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.)
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Tuesday 21st July 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Breezy over northern Scottish mountains, tending to strengthen; fairly light wind elsewhere. Most places dry with some patchy cloud on tops largely clearing. Feeling warm in the sun. Northwest Highland coasts hold low cloud and some drizzle much of day. Chance of a late shower over the Pennines.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Breezy, strongest in north. Patchy drizzle, lowest cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly 15 to 30mph, strongest northern mountains, most sustained Ben Hope. Tending to widely strengthen to 30mph, or up to 40mph far north evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery all day north, fairly small for a time Skye-Kintail, becoming more strenuous walking later, frequent buffeting northern tops, considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly showers
Frequently damp over west coastal areas, drizzle in the air, at times more noticeable light showery rain. Drier further inland around Kintail and east to Ben Wyvis.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Covering west coastal areas above 600-700m much of the day, inland around 800m upward; some local higher breaks forming mostly toward Great Glen to 900-1000m at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 40% near Great Glen.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, reduced visibility in light rain, but good below cloud inland, some brighter glimpses in east and near Great Glen.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, slight rise to 8 or 9C afternoon. Feeling like 0 to -3C directly in the stronger winds, coldest in north.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 20 to 25mph, occasional 30mph over higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling breezy and rather chilly on high terrain, may start to affect balance on exposed ridges.
How Wet?
Light rain and drizzle
Some steady rain and drizzle over a few hours in the morning west and northern hills, tending to become patchier, though western hills stay often damp.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Covering hills fairly widely above 600 to 800m, lowest nearer coasts in west and north in morning. Tending to lift a little, some breaks forming, best near Kintail.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% most N/W hills, 20% south inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sun mainly toward eastern glens. Visibility very good below cloud, but reduced where damp.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, small change far north and coasts, rising up to 10C around Kintail. Feeling like 0C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 23rd July 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over northern mountains, some gusts over 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling breezy over the hills, quite cool on higher tops, some buffeting gusts around exposed summits and ridges.
How Wet?
Damp much of day west
Drizzle frequent over west coastal hills, patchy drizzle drifting inland. Some steadier light rain developing in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, base rising, persistent west
Shrouding hills from many lower elevations upward early in the day. Bases tending to gradually lift to 800-900m, higher breaks inland and east, but many west coast tops remain covered, may lower again later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, rising to 40% inland/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, misty poor visibility lower elevations up in the morning, improving to become good below cloud where dry. Glimpses of sun mainly in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, little change all day in west, may rise a degree or so toward Ben Wyvis. Feeling near/below 0C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Largely dry weather continues this week as high pressure stays nearby. Very dry ground and high fire risk, beware of some ongoing fire management with locally restricted access to hills. A prevailing northwesterly wind brings further low cloud and some drizzle onto northwestern Scottish mountains - more widely across the western Highlands later in the week as the flow turns more westerly, with occasional steadier light rain. Patchy cloud over tops elsewhere, best sunshine and warmth in east and south-facing areas. Westerly winds strengthen everywhere into the weekend, bringing some rain and showers to all regions. A changeable and cooler outlook is expected into the last week of July.