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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Saturday 23rd May 2026
Last updated
Fri 22nd May 26 at
3:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: Gusty south-westerly will feed extensive low cloud and patchy drizzle into the west. Mostly dry for eastern hills where cloud will lift and break off the hills. England and Wales: Low cloud and local drizzle morning western hills, mainly coasts, but burning off to leave warm sunshine widely.
Headline for West Highlands
Blustery, low cloud and drizzle; focused Lochaber morning. Improving afternoon.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, often gusting 35mph over high terrain, sustained speeds approaching 35mph Lochaber coast later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Locally fairly small, though nuisance gusts over most high terrain. Walking strenuous north and west with time, feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Drizzly showers
Drizzly showers across Lochaber, may be fairly constant in the morning near and west of Loch Linnhe, but small amounts. Small chance of odd spots of light rain elsewhere, but most hills dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lifting to high terrain with breaks
Fairly extensive above 700m at dawn, lowest Mull to south islands, banks to 500m. Lifting with a breaking trend, to banks above 900-1000m afternoon, summit breaks likely inland. Some thin banks linger near 800m Mull and south islands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun (weakened by a thin layer of high cloud). Visibility increasingly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, mildest southern islands where may rise to 10C; only to 8C north of Mull. Feeling near freezing in direct wind later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 24th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 22nd May 26 at
3:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to south-westerly 25 to 35mph, in excess of 40mph for a time west coast, and some cols and summits elsewhere.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for widely blustery conditions, perhaps arduous at times, especially for the west coast, with considerable buffeting.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, little in the south
The humid south-westerly will continue to feed in drizzly rain in across hills, mainly near and west of Loch Linnhe. Very little if any south of Glencoe.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, clearer to the south
An extensive feed of low cloud will feed in to the hills, mainly near and north of Oban and Mull. Higher bases toward Loch Treig. Arran to Loch Lomond may be clearer.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, 60% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, but some sunny breaks, mainly in the south. Visibility poor in drizzly rain, but away from this, mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C, lowest west coast.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 25th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 22nd May 26 at
3:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-westerly 20 to 35mph, strongest across Lochaber in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and gusty, especially across northern hills in the morning with considerable buffeting.
How Wet?
Drizzly Lochaber, but fizzling out.
Drizzly conditions into Lochaber and perhaps north Argyll in the morning, but tending to fizzle out to leave all areas dry during the afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive morning, then breaking off hills
May be fairly extensive in the morning, focused on Lochaber, and capping tops elsewhere. By afternoon, mostly lifting to become confined to western tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% lifting to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, but thinning and breaking in places, especially in the central highlands. Visibility poor at times in drizzle, but away from drizzle, very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 10C, lowest toward west coast of Lochaber.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Pressure builds this weekend, centred over England and Wales where it will be warm and sunny. To the north of the high, a blustery and gusty south-westerly will persist across the Highlands with patchy rain and hill fog,mainly in the west and northwest. Very warm by Sunday and Monday valleys of Wales and England, mid to high 20s. Low 20s glens into southern and eastern Scotland. Next week, high pressure extends over Scotland, cutting of the low cloud and drizzle from northwest Scotland by midweek with warm sunny weather, cooler in the north and east coat. Still very warm into the valleys of England and Wales with extensive sunshine.