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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
Monday 27th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 26th Jul 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fresh to strong west to southwesterly winds, rather cool on Scottish tops. Rain and drizzle frequent in western Scotland, patchier eastwards. Some drizzly rain for Lakes and north Wales. Low cloud affecting most western hills, higher bases eastwards.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery, rain and drizzle, lowest cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25 to 30mph, gusts over 35mph on higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking impacted in exposure, in places may become more strenuous on higher terrain, affecting balance on ridges. Feeling rather cool on tops.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, setting in wetter near Skye
Patchy rain drifts from the west most of the day, drier windows, but also often drizzly on high western terrain in cloud. Increasingly steadier falls towards southern areas around Skye and Kintail late morning into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming fairly extensive, lowest west
Varied cloud above 700-800m in the morning, best of breaks near and north of Ben Wyvis. Cloud fills in from the southwest, terrain above 700m likely widely shrouded by later afternoon, with lower banks coming and going, most persistent Skye. A few odd breaks here and there.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun through morning, very good visibility north and east; increasingly overcast from southwest, dull along the coast with visibility deteriorating.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C rising to 9 or 10C afternoon, little change into night. Feeling like 0 to -3C in strongest wind on the Munros.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 28th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 26th Jul 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 55mph, gusts 60-70mph soonest near Skye but increasingly widely.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, balance difficult on exposed ridges, gusts could knock you over. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain, some heavy
Rain or drizzle much of the day particularly on western mountains, some more prolonged heavier falls. Occasionally easing off with some drier breaks in east.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket low cloud across the mountains, shrouding west coastal areas from lower elevations upward for periods. Some higher bases above 700m inland and east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally overcast and dull, poor visibility much of day west and widely in rain, some improvements at times in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C, coolest on coastal tops, little variation all day. Feeling below freezing directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 29th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 26th Jul 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 30mph, likely strongest early in the day, may be nearer 40mph around dawn.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery start, considerable buffeting at first tending to lessen, but may still feel uncomfortable in exposure on ridges.
How Wet?
Patchy rain
Occasional rain and showers, may become more frequent rain on west coastal hills. Small risk of rain setting in for longer.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent near Skye
Banks of cloud likely over coastal hills, particularly Skye, may linger on some southern slopes to mid-elevations. Varied on tops elsewhere, good breaks eastward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% west, 50% inland/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly eastern areas. Visibility reduced around rain, otherwise good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, mostly little change, but some eastern areas may reach 10C. Feeling near/below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Southwesterly winds will bring rain to most places early this week, some more prolonged heavier falls for western Scotland into Tuesday, accompanied by gales over high terrain, severe on Scottish tops, but rather humid for all, warm for England and Wales. Cooler air toward northwest Scotland moves across all of Scotland by Wednesday. Showery rain through mid-late week, some heavy and possibly thundery bursts, mainly Scotland. Likely drier for Wales and southern Pennines. Remaining very uncertain detail toward next weekend and early the following week, but indications favour a broad zone of low pressure bringing areas of rain and heavy showers through early August.