West Highlands
Western Highlands accessible from, and south of, Glenfinnan (Road to the Isles) and Glen Spean (includes Creag Meagaidh). This area includes Ben Nevis and the mountains around Glencoe. In the east, from Ben Alder south to Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP. Also Arran and Mull.
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 25th Aug 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
East Scotland, the Pennines, and Wales start cloudy, this lifting, dissipating over much of Scotland. Early showery rain and cloud in Wales migrates to England and southwest Scotland, thundery showers following over Wales and England; driest/clearest northwest Scotland. Warm, humid, and breezy.
Headline for West Highlands
Most cloud south, patchy rain here, notably later; blustery
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 35mph, strongest in the morning and also quite gusty, speeds approaching 40mph or stronger over high tops. Tending to lessen with time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, some notable gusts may suddenly affect balance, particularly in the morning when walking more widely strenuous, not just on high exposed tops.
How Wet?
Mostly little rain, rising risk far south
Spots from high cloud occasionally, a few patches of rain mainly southern areas. With time, rising risk of heavier falls from Arran to Mull, though likely remaining patchy until late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive southern hills
Banks of cloud above 600-800m mostly Loch Lomond NP into central highlands, patchier northwestward. Just at dawn, Ben Nevis summit may be near the top of the cloud layer. Lifting, mostly dissipating west of Loch Linnhe, and perhaps just banks above 1000-1100m well into the day, beginning to lower again if rain arrives.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south, rising to 50%, to 70% west Lochaber
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny, particularly to the northwest, but weakened by high cloud, which will thicken from the south with time. Visibility very good, a little haze south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, rising up to 13C in Lochaber afternoon, least rise towards Ben Lomond. Feeling like 3 to 5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 27th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 25th Aug 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 20-30mph, gusty early, easing with time, to perhaps 10-15mph; staying stronger southern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting to start (gusts not just on high terrain), easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Little expected until later
Many Munros substantially dry well into the day. A rising chance of a few spots of light rain from midday, then a broader area of rain approaches southernmost areas into evening/night.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain well-inland
Cloud at dawn mostly inland, below 1100-1200m, only ragged coastal patches. Lifting to shroud high tops from Rannoch Moor south, and may break up for a time, before returning over high southern terrain later. Little cloud west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50% inland; 80% north of Mull
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, more extensive towards the coast where visibility will be very good (some early haze). Trending more overcast south with time.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 to 13C, warmest west, particularly Lochaber where may rise locally to 15C (to 20C in some glens).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 28th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 25th Aug 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly, but variable, 15mph southern islands, lighter elsewhere, often below 10mph. Strengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Rain on-and-off
Bursts of rain over many hills much of the day, most often towards central highlands with some heavy bursts. More often dry near the west coast, though a rising chance of patches here though the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Hills shrouded, to low slopes in most places, lowest towards central highlands where unlikely to lift above 600-700m. May lift higher towards the coast, particularly around southern islands for a time, but Munros unlikely to clear and will fill in more widely later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few bright glimpses in the west early, becoming overcast, dull on high terrain with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12 or 13C, locally rising to 14C. Cooling slightly overnight.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Heavy, thundery rain likely affects England, Wales & southern Scotland on Thursday and Friday, potentially prolonged heavy falls bringing a risk of local flooding. A westerly wind will establish into the weekend, drawing cloud and drizzle onto western high terrain, several frontal systems sweeping more broadly across the country. The strongest wind and heavy rain may pass mostly across England and Wales, with the lightest rain in west Scotland. Best chance of cloud base rising towards higher terrain in western areas, perhaps briefly to higher summits, but the hills more often shrouded, patches to low slopes around heaviest rain. A west-southwesterly weather track prevails next week: cloud and drizzle on western hill groups (particularly west Scotland), breezy, areas of rain regularly spreading more widely.