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.
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 21st February 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds strengthening during the day, becoming upland gales more widely later. Milder overall, soon rising above freezing to the highest summits in Scotland. Rain, drizzle and low cloud extensive, developing into more prolonged heavy rain from the west in the afternoon.
Headline for West Highlands
Increasingly windy, gales develop. Rain becoming heavy.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, briefly 25mph or less inland Lochaber from dawn, but soon likely widely 30-35mph, at times 40mph higher mountains, tending to strengthen afternoon, reaching 45-50mph up to dusk and onward into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
A relative lull at first, mainly inland Lochaber, but soon increasingly blustery over the mountains affecting comfortable walking. Conditions become more arduous with time, more difficult toward dusk.
How Wet?
Rain most of day, heavier afternoon
Rain affects most places throughout the day, but for a few hours on and off, starting as sleet on high tops, locally fading occasionally inland Lochaber. Rain setting in widely heavier afternoon, fading later evening, then showery into night. Increasingly wet underfoot, particularly where snow melts on upper-mid slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanketing the mountains all day, from lower elevations upward toward the coasts and islands. Bases rarely above 600m most areas even inland, locally 800m toward Loch Laggan.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Visibility generally poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C at first, soon rising to 4C. Where exposed to stronger winds on tops, feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
1200m from dawn Lochaber, soon rising above all summits. Dropping to 1100-1200m into night. Snow cover will remain on higher mountains, but a period of thaw.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 22nd February 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45 to 55mph, frequent squally gusts in showers, over 60mph on higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, frequent buffeting making walking arduous in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain, hail, snow high tops
Generally showery, but merging into near-constant precipitation, particularly west Lochaber, heavy bursts with hail, snow falling above 900-1000m. Risk of isolated thunder, mainly toward coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering the mountains much of the time above 800 to 1000m, but cloud bases will vary in and out of showers. Occasionally forming to 600m near coast. Some breaks higher up well inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief glimpses of sun. Visibility occasionally very good, but often reduced by showers, at times poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, lowest inland Lochaber.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 23rd February 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest turning westerly, 50 to 60mph with stronger gusts from dawn, easing slowly during day, to 30-40mph by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Any mobility challenging on high terrain at least in the morning, an improvement may be only by evening. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Early showers fade, rain later
Frequent showery precipitation overnight and for an hour or so after dawn, heavy with hail, snow above 1000m. Fading into morning to lighter showers. Later in day, rain develops from southwest, widely heavy into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops, some breaks form
Cloud base varying early in day, often covering higher slopes, patches to 700m westernmost areas. Tending to lift and break toward upper slopes, but may often cap highest tops. Lowering into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through, but high cloud then thickens quickly afternoon. Some early haze, but visibility improving during day, may become very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, then rising slightly into night. Feeling like -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1100 to 1200m marginal rise during day, then lifting above the summits into night.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail during the week ahead as areas of low pressure move toward northwest Scotland whilst ridges of higher pressure occasionally nudge across southern Britain. Sustained gales over the mountains, only brief lulls. Temperatures will fluctuate above and below freezing on higher Scottish mountains, with periods of thaw and refreezing. England and Wales generally above freezing to tops with a substantial thaw of most upland snow. Frequent rainfall, often heavy over western mountains, at times showery with hail, some snow on Scottish Munros. The final days of February favour colder northwesterly air and a drop of freezing level.