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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Friday 17th July 2026
Last updated
Thu 16th Jul 26 at
4:24PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry conditions persist with high wildfire risk; some areas inaccessible due to fire hazards. Dawn sea fog over north/east Scotland and eastern Pennines largely clears, occasional patchy hill cloud drifts into north Scotland. Warm with sun and high cloud western areas, most hills cloud-free.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cloud retreats to northern coasts where breezy; mild
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15 to 25mph, occasional stronger breezes Skye and Caithness, downslope gusts approaching 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling more blustery at times and noticeably cooler on high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Chance an odd pocket of drizzle northernmost areas, otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Retreating to northern coastal slopes
Fairly extensive near and north of Ullapool in the morning, as well as further south along the west coast. Well broken near Kintail/Knoydart, highest tops near or above the cloud early in day. Cloud drifts higher and breaks to just banks on high northern coastal terrain. May later fill in somewhat in the north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60% north, 90% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun increasingly extensive; remaining patchy northern coastal areas. Visibility very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 to 11C early, warmest south, and higher temperatures on the summits. Inland areas rise a degree, little or no change along coasts. Feeling closer to freezing directly in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 18th July 2026
Last updated
Thu 16th Jul 26 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 10-15mph, strongest west and gusty over the summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but nuisance gusts over tops with a chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Little expected
Patchy light rain drifts from the north from time to time, totals small; drizzly in the morning on higher terrain near north and west coast; largely dry well inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly broken, soonest inland south
Fairly extensive at dawn, to at least middle slopes along north and west coasts, bases mostly above 500m well inland. Bases lifting with a breaking trend, mostly above 700-800m along coasts, and later more widely broken.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70% coasts, 90% well-inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast at first, bright sunshine increasingly breaking out with very good visibility, soonest inland and south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 10 or 11C well-inland. Least change Ben Hope/Caithness. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 19th July 2026
Last updated
Thu 16th Jul 26 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 10-15mph, trending northwesterly, strengthening, sustained 25mph over tops into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small but wind increasingly inconvenient and later feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Most Munros dry
A few sprinkles drifting onto northwestern hills, a greater chance later in the day of light spots of rain along the coast, but small totals and elsewhere entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, lifting, mostly north and west coasts
At dawn, varied fog patches at middle and lower slopes, locally to glen level and coastal cliffs; little cloud inland. Cloud lifts gradually, to mostly above 700m afternoon with breaks, little cloud inland. Later may return to the northwest.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, to 80% well inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sunshine. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 7 to 9C; coolest west, mildest east. Feeling near freezing in stronger breeze.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Settled summer weather continues through the weekend and next week as high pressure dominates. Extremely dry ground conditions persist with a high risk of wildfire. Temperatures will trend cooler, dropping below 10C on summits overnight in Scotland, but afternoon temperatures rising to warm or very warm; most persistently cooler in the far north where some cloud will be drawn onto high terrain and over tops at times with occasional light showery rain; high summits of the Scottish Highlands sometimes above a morning cloud inversion. Otherwise generally ongoing dry weather, with good amounts of sun and hill tops often clear of cloud. A change of weather pattern indicated late in the month brings scope for rain and thundery showers.