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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Friday 31st July 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly winds, tending to strengthen through the day will continue to bring lower temperatures to the mountains (particularly W & NW Scotland), Showers, throughout day W and NW Highlands, but mostly afternoon elsewhere - and few if any S Pennines and Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Showers; cold. Wind speed tending to increase..
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly typically 20 to at times 25mph, although until late morning no more than 10 or 15mph on many summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small.
How Wet?
Frequently raining, particularly western mountains
Showers throughout the day - sometimes frequent - but tending to become drier from west late in day.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering higher slopes; by afternoon mostly confined to near coast
West coastal slopes: frequently covered all day above 600m, occasionally 450m. By around 10 miles inland from the general lie of the coast, by midday cloud nearly all above 800m. Elsewhere, by midday, summits rarely covered.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% near west coast to by midday 80% elsewhere
Sunshine and air clarity?
Ranging from glimpses of sun only toward the coast to a patchwork of bright sun more eastern hills. The air very clear, but visibility markedly reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising marginally through day coastal slopes, but to 8C easternmost summits. Will feel below freezing point directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 1st August 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20-30mph; generally most gusty near rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be locally fairly small but strongest gusts on high terrain will affect stability at times with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, becoming widespread
Showers drive onto western Munros most of the day, most persistent and heavy towards the northwest. Several hours of more widespread afternoon showers, heaviest falls northward.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive toward coast, base rising well inland - higher tops may not clear
Extensive above 500-700m in the morning, lowest toward west coast. A lifting trend, particularly well inland, where breaks above 900m increasingly common by midday. Nevertheless cloud base dropping again near showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%; rising to 50% eastern summits
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, best south and east. Varied visibility, very good where out of cloud and rain; a west coastal haze builds later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising a degree or two well inland. Will feel close to or below freezing point directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 2nd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15 to 25mph after dawn. Will drop to 10mph near Skye by midday and then progressively northwards.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small before becoming negligible from south.
How Wet?
Showers all or nearly all dying out
Starting showery, particularly more western mountains. Showers will become few or isolated from the south middle of day and afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming confined to higher slopes, later may well almost all clear
Progressively improving as extensive cloud above 700m toward the coast and more patchy above 900m toward the east gradually rises. By mid afternoon, perhaps still patches above about 900m western hills; otherwise mostly cloud free.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% gradually rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun morning, mostly well inland from west coast. Gradually becoming more sunny from east across there region - although later the sun hazy. Very good or excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 8 to 11C, warmest toward Ben Wyvis. Feeling close to or below freezing point directly in wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Extensively dry with cloud widely confined above the mountains this weekend, although mainly Saturday in Scotland, showers and on western mountains areas of low cloud. Relatively chilly on the west and NW Highlands, but otherwise fairly normal temperatures for early August. Very complicated early next week; areas of rain will drift slowly across central and northern Britain, but the distribution of rain (and associated low cloud) very uncertain. Probably very little rain across Wales. Despite some rain (mainly in Scotland), away from the W & NW Highlands terrain remains exceptionally dry 'tinder dry'.