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.)
Saturday'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.
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.
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.
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
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine, sunny with light wind mountains in England and Wales. Much of Scotland will be dry but showers, mainly W & NW Highlands, where there will be persistent fog. Progressively windier northwards; near gale force northern Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy; foggy and showery.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly 25-35mph, strengthening toward 40mph evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Considerable wind chill and walking strenuous where exposed; balance difficult in some areas.
How Wet?
Showers, temporarily the rain frequent
Showers from time to time, although perhaps over an hour or so, the rain frequent.
Cloud on the hills?
Mountains persistently cloud covered
Cloud base will vary as rain comes and goes, sometimes below 400m mainly within 10 miles of the west coast, where may occasionally reach 750m. Further east, by midday, most cloud above 650m with breaks to 900m, possibly 1050m Ben Wyvis area.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil most of region; 20% easternmost summits
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun only, mainly lower slopes well inland from west coast. Hazy and sometimes poor visibility western hills. Mostly very good visibility well inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, but will feel as cold as minus 6C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 4th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, increasing markedly with height to 50-60mph on higher exposed areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill and walking extensively difficult. Any mobility may be a challenge in places.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, mainly western hills.
Frequent drizzly rain coming in off the sea onto Skye and penetrating 10-20 miles inland. Drizzly rain only now and again easternmost hills (those near Great Glen to Ben Wyvis).
Cloud on the hills?
Foggy across nearly all mountains all day
Persistent low cloud penetrating inland from about dawn will persist all day, forming on some coastal cliffs and inland from just above valleys. Well inland (and away from immediate west coast in north) most cloud above 600m, sometimes higher easternmost hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine may come through occasionally lower slopes toward Ben Wyvis, where visibility good. Elsewhere, often misty.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C. Will feel as cold as minus 8C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 5th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly typically 40mph, but where exposed on higher summits sometimes 55mph. Sudden gusts some lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking where exposed: balance strenuous in sudden gusts (some reaching lower slopes), and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most or all day
Overnight rain, concentrated on more western mountains (especially near Skye), may well persist most or all day - though some prospect of becoming less wet from the north (the change as yet very uncertain).
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent fog - possibly improvement in cloud base from north.
High likelihood of persistent fog: near coasts with the sea to the SW, from 200 to 400m upward, whilst elsewhere above typically 600m (800m Ben Wyvis). Chance of a rise in cloud base of a couple of hundred metres extending south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensively dull and misty. Chance isolated pockets of sun easternmost lower slopes and valleys - but even here hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, but perhaps a drop toward 4C penetrating southwards through day. Feeling like minus 5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain at some stage more or less daily on most mountain areas through the coming week. However, total rainfall small, and frequently dry E & S Wales and S Pennines. Frequently windy Scottish Highlands, whilst progressively southwards, periods of strong winds will less frequent. A brief period of colder weather around the middle of next week will bring snowfall to some northern mountains.