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.
Today'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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
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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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
West Highlands
Monday 14th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 13th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Humid southwesterly air brings extensive low cloud and drizzle to many mountains. Locally drier with some cloud breaks toward northeast of major mountain groups. Around Skye generally wet all day, whilst more prolonged heavier rain likely moves into southwest Scotland afternoon-evening. Strong and gusty winds.
Headline for West Highlands
Blustery, gusty; low cloud and drizzle, patchy rain, wetter later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 45mph, speed varying locally and during the day, tending to generally rise during afternoon; some notable strong gusts including on some north and eastern downslopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Some variations, but often affecting comfortable walking in exposure, with time increasingly frequent buffeting, very gusty in places affecting stability, not just highest terrain. Wind chill becoming considerable despite mild air.
How Wet?
Drizzle, some rain mostly northwest, likely wetter extensively later
Rain and drizzle fairly persistent from dawn Mull to Ben Nevis group, staying generally damp all day west of Loch Linnhe. Patchy and light elsewhere, some drizzle, otherwise dry for a few hours well inland. During afternoon and particularly toward evening, persistent rain developing widely from southwest, setting in heavier.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest coasts, rare local breaks
Shrouding most mountains all day, from mid-slopes up around many west and south-facing groups, lower patches in rain. Higher bases inland generally north of Crianlarich around 600-800m, best of breaks to some upper slopes northeast of Ben Nevis group, but rarely clearing high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare glimpses of weak sun well inland, but largely overcast and dull. Poor visibility in rain, locally better below cloud inland at times, but a haze likely.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, locally slightly warmer northeast Lochaber, little change all day; then lowering only well into night to 6C. Feeling just below 0C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 15th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 13th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 35mph, risk stronger gusts early in the day, possibly 50mph briefly, mainly southern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery across the hills, strenuous walking on exposed higher terrain with buffeting gusts and considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining
Showery rain throughout the day, most frequent toward coasts early morning, but soon extending inland, some heavier bursts on and off.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly persistent higher tops
Often capping coastal mountains above 800m, banks of cloud to 600m at times. Further inland, bases typically 900-1000m with some brief breaks higher up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly well inland. Visibility very good away from showers, some haze near coast early in day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, small change then trending slightly cooler later in daytime. Feeling like -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 13th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty northwesterly 30-35mph, shifting westerly and lessening, later SW'ly, strengthening, finishing 35-40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery start, easing to fairly small effects for a time, but conditions become strenuous, or later arduous.
How Wet?
Little until later
Odd drizzly spots here and there, perhaps more frequent near the coast south of Mull; many hills dry into afternoon. Patchy rain arrives west afternoon, increasingly setting in as evening approaches.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, high breaks for a time, then deteriorating
Cloud banks at varied heights in the morning, clear windows between layers which may include summits. Cloud will tend to lift and break up, varied layers on high terrain linger towards the coast. Will increasingly fill in from mid-afternoon onward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, deteriorating from mid-afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, most extensive south of Rannoch Moor, high cloud thickens from the west later. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C to start, mildest south, rising to 6C, rising slightly further into night. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled during the next week to 10 days as westerlies prevail - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing frequent rain, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Often windy, sustained periods of gale-force westerly winds over higher terrain. Fairly cool by Tuesday onward, close to freezing on highest Scottish summits on Wednesday morning, possibly again for a time next weekend; often considerable wind chill on the mountains. Higher pressure and better weather tends to expand further north later in month.