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.)
Today'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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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 18th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Jul 26 at
3:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fog and patchy light rain north Scottish highlands early, breaking for a dry bright afternoon; smokey views east Scotland. Warm and dry with widespread high fire risk. Sun and fair weather cloud England and Wales, afternoon scattered showery bursts from Yorks Dales NP southward to Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Some early light rain and cloud, improving, clearest inland
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 10-20mph, oriented northwesterly at first, and sometimes gusting up to 25-30mph over highest summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but strongest gusts over tops beginning to affect walking and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Patchy morning rain, later dry
Drizzly in the morning on higher terrain near north and west coast, some patchy light rain drifting more widely for several early hours too. Driest well inland, and later more widely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly broken, soonest inland south
Fairly extensive at dawn, to at least middle slopes along north and west coasts, bases mostly above 600-700m well inland. Bases lifting with a breaking trend, mostly above 700-800m along coasts, and later more widely broken, northernmost tops may stay under cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70% coasts, 90% well-inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast at first, bright sunshine increasingly breaking out with very good visibility, soonest inland and south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 10C well inland, locally 11C Ben Wyvis/Kintail. Least change Ben Hope/Caithness. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 19th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Jul 26 at
3:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 10-15mph, strengthening towards 20-30mph, strongest north with gusts to 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small but wind increasingly inconvenient and later feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Most Munros dry
A few sprinkles drifting onto northwestern hills, a greater chance later in the day of light spots of rain along the coast and some drizzle on tops, but small totals and elsewhere entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Well broken, then filling in on high terrain
At dawn, mist patches at middle and lower slopes (tops above cloud), locally to glens and coastal cliffs. Cloud lifts, to mostly above 700-800m with breaks; little or no cloud inland. Through afternoon, cloud gradually fills in from the northwest above 800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, to 80% well inland; lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sunshine, increasingly cloudy through afternoon. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 7 to 9C; coolest west, mildest east. Feeling near freezing in stronger breeze.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 20th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Jul 26 at
3:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 10-20mph, strongest sustained wind north, more widely early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Little expected
Some fine drizzle on high terrain along the north and west coasts where in cloud, but otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, lifting
Fog shrouds the hills widely from middle slopes up, to lower slopes towards the west coast, locally to glen/coastal cliff level. Bases rising, to above 900m inland with summit breaks forming. Rare breaks above 800m along the west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, rising to 60% well-inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, increasing sunny breaks inland afternoon. Very good visibility out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, slight rise inland afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Ground conditions remain very dry with wildfire risk; some areas in north Wales, the Peak District, and Cairngorms NP are currently inaccessible due to fire hazards. Weather remains settled late weekend into next week as high pressure persists west of Ireland. A northerly flow will cool temperatures slightly, dawn temperatures in the middle single digits in Scotland; staying warm in England and Wales but hill temperatures unlikely reaching the 20s. Cloud and drizzle starts to affect northwest Scotland more often, occasionally drifting further south, chance of an area of rain slipping south through the country Tuesday to Wednesday, though totals likely small. An unsettling trend is indicated for the following weekend, bringing wind, some rain, and cooler temperatures.