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
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.
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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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.
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
Saturday 23rd May 2026
Last updated
Fri 22nd May 26 at
3:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: Gusty south-westerly will feed extensive low cloud and patchy drizzle into the west. Mostly dry for eastern hills where cloud will lift and break off the hills. England and Wales: Low cloud and local drizzle morning western hills, mainly coasts, but burning off to leave warm sunshine widely.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Very blustery, low cloud and drizzly showers in the west. Best in the east.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, strongest west, often gusting 35mph west coast, and strengthening, later gusting 45mph west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly strenuous widely, later arduous west coast with considerable buffeting; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly showers
Drizzly showers across Skye and nearby mainland summits too, may be fairly constant in the morning, but small amounts. Small chance of odd spots of light rain elsewhere, but most hills dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive west, lifting to high terrain with breaks
Many hills shrouded above 600-700m in the morning, some local breaks; most extensive Skye, to 500m south Cuillin. A lifting trend, breaks probable too, best inland where cloud mostly just near summits. West coast may see lingering banks at 700-800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 50% to 70%; highest in the north and east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy cloud and some weak sun, trending cloudier with time. Visibility increasingly very good, particularly inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising up to 7C Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope. Only slight rise Skye. Later feeling like -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 24th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 22nd May 26 at
3:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to south-westerly 25 to 35mph, in excess of 40mph for a time west coast, and some cols and summits elsewhere.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for widely blustery conditions, perhaps arduous at times, especially for the west coast, with considerable buffeting.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, focused in west
The moist south-west airflow will continue to feed drizzly rain in across the hills; most widely on and near Skye. Little if any reaching Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive in the west, broken in the east.
A feed of low cloud will continue in across western hills giving extensive hill fog. Bases lifting and breaking further east, with good breaks Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, but 60% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, but glimpses of sun; best in the north and east. Visibility poor at times due to drizzly rain. Excellent mostly in the north and east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C, lowest west coast.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 25th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 22nd May 26 at
3:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-westerly 25 to 40mph, strongest towards the Ben Hope area.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery and gusty, with consdierable buffeting at times, perhaps even arduous at times across northern hills.
How Wet?
Drizzly morning, then fizzling out.
Drizzly conditions for western mountains from Skye to Torridon in morning with a little spill over possible to eastern hills. Mostly fizzling out by afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly on and near Skye morning
May be fairly extensive western hills morning, and perhaps tops for a time elsewhere. By afternoon, mostly clearing, but persisting western tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% lifting to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, but thinning and breaking in places, especially in the north and east. Visibility poor at times in drizzle, but away from drizzle, very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, lowest toward west coast.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Pressure builds this weekend, centred over England and Wales where it will be warm and sunny. To the north of the high, a blustery and gusty south-westerly will persist across the Highlands with patchy rain and hill fog,mainly in the west and northwest. Very warm by Sunday and Monday valleys of Wales and England, mid to high 20s. Low 20s glens into southern and eastern Scotland. Next week, high pressure extends over Scotland, cutting of the low cloud and drizzle from northwest Scotland by midweek with warm sunny weather, cooler in the north and east coat. Still very warm into the valleys of England and Wales with extensive sunshine.