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.)
Wednesday'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.
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.
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.
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
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dull and damp for northern Scotland much of the day, low cloud blanketing the hills, fresh northwesterly winds, feeling cool. Drier and better cloud breaks southward across the Highlands. Some cloud on hills in northern England and Wales tending to lift and break, some warm sunshine.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Breezy and cool; rain, drizzle and extensive low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25mph, in places 30mph over higher tops, more sustained over northern mountains, particularly Ben Hope where gusts 35-40mph occasionally.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling blustery on high terrain, starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on exposed ridges. Considerable wind chill on the higher mountains.
How Wet?
Light rain and drizzle
Steady rain and drizzle much of the morning west and northern hills, tending to become patchier, though western hills stay often damp with near-constant drizzle. Slippery rock surfaces.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest coasts
Covering hills widely above 600 to 800m, or to some lower slopes nearer coasts in west and north in morning. Tending to lift a little, but shrouding most mountains all day. Some local breaks forming inland afternoon near Kintail.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10% most N/W hills, 20% toward Great Glen afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy and dull, misty, glimpses of sun mainly toward eastern glens. Visibility poor due to rain and drizzle, some improvement inland afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C, small change far north and coasts, rising up to 10C around Kintail. Feeling like 0C directly in the wind, often nearer -3C high northern tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 23rd July 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over northern mountains, strengthening toward 40mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling breezy over the hills, quite cool on higher tops, increasing 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 late afternoon into evening.
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, lowering again evening.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 24th July 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 30 to 40mph, at times to 50mph, strongest speeds likely most sustained around Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting over high terrain, making walking strenuous, affecting balance on ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, heavier later
Drizzle over many mountains much of the day, some steadier light rain in western areas. Some drier moments toward east. Later in day, increasingly persistent heavier rain likely develops widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west
Shrouding west coastal mountains above 500-600m most or all day, bases nearer 700m inland, some breaks occurring on easternmost hills near Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy and dull, misty over western hills. Better visibility well inland and toward east below cloud and where dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C slight rise to 9C; little change with added height on Munros. Feeling nearer -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds strengthen widely later this week, reaching gale-force over Scottish tops on Friday; low cloud across western Scotland, drizzle and steadier light rain, turning heavier later Friday. A swathe of persistent rain and strong winds moving southwards across Britain into Saturday, leaving a legacy of showers for Scotland, winds tending to lessen. Further areas of showers into Sunday. A changeable westerly pattern into next week and likely into early August, bringing spells of rain and showers; varying wind speeds, strengthening at times to gales on high tops. Often cooler for Scotland, a mix of cooler and warmer days for England & Wales.