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.
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
Saturday 4th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Jul 26 at
3:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain sweeps east through Scotland, persistent for several hours; easing afternoon but staying drizzly and dull west. Mild but feeling chilly in strong wind. Lakeland and Pennines very windy and drizzly with hill cloud. Drier in Wales, sunny breaks on low slopes. Warm Wales and England though notable wind chill.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Morning rain, afternoon drizzle; very windy, strongest south
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly, 25 to 35mph, strongest sustained speeds south, gusts briefly approaching 45-50mph during rain. Some lighter speeds at times far north, and a westerly trend with time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking over the high tops, more arduous for a time south with buffeting gusts challenging stability and considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain, afternoon drizzle
Persistent drizzle from dawn, to middle slopes towards the west coast. An area of persistent rain sweeps eastward through morning, extended heavy falls likely towards Skye. This eases afternoon but drizzle remains on high terrain. Very slippery rock surfaces.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west
Blanket cloud across the hills, shrouded to lower slopes on and around Skye, to 400m further north. Higher and more broken cloud further east, and improving through afternoon, but any breaks above 900m rare and brief.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy and misty west coastal hills. At times better visibility lower east slopes, particularly later in the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, may warm a degree towards Kintail but then a slight cooling through afternoon. Feeling below 0C where directly in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 5th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Jul 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20-25mph. Lightest north, starting near 10-15mph. May strengthen, finishing near 35mph south.
Effect of the wind on you?
May well be fairly small in the morning, but ease of walking becomes impeded at least on southern Munros.
How Wet?
Often raining
Patchy rain drifts from the west all day, frequent near and south of Ullapool, setting in with time. A patchier start north, some drier windows, but increasingly wet here too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills from middle slopes up most or all day. Bases always lowest towards west coast, ragged patches into glens around rain. Some variability to the north and east, best early, but breaks above 700m unlikely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull, may be brighter in the far north early in the day. Poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, coolest north, perhaps 6C Ben Hope. Rising a degree.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 6th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Jul 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20-30mph. Generally lightest speeds north, but also a risk of stronger speeds more widely.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be locally fairly small, but ease of walking becomes impeded in exposure, locally more strenuous.
How Wet?
Often raining
Patchy rain from the west all day, setting in for periods with heavy falls. A few breaks east but only brief and always feeling damp with slippery rock surfaces.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills from middle slopes upward. Bases always lowest towards west coast, patches into glens with cloud to coastal cliffs too. May rise slightly afternoon, best inland, but unlikely anywhere above 600m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, coolest north, and likely warming a degree. Feeling bear freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain, drizzle and low cloud persist over western hills from Lake District northward through the weekend and into early next week. Temperatures near average, but feeling cool in exposure to wind on tops, quite strong and gusty in the north. Northeast areas are drier with higher cloud bases but patchy rain reaches here too. Higher pressure south maintains drier conditions in Wales and the south Pennines but cloud and some drizzle will affect high western slopes from time to time; lighter wind here, but nuisance gusts in exposure. A drier and warmer window builds into the middle of next week: very warm in England and Wales, spells of sunshine spread northward, and lighter wind. Some showers and patchy rain continue through late week and next weekend, though detail is uncertain and more often dry.