon. A band of heavier rain for northern England and southwest Scotland, risk some thundery bursts. Blustery southwesterly winds. Feeling humid particularly for England and Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Breezy. Rain and showery bursts, low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 25 to 30mph, occasional stronger gusts 35-40mph high tops. Then strengthening overnight from south, rising to gales 40-50mph near Arran before dawn on Friday.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking over higher exposed tops and ridges, some buffeting at times. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Rain frequent or persistent, wetter morning
Generally damp all day, rain setting in steadier at times southern areas and coasts, but pulses of rain extend across the region, some heavier bursts mixed in. Tending to ease during afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains throughout the day, to mid-slopes near coasts, lower at times in rain. Higher cloud base north from Rannoch Moor, some breaks above 800m mainly during afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely cloudy, brief brighter moments northeast Lochaber. Poor visibility widely in rain; misty around many hills, especially coasts, better visibility below cloud well inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, little change all day, locally rising to 9 or 10C out of cloud inland Lochaber. Feeling near 0C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 17th Jun 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising from before dawn to 40-50mph, gusts 60-70mph high tops; tending to lessen afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking, sudden buffeting on downslopes to north, gusts may knock you over on tops. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain for several hours
Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, some more prolonged heavy or torrential falls possible. Chance of thunder. Breaking up in afternoon, later scattered lighter showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, some very low cloud
Very low cloud likely to lower slopes near coasts, islands and sea lochs. Covering many higher slopes inland, varied, but widely low ragged patches in rain. Brief breaks higher up. May improve late in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Misty coasts; widely hazy, murky around rain, may then improve to be very good later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 10 to 13C, then later in the day, dropping rapidly to 6C. Feeling below freezing in wind all day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 20th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 17th Jun 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 30mph, some gusts 40mph high tops in Ben Nevis range, more likely later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over higher terrain, affecting comfortable walking in exposure, likely increasingly. Marked wind chill on tops.
How Wet?
Showers easing
Showery rain most frequent over western mountains early morning, but extending inland, brief bursts of rain, tending to clear away eastwards to leave fewer lighter showers in afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest and most extensive in morning
Covering the hills fairly widely in morning, to lower slopes toward coasts and lochs. Bases rising, tending to thin and break, but patches still cover slopes at varied heights above 800m. Clearing higher in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Misty and largely cloudy start, improving with some sun breaking through and visibility becoming very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little change all day toward coast, up to 7C inland areas afternoon. Feeling near -5C in the wind high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Humid southwesterly winds, gales across many mountains on Friday, plus heavy rain, thundery bursts mixed in. Less windy, but still breezy into Saturday in Scotland, feeling less humid for most, but western Scottish hills at least stay cloud capped and with showery rain. Sunday is a drier day with clearer hills, light winds and feeling warmer. Into next week, a mixed west-southwesterly pattern for Scotland, rain and low cloud most common in the west, drier with higher cloud eastwards and more often dry. Warm and humid for England & Wales - often dry, but possible thunderstorms forming at times - detail more uncertain.