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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 25th Aug 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
East Scotland, the Pennines, and Wales start cloudy, this lifting, dissipating over much of Scotland. Early showery rain and cloud in Wales migrates to England and southwest Scotland, thundery showers following over Wales and England; driest/clearest northwest Scotland. Warm, humid, and breezy.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Early cloud east mostly clears; breezy, particularly north
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 20 to 30mph, gusty in places particularly western mountains, approaching 35-40mph at the strongest. Speeds lessening somewhat near and south of Ullapool.
Effect of the wind on you?
Generally breezy, but some notable gusts may suddenly affect balance, including on some western downslopes.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
A little drizzle may affect eastern hills at times. Odd spots elsewhere if high cloud thickens, but most hill stay dry all day. Rising risk of patches of rain drifting from the south into nighttime.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud mostly east largely clears
Low cloud banks cling to some eastern hills, locally more extensive north of Ben Wyvis, some cloud slipping through the glens towards Ullapool, only odd patches elsewhere in the west. Cloud lifts, mostly dissipating, a few caps on highest north tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Starting 40% Easter Ross, rising to 60%, to 80% west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best toward northwest, high cloud tending to thicken from the south, Skye more often under high cloud. Visibility very good, becoming hazier towards the east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C rising to 13 or 14C afternoon, always warmest on westernmost hill groups. Feeling like 5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 27th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 25th Aug 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 20-35mph, gusty early, and easing with time, to perhaps 15mph and below.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting to start (gusts not just on high terrain), tending to ease to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Light patchy rain
Patchy rain drifts onto the Munros from the east from time to time, falls light in nature and plenty of dry windows, particularly western Munros. Chance of very isolated late afternoon showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Well-broken on western hills
Cloud drifts onto easternmost hills much of the day, fairly extensive at first, with low fog drifting westward through the glens; chance of local inversion conditions. Cloud rises above 700m, well-broken west where just a few banks rolling over summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% east, to 70% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Most sun towards the west coast, some early haze but improving for very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 to 13C; warmest west and locally rising to 14 or 15C (to 20C in some glens).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 28th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 25th Aug 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally northerly but variable, 10mph and often less, orienting northwesterly, slightly strengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Rain on-and-off
Bursts of rain affect east and north hill groups much of the day, drier windows at times; western hills south of Ullapool more often dry, though drizzly rain spreading here later in the day too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
East and north hill groups shrouded at dawn, to lower slopes in most areas, drifting over the high tops. Cloud more broken on west coast slopes with banks at varied heights, mostly northern aspects, but increasingly extensive widely above 700m, highest bases around Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few bright glimpses in the west early, becoming overcast, dull on high terrain with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 to 13C, variable and locally rising to 14C. Cooling slightly overnight.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Heavy, thundery rain likely affects England, Wales & southern Scotland on Thursday and Friday, potentially prolonged heavy falls bringing a risk of local flooding. A westerly wind will establish into the weekend, drawing cloud and drizzle onto western high terrain, several frontal systems sweeping more broadly across the country. The strongest wind and heavy rain may pass mostly across England and Wales, with the lightest rain in west Scotland. Best chance of cloud base rising towards higher terrain in western areas, perhaps briefly to higher summits, but the hills more often shrouded, patches to low slopes around heaviest rain. A west-southwesterly weather track prevails next week: cloud and drizzle on western hill groups (particularly west Scotland), breezy, areas of rain regularly spreading more widely.