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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 21st August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early showers in north Scotland, then a dry afternoon, though cloud lingers on northern tops. Largely dry start for south Scotland and England, mostly clear hills, then afternoon showers forming, particularly over the Pennines. Showers on and off in Wales, some heavy bursts. Cool-to-mild and little wind.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Early showers fade but hill cloud lingers, mostly north and west
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15-20mph, gradually shifting northwesterly and speeds tending to ease slightly in the west. Some stronger breezes over Caithness hills.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Morning showers, substantially dry afternoon
Showers drift from the north, most frequent with a few heavy bursts in the early hours, but quickly becoming well scattered and likely dry afternoon, only rare light spotty rain on north and west coastal hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive to the north and west
Bases near 500-700m fairly widely in the morning, to lower slopes on windward coastal aspects. A lifting trend with time, breaks forming inland, to just banks over tops Easter Ross and Ben Wyvis. North and western coastal high terrain remains shrouded above 600m, some higher bases Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few sunny glimpses inland southern areas as the day goes. Visibility largely poor on summits, often dull to the northwest; becoming very good where cloud lifts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, rising a degree Skye and nearby hills to the east.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph, notably stronger speeds over high terrain and gusty too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places; strongest wind over tops affecting ease of walking with a distinct chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Drizzle, a few light spots
Fine drizzle on high terrain much of the day, particularly along the coast. Some showery rain will likely affect most hills for a period, eastern hills seeing the lowest rainfall totals.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
The summits shrouded from dawn, lowest bases west, with lower ragged patches into sheltered glens. Soon lowering to 600m along the coast and more widely lowering with time, patches forming to coastal cliffs later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few sunny glimpses east, but largely overcast and increasingly dull with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 23rd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20-30mph, strongest north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though breezes affect comfort of walking on high terrain in the north with a chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Drizzly west, fading
From dawn, drizzly on west coastal slopes, reaching quite low at first, but gradually isolating to higher areas and mostly fading with time. Eastern Munros largely dry all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Coastal slopes shrouded from 600-700m upward most of the day, lower in the morning, locally to low slopes/glens. Starting extensive east as well, bases approaching 800-900m Ben Wyvis/Easter Ross.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun break out far east, but otherwise overcast, dull near the coast with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, locally rising a degree east. Feeling near or below freezing in strongest wind to the north.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
The weekend is often cloudy in north and west Scotland, some drizzle on the summits with occasional light rain, amounting to little. Drier south and east Scotland, but cloud will reach here too, particularly on Sunday. England and Wales will be largely dry and bright this weekend with little wind and mild temperatures. On Sunday, high pressure west of the country may facilitate local inversion conditions, but low cloud likely quick to fade. Next week begins dry and bright, but wind shifts southeasterly and pressure drops again as the week goes, bringing periods of cloud and rain (sometimes heavy) to most hill groups, some stronger wind at times. Similar conditions persist into the following weekend: generally unsettled but a chance of a settled window, best in the east.