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.)
Friday'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.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 6th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Mar 26 at
4:37PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A dry and sunny day for the Highlands and Galloway with early mist banks dispersing. Southerly winds strengthening in northwest later. England and Wales: Colder; patchy precipitation, snow to lower slopes N England, eases into afternoon, but still with extensive low cloud over hills, clearer breaks forming west coast.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
A dry and fine day with sunshine. Wind strengthening for the west coast.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 10-20mph, strongest west coast where will lift to 30-40mph by evening with strong gusts over high ground.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, deteriorating to strenuous walking with wind chill; buffeting in exposure will challenge balance.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Cloud comes and goes on the Cuillin from 700m upward, bases higher on north aspects. Inland and northern hills often free of cloud, occasional banks may form around 900-1000m but these fleeting.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine, occasionally some low hills cloud Skye and nearby. Excellent visibility, a distant haze to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -1C from dawn, lifting to 0C evening, rising further overnight. Later, feeling as cold as -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Lifting up to 700-800m, though frosts to lower slopes and glens in the morning. Lifting, 900m by evening, above summits overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 7th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Mar 26 at
4:37PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20 to 30mph, but locally risk gusty 35-40mph mainly Cuillin and nearby higher mountains on mainland.
Effect of the wind on you?
Gusty winds in places may affect comfortable walking in exposed western areas. Fairly small further east.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any
Rare fragments or patches around some south-facing slopes for a time, mainly near Skye. Otherwise the mountains clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, but some lower slopes colder in the morning.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some glens and sheltered higher areas after dawn, but lifting above freezing to the tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 8th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Mar 26 at
4:37PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20 to 30mph, perhaps up to 40mph at times; mainly western coastal hills and Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and rather gusty at times across higher terrain. May well be fairly arduous at times towards the west coast.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mainly south and Skye.
Patches of rain mainly affecting southern parts as well as Skye, amounts rather low. Elsewhere, mostly dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly covering southern hills and Skye.
Cloud banks covering higher terrain in fog across Skye, and across southern parts of the mainland. Northern areas seeing little more than occasional caps on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% south, 70% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, mostly for northern areas. Little if any in the south, and Skye. Marked haze likely. Best visibility northern mountains.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C, highest northern areas.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but some frost for inland glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
More cloud by Sunday as weak fronts encroach in from the west, some drizzly rain moving into parts of Scotland, hazy elsewhere. Patchy rain likely in the west at least early in the new week, likely dropping back just below freezing on the Munros for a time with some snowfall on higher areas. Winds fairly light early week, then a risk of strengthening southwesterly later in the week; changeable weather conditions with spells of rain coming in from the Atlantic. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only very patchy snow remains around highest tops in England and Wales.