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.)
Saturday'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.
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.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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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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.
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.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 7th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Mar 26 at
4:32PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Another dry and mostly sunny day across the Scottish mountains, but patchy cloud capping some western tops at times; strong southerly wind for northwest Highlands, gale force gusts Skye. England and Wales: Sunny for Lakes and N Pennines, but low cloud much of Wales, and capping Peak District, a little light rain.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Dry with sunshine, but strong southerly wind west coast. Hills cloud free.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 40mph, strongest across Skye and western coastal hills, with gusts of 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Gusty and very blustery south-westerly winds will impede walking with arduous conditions for the west coast and Skye.
How Wet?
Dry
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any
Rare fragments or patches around some south-facing slopes for a time, mainly near Skye. Otherwise the mountains clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Greater than 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, but some high cloud, and later becoming overcast west coast and Skye. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, but some lower slopes colder in the morning.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some glens and sheltered higher areas after dawn, but lifting above freezing to the tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 8th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Mar 26 at
4:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20 to 30mph, perhaps up to 40mph at times; mainly western coastal hills and Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and rather gusty at times across higher terrain. May well be fairly arduous at times towards the west coast.
How Wet?
Risk a little rain on Skye
Very likely dry, but risk of a little patchy rain at times on Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly covering southern hills and Skye.
Cloud banks covering higher terrain in fog across Skye, and across southern parts of the mainland. Northern areas seeing little more than occasional caps on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% south, 80% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, may be extensive northern areas. Little if any in the south, and Skye. Marked haze likely. Best visibility northern mountains.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C, highest northern areas.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but some frost for inland glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 9th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Mar 26 at
4:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Patchy rain moving east, snow for tops.
A front by lie near the west coast at first, and drift inland through the day, bringing patches of rain, which may be persistent for a time, with snow increasingly tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive south and west.
Extensive low cloud on the hills across southern and western areas, especially Skye. Little, bar patches on some tops, toward Ben Wyvis and Ben Hope.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south and west, 70% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun mainly to the north. Otherwise, cloudy. Visibility sometimes poor due to patchy precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, later 1 or 2C.
Freezing Level
Above summits at first, but lowering to 1000-1200m in afternoon.
Planning Outlook
More cloud by Sunday as weak fronts encroach in from the west, some drizzly rain moving into mainly western parts, hazy elsewhere; dense across southern areas. Patchy rain likely in the west at least early in the new week, likely dropping back just below freezing on the Munros for a time with some snowfall on higher areas. Winds fairly light early week, then a risk of strengthening southwesterly later in the week; changeable weather conditions with spells of rain coming in from the Atlantic. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only very patchy snow remains around highest tops in England and Wales.