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.)
Wednesday'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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 8th Sep 26 at
4:16PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Breezy with early scattered rain in north and east Scotland, both easing for a dry and bright afternoon with little wind. Blustery Pennines just at dawn, notably east, but this easing; dry in England with most hills and fells clearing. Early patchy rain in north Wales gradually clears for a bright afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Early breeze with patchy rain, ease for a bright afternoon
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-30mph, easing and shifting westerly, to 15mph; later southwesterly, beginning to restrengthen somewhat into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery start and feeling chilly, easing to small effects.
How Wet?
Soon dry
Showery rain drifts onto the Munros from the north and west before dawn, soon easing after dawn and fading for a mostly dry day. A few nuisance spots of rain may drift onto Skye later.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits with breaks for a time
May start fairly extensive Skye and along the west coast, or more inland near and north of Ullapool. Tending to lift to passing banks over high summits, well-broken for a time. More frequently grazing western summits into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine breaking out, extended sunny windows forming. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6C. Feeling like -5C in direct wind early, wind chill effect easing.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 10th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 8th Sep 26 at
4:16PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph, strengthening, several hours sustained speeds of 45-50mph over tops, later starting to ease.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly strenuous, later challenging conditions along the west coast with buffeting and notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mostly south, increasing
A little patchy rain drifts from the southwest, mostly Skye and nearby hills, only drizzly spots elsewhere. Patches will increase, spreading widely, and later setting in persistently, heavy falls, notably west.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Cloud shrouds the Cuillin from middle slopes up all day, nearby hills often similarly shrouded. Towards the north and east, more broken, some summit breaks east of Ullapool. Cloud becomes more widely extensive through afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% inland for a time, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few glimpses of sun to the north and east. Good visibility out of cloud and rain, increasingly widely poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, only slight drop into night. Feeling like 0 to -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 11th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 8th Sep 26 at
4:16PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph, strongest near and north of Ullapool; slightly lessening but also gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking impacted on high tops, some buffeting gusts. A chilly feeling.
How Wet?
A little rain and drizzle, fading
Spotty rain drifts from the west from dawn, a little drizzle over high western tops, gradually easing, likely dry by later afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Clinging to western summits
A layer of cloud fairly widely above 800-900m to start, lower bases west, ragged patches towards lower slopes. A lifting trend, cloud tending to break up, best Easter Ross. Cloud will continue to roll over high tops, breaks unlikely over the Cuillin until late.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Gradually rising towards 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun breaking out. Good visibility but a building haze west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, locally rising a degree inland. Feeling like -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A typical autumnal pattern in the week ahead: periods rain and strong wind, gales over tops at times, particularly in Scotland. Temperatures generally mild, some warmer windows in England and Wales, as well as cooler windows, chilly at times in Scotland, a little sleet possible on highest tops and feeling cold during strong winds. Best chance of near-term settled windows on Friday and Sunday: mornings start cool with scattered low cloud, lifting and breaking up, clearest on eastern hill groups. Weather remains mixed into next week with more swathes of rain and strong wind. A tendency towards high pressure building southwest of the country will bring more bright, drier days to England and Wales. Staying unsettled longer in Scotland. Indications of more extensive windows of settled weather in the later month.