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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 15th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 14th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fresh-to-strong westerly breeze across Scotland brings showery rain frequently to the northwest, cloud covering many western hills; fewer showers and higher cloud bases eastward. Moderate northwesterly breezes for England & Wales, cooler than recent days, early showers mostly fade with cloud lifting.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy and cool. Rain frequent in the west, cloud on hills.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-35mph, always strongest in north where gusts over tops to 45mph in the morning. Slightly lowering speeds during the afternoon, but still 20-30mph, slightly less by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting and wind chill over high terrain; easing tendency of effects afternoon onward. Feeling rather chilly in exposure on high terrain.
How Wet?
Often raining, widely showery
Showery rain drifts in from the west much of the day, some briefly heavier bursts mixed with frequent drizzle, particularly on western aspects. Some drier windows over eastern hills and near Great Glen, but expect rain on and off widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west
West coast hills shrouded from middle slopes up all day with varied lower bases towards the coast, rarely above 700-800m. Inland, generally higher, but will vary around rain, some breaks may approach 800m, locally better toward Ben Wyvis away from showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% west, 30% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, often dull in west, glimpses of sun eastern areas. Generally poor visibility, better in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C. Feeling near freezing all day directly in the wind, below freezing on high tops in the morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 16th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 14th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10-15mph, to 20mph in north at dawn, dropping less and becoming variable direction.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Rain, drizzle, some showery rain
A fine drizzle on the high tops and near western coasts and Skye much of the day, some showers drifting from the west from time to time, a few heavier bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Coastal hills shrouded most of the day, from 500m up in the morning, bases rising somewhat but unlikely breaking above 700-800m. Inland, bases may approach 900m during drier windows, but returning lower in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few odd glimpses of weak sun. Visibility largely poor on high terrain and towards west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, slight rise inland.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 17th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 14th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South then southwesterly, strengthening from 15-20mph or less early in day, to 30mph, later 40mph, soonest on Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, but increasingly affecting ease of walking, later risk more challenging over high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops, sets in heavy
Patchy light rain spills in from the west in the morning, becoming increasingly persistent and heavier with time, prolonged heavy falls setting in widely over western mountains afternoon. Then more showery evening-night.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive and low
Varied cloud banks at first, most persistent around Skye, here likely to shroud hills most or all day, filling in to lower elevations in steady rain. Cloud blanketing hills increasingly widely, bases 300-600m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Dropping widely below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
High cloud soon thickens to become overcast. Good visibility reducing to poor as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C. As wind increases, feeling nearer to freezing where exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly weather patterns prevail into the new week bringing generally unsettled and cooler conditions - single-figure temperatures typical on the Munros and high tops elsewhere. On Monday, extensive rain spreads across Scotland, heaviest in the west. Winds strengthen, risk reaching gale force on many hills later on Monday, staying blustery widely into midweek. Rain extends south over England and Wales by Monday night into early Tuesday. The rest of the week likely sees showery rain common for all areas as low pressure dominates toward the north, the rain most persistent in western Scotland, but odd heavier bursts passing eastward, with a chance of thunder, especially later in week.