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.
Wednesday'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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Wednesday 30th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 29th Sep 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy rain sweeps northeast across England and Scotland through morning: persistent falls, locally torrential with risk thunder, particularly west Scotland early hours. Rain soon clears Wales, more widely by midday, bright skies follow, trending cooler and showers developing. Widely windy, gales in Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Early severe gales and heavy rain, afternoon sun and showers
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 45 to 60mph to start, or stronger over Ben Nevis, gusting 70-75mph over high tops. Shifting southerly and lessening, mostly 45-55mph, strongest west, particularly southern islands.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance, mobility at times difficult, particularly early in the day. Significant wind chill despite mild temperatures.
How Wet?
Early heavy rain, afternoon showers
A band of heavy rain moves northeastward across the region from overnight and into morning, local torrential falls with risk an odd flash of lightning. Rain will rapidly break up, followed by a dry window, then showers drifting from the southwest afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud breaks to and above tops, later returning in showers
Extensive cloud over the hills in early rain, then lifting rapidly and clearing toward upper slopes, well-broken for a time off high tops. Banks will return at times, increasingly frequent with lower bases as showers return later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60% for a time
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sun breaking through. Poor visibility in rain, then improving, but may be quite hazy near coasts, particularly southern islands.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 12C from dawn, locally warmer inland. Will vary but generally dropping through the day to finish near a fresher 8 or 9C. Feeling near/below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 1st October 2026
Last updated
Tue 29th Sep 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-35mph, strongest west Loch Linnhe. Will vary, perhaps to below 20mph Ben Lomond/Rannoch Moor.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places, but blustery over the tops of Lochaber, some buffeting in gusts and notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers
Showers push onto mountains west of Loch Linnhe most of the day, some extended falls towards the coast. Well-scattered elsewhere, but afternoon brings an increased risk of showery outbreaks more widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking towards most tops, sometimes above
Most tops start shrouded, broader banks above 800-900m south and west near coasts, lower patches in shelter. Bases lift and break up somewhat, many inland summits seeing breaks. High tops Mull and north see fewer breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, extended sunny windows breaking out, high cloud building later. Very good visibility, a haze offshore of Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C. Feeling below 0C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 2nd October 2026
Last updated
Tue 29th Sep 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph, sometimes quite gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure all day with a chilly feeling, some more strenuous moments in buffeting gusts and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day
Showery rain much of the day, several periods of persistent heavy falls, highest rainfall totals near and north of Mull. An easing tendency as evening approaches, a little drizzle lingers on high west tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, local variability
Terrain above 700-900m likely in cloud all day, best of any breaks Rannoch Moor towards Creag Meagaidh during lulls in rain. Otherwise, cloud bases to 600m, usually lower towards west coast, ragged patches into glens/forest canopies.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few odd brighter glimpses, more often overcast, dull towards the coast. Mostly poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, coolest coastal hills north of Jura. Feeling like 0 to -3C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Fresher, blustery south-southwesterlies from overnight Wednesday persist on Thursday: showery in the west early but trending drier and brighter widely. A new frontal system approaches late Thursday and overnight, then Friday will be a wetter day again; rain quite frequent with extensive cloud for many and quite blustery. On Saturday, higher pressure begins expanding from the south, increasingly settling the weather in England and Wales; temperatures generally mild, some cool nights when skies are clear, also sometimes feeling humid. The following week remains mixed, some settled windows in England and Wales with bright breaks east, but more often windy, particularly Scotland with periods of rain, the wind and rain expanding more widely at times.