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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
Saturday 27th June 2026
Last updated
Fri 26th Jun 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widely windy, afternoon gales across Scotland, possibly Lakeland and Snowdonia too. In Scotland, drizzle gives way to showery rain, setting in late in the day over western hills. Patchy rain England and Wales with dry windows and warm sunny moments, but a rising risk of showery bursts through afternoon, locally heavy.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Afternoon gales, powerful gusts; rising risk of rain
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly near 35-45mph, always strongest along west coast, strongest sustained wind over the Cuillin with gusts approaching 55mph, or higher for a few afternoon hours.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect strenuous walking conditions, more challenging along the west coast with buffeting gusts knocking you off balance; strongest wind on Skye prevent forward progress. Feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Bursts of rain, risk thunder
Several early hours may be largely dry except fine drizzle in hill cloud. Clusters of heavy showery rain forming as the day goes, these tracking northeastward, some risk of local thunder. Rain sets in more persistently on Skye through the afternoon, and spreads more widely as night falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, extensive around rain
Varied to fairly extensive cloud banks in the morning, to some lower slopes south and west. Tending to lift with some breaks forming, perhaps well-broken for a few afternoon hours north and east, but then filling in again around rain, ragged patches at varied heights from low levels up, extensive again west late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, rising to 50% inland for a few hours
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional glimpses of sun, several hours of more frequent sun breaks. Some mistiness in morning. Visibility good for periods where dry, but poor around rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12 or 13C, milder near/north of Ben Wyvis, where may locally reach 15C. Still rather humid. Feeling near 3 to 5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 28th June 2026
Last updated
Fri 26th Jun 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, strongest west coast, strengthening, sustained at least 40-45mph later with gusts to 55mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded west at dawn, later widely arduous with significant wind chill; balance a constant challenge.
How Wet?
Early rain, becoming driest north and east
Bands of rain pass northeastward from overnight into early morning, brief heavy falls. By late morning, just patchy showers, often dry north and east. Skye and nearby stay damp for longer, and a cluster of showers may form later.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, often clear afternoon
Most upper slopes shrouded through morning, more extensive to middle slopes in rain, or lower slopes Skye and nearby. Lifting and breaking inland, perhaps largely clear afternoon; Skye and nearby slopes often shrouded above 600-800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 70% inland afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy morning, breaking to a patchwork of cloud and sun by afternoon. Very good visibility, a haze offshore to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, mildest easternmost hills; Skye lowers a degree. Feeling as cold as -5C in later wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 29th June 2026
Last updated
Fri 26th Jun 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35-40mph at dawn, gusts over tops to 50mph+. Easing to finish near 15-25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions on the high tops early with significant wind chill and difficulty maintaining stability; easing with time.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mostly south
Rain fairly widespread just around dawn, heaviest south, breaking into patchy rain drifting from the southwest by later morning. Only odd patches further north and east, amounting to little.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, improving east
A shield of cloud shrouds west coast slopes from 300-400m up at dawn, nearer to 700m well-east. A lifting tendency, approaching 800-1000m east, some summit breaks possible. Cloud unlikely clears above 500-700m west coast, lowest south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, rising to 40% east summits
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun breaking out, sunniest on lower elevations to the east. Very good visibility, some west coast haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising up to 8C inland (a degree cooler west coast). Feeling like -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Cooler on Sunday as the weather pattern returns to an Atlantic influence. Bands of rain sweep eastward early Sunday, followed by fresher, sunnier weather with some patchy showers in the north and west. This westerly Atlantic pattern dominates next week: high pressure south and low pressure north will bring alternating periods of rain punctuated by bright sunshine. Wind generally on the strong side with mild to sometimes warm temperatures, though cooler and windier spells at times produce significant wind chill on Scottish tops. Day-to-day detail currently uncertain, but western hill groups from Lakeland northward will see the most cloud and patchy rain, while east and southern areas likely drier and sunnier. This pattern is indicated to continue into the following weekend.