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.)
Monday'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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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
Monday 19th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine but chilly day for the Highlands with sunshine, but cloud will roll in from the southeast to increasingly cover hills in southern areas in the afternoon. Cloudier all day for northern England with a little rain, strong and gusty easterly winds. Early rain in Wales clears, low cloud tending to break with time.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Sunshine and clear hills most of day. Gusty in places.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 15 to 25mph, locally variable and some gusty spots around higher tops and passes, locally downslope in morning. Speeds tending to rise later, 30mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling chilly and later may affect comfortable walking in exposure.
How Wet?
Dry all day
Cloud on the hills?
Very little
Rare fragments of cloud around some slopes at times, plus early patchy mist on lower terrain possible, otherwise the mountains clear. Into evening, cloud banks drift in more from the southeast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and some thin high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, slight rise during day; small variation with height over the mountains. Feeling like 0 to -5C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost widely inland glens and some sheltered higher areas early morning; otherwise above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 25 to 35mph, varying during day, at times gusty 40mph in places, not just the highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking, on some terrain more strenuous with gusts affecting balance. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain locally, wetter later
Substantially dry perhaps well into afternoon coastal hills Torridon to Ullapool area, but local pockets of drizzly rain drift in from the south, becoming more persistent Skye, later may envelop more areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, locally better west
Banks of cloud on many hills above 700-800m, local lower patches on south-facing slopes. Some marked variation may occur near coast north from Torridon area, possible good breaks on north slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, local glimpses of weak sun toward the north. Visibility very good if dry, but reduced to be poor around drizzle and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, little change all day, locally slightly warmer spots toward northwest. Feeling like -2 to -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Likely to vary, south-southeasterly 20-30mph at first, then a lull, may switch westerly 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for periods, but feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, may be more blustery at times.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, some drier areas
Rain initially mostly northern areas, possibly dry for a few hours Skye and Wester Ross, but with time a rising risk of rain moving in from the south, turning to snow on the Munros into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, local breaks west
Covering many higher mountains, varied bases, lowest around rain to 600-700m, possibly lower east in morning. Breaks higher up around Torridon if dry.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brighter moments west, rare sun through high cloud. Visibility good if dry, but reduced in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C tending to drop to 2C later. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but into evening and night dropping toward freezing on highest tops above 1000m.
Planning Outlook
A complex weather setup into midweek with slow-moving fronts bringing areas of rain and fairly extensive low cloud over the hills, varied wind speeds. Thursday may offer a window of drier weather and light winds, but by Thursday night into Friday a storm system likely moves across England & Wales with heavy rain and gales, possibly turning to snow on higher mountains. Scotland may avoid this system and just see showers mostly in the west for Friday, wintry on tops. Another Atlantic storm is then forecast to track further north over the weekend bringing widespread severe gales to high terrain, heavy rain then showery westerlies. Generally unsettled weather likely prevails to the end of October.