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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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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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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fairly quiet day with plenty of dry weather and some good cloud breaks toward the west and northwest of major hill groups. Some snow flurries and low cloud lingers over the Cairngorms to SE Highlands. Moderate S-SE wind, locally gusty.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Largely dry, cloud breaks west & north. Gusty in places.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, overnight gales easing through to dawn, soon 20-25mph most areas, locally less, but near Ben Hope risk gusty 35mph for longer into day. Some gusty spots over 30mph on Skye, tending to increase here later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Soon mostly fairly small effect on walking, but some local sudden gusty areas not necessarily on highest terrain may be noticeable, feeling chilly particularly in exposure on Cuillin.
How Wet?
Most or all day dry except far northeast
Rain locally around dawn, some snow on high tops mainly inland. Soon fading, leaving most of day dry. Locally in east north of Dornoch Firth, light rain and wet snow on highest tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little west coast, varied inland
Covering easternmost hills much of day to mid-slopes, though tending to lift around Ben Wyvis. More broken and higher cloud westwards, many coastal hills largely clear. Some patches drift onto south Cuillin occasionally.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% inland, to 70% west coastal hills.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly west coast, often weak through high cloud. Visibility very good west, more haze toward east coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C. Wind chill feeling like -7C in stronger speeds locally on tops.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, but just above freezing on many west coastal higher slopes. Patchy frost some glens from dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph, strongest around Skye, gusty in places downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, arduous on some exposed higher terrain, buffeting gusts locally lower down. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional snow mostly northeast
Snow flurries mostly over hills from Ben Hope to Easter Ross, sleet or rain on lower slopes toward coast. Rare light flurries or spots of rain elsewhere.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering eastern tops, breaks west
Fairly persistent cloud banks over eastern hills, bases mostly above 800m inland with breaks higher up Wester Ross and Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly near west coast around Torridon where visibility good. Hazier further east and north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C inland and east, up to +1C locally nearest to west coast and on Skye. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, or slightly lower toward Caithness. Higher toward west coast, just above freezing on some upper slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 30th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 40mph, very gusty in places downslope toward the north/northwest of higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance in exposure, local frequent buffeting not just on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Occasional light flurries, or spots of rain toward west coast, but amounting to very little, many northwest areas stay dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Local banks, clearer west & north
Patchy cloud around some higher slopes, most common inland and toward Great Glen. Often clearer much of west coast and near Ben Hope.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and some high cloud, very good visibility west and northern areas. Cloudier toward east and Great Glen.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
600m inland, north and east, to nearer 800m next to the west coast and on Skye, slight rise during daytime.
Planning Outlook
Slow-moving weather patterns and a broadly similar regime to recent times over the next week or so. Scottish mountains generally below freezing point, with snow cover and drifts most substantial from the Cairngorms to central and southern Highlands, some additional falls in the week ahead, much less northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, sub-zero for periods to 600m or lower, but intermittently lifting just above the tops - a mix of rain and upland snowfall. Wind speed will vary, some periods of lower speeds than recently, though gusty SE'ly winds remain common in the Highlands. Scope for widely colder conditions toward mid February.