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.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
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
West Highlands
Thursday 11th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Dec 25 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale force winds across most hills and mountains, severe gales high Scottish tops particularly morning in west, powerful gusts downslope in places. Low cloud and some drizzly rain west, mostly dry east/northeast. More persistent rain develops for western Scotland afternoon onward.
Headline for West Highlands
Upland gales, strongest morning. Increasingly wet.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 45 to 60mph, up to 70mph high tops and coastal mountains in morning, tending to lessen afternoon from west, dropping below 25mph up to dusk and onward into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely arduous walking from mid-heights upward, powerful gusts lower down; more difficult or severe conditions on high terrain, particularly toward coasts and in the morning hours; improving afternoon.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, becoming wetter
Occasional pulses of rain run onto coastal areas in the west. Spots of rain in the wind elsewhere, some slopes often damp, but small amounts of rain in morning. By afternoon onward, rain more widely persistent, heavier at times.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Covering most hills all day, to some mid-slopes near coasts, but mostly above 900m inland in morning, breaks higher up north and east of Rannoch Moor and Ben Nevis. Lowering further as rain sets in.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% inland morning, dropping below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy. Hazy, visibility reduced to poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, slight drop into evening to 2C. Feeling near -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, then lowering into night to 1100-1200m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 12th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Dec 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly soon rising to 35-45mph, risk stronger gusts over high tops around and north of Ben Nevis range.
Effect of the wind on you?
Uncomfortable winds from dawn strengthen to widely arduous walking conditions. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some coastal showers
Showers drift onto Mull and Lochaber near Loch Linnhe, falling as snow on high tops. A few scattered showers onto the southern islands as well. Little or no rain inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Tops often shrouded, variable lower banks
High tops will often be shrouded, particularly from the southern islands towards Ben Nevis range. A few breaks here and there, but some lower banks at times too. Bases will lower around Mull/Lochaber during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy cloud and sun, best of sunshine on lower slopes. Very clear air at first but becoming hazy from the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Feeling as cold as -15C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1100m, lowering to 900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Dec 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during daytime from 40-50mph to 70-80mph, risk stronger gusts afternoon-evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions from mid-elevations upward, increasingly any mobility difficult, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain developing
Rain increasingly setting in, starting mostly near coast as patchy rain or drizzle, initially snow flurries on high tops inland. Becoming widespread persistent rain, incessant heavy falls with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive, lowering
Varied banks of cloud mostly on western slopes early in day, but increasingly filling in and lowering, becoming blanket fog from lower slopes upward many areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, increasingly dull. Hazy, visibility poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C rising steadily to later reach 5C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m up to dawn, gradually rising, above all summits with time.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled into the weekend and beyond as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Rainfall will be frequent and heavy for periods, sometimes showery with hail. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers.