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.)
Wednesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Wednesday 24th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 23rd Jun 26 at
4:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive hot sunshine and unusually humid - beware sunburn and dehydration. England and Wales as well as east Scotland see early low patchy fog clearing; highest tops of east Scotland may be at or above the cloud layer at dawn. Some cloud clings to Scotland's west coast, breezy over far northern tops.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Sun breaks out inland, becoming warm here; breezy far north
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10-20mph, always strongest in the north, sustained speeds sometimes approaching 25mph over Ben Hope with notable gusts approaching 35mph here.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but breezy in exposure to the north. Gusts over the high northernmost tops affect stability.
How Wet?
Isolated coastal drizzle
A few patches of fine drizzle near southwest facing coastal slopes in morning before more or less all dying out. A rare sprinkle may just graze westernmost hills late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Most inland hills clearing, less clear west coast
Fairly extensive above 500-600m at dawn, patchy lower banks, and more extensively lower west coast, particularly Skye. Bases rise through morning to largely just occasional caps over inland tops by noon. Cloud more persistently clings to west coast slopes above 700-800m, always lowest Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 80% inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Increasingly sunny as cloud thins and breaks although perhaps only patchy sunshine coastal hills until later in day. Mostly excellent visibility but fog clearing only slowly from some coastal slopes.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C coastal summits most of day; elsewhere rising to around 12 or 13C, easternmost hills may rise a degree higher.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 25th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 23rd Jun 26 at
4:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly between 10 and 20mph; perhaps particularly gusty at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Generally small, although there may be sudden buffeting at times both on higher areas and some lower slopes.
How Wet?
Rain with a risk of thunderstorms
An area of rain affects many Munros through much of the day, some local drier areas, but also risk scattered thunderstorms giving locally torrential rain, primarily southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, more extensive in and after rain
Varied ragged patches early, more extensive along west coast. As rain spreads fog may be persistent above 500-700m (chiefly near the coast far north). In thunderstorms, fog extensive some hills, in places from lower slopes up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun through high level cloud. Mostly excellent visibility out of fog and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
13 to 15C south, but possibly only 11C coastal hills far north; little change with added height.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 26th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 23rd Jun 26 at
4:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly trending southeasterly, 10-20mph, notably variable. Gusty around showers, also downslope, later to 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
May often be fairly small, but notable buffeting gusts, and beginning to deteriorate later in the day.
How Wet?
Thundery showers, risk prolonged later
Patchy showery rain, heavy bursts with risk of thunderstorms too. Through afternoon, rising risk of showers clustering together into prolonged thundery downpours.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Mountains likely shrouded above 600-700m most of the day, some local higher breaks here and there, but bases also lowering to lower slopes around heaviest rain, and likely extensive to lower slopes in the early hours as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare glimpses of weak sun. Variable visibility, often poor due to cloud and rain, locally better.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12 or 13C may start slightly cooler north. West coast hills/Skye rise to 15C afternoon. Humid.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Exceptionally warm and humid most mountain areas until later Friday; valley temperatures approaching the low-to-middle 30s in England and Wales, with hill temperatures approaching the high 20s at least. Scotland will be slightly cooler, though temperatures will still reach the low 20s on many slopes. Scattered thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, with a risk of extended torrential thunderstorms on Friday afternoon in northern areas. Over the weekend, progressively less warm as fronts begin to come in off the Atlantic, bringing a strengthening wind and bands of rain and low cloud, particularly affecting western mountains. Into the following week, Atlantic westerlies will dominate, with an indication of high pressure to the south producing dry and bright windows.