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
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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fairly quiet day with plenty of dry weather and some good cloud breaks toward the west and northwest of major hill groups. Some snow flurries and low cloud lingers over the Cairngorms to SE Highlands. Moderate S-SE wind, locally gusty.
Headline for West Highlands
Largely dry, patchy cloud mostly inland. Gusty toward coast.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, gales ease prior to dawn, mostly 20-25mph or in places less inland during day, tending to increase afternoon near coast/islands from Mull to Arran to 30mph and gustier here.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small effect on walking many areas, some occasional gusty spots not necessarily on highest terrain may be noticeable; becoming more blustery on islands with marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Local snow flurries possible mainly well inland early in the day, fading out.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly central-south areas; little west
Many western mountains often free of cloud, bar occasional patches drifting over upper slopes. Inland, varied cloud banks early in day, mostly near and south from Rannoch Moor, locally may linger.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, to 40% toward central highlands.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sun through high cloud mostly west. Slight haze south and near coast, very good visibility much of Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C. Feeling like -7C if exposed on tops mainly on or nearer the islands.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, highest toward coast and islands. Patchy frost some glens from dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 30 to 45mph, strongest toward coast, gusty downslope west of major summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking on exposed higher terrain, buffeting gusts locally lower down. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional light snow inland
Small amounts of flurries most common toward the central highlands, very little if any reaching coast and west Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied higher tops, breaks west
Cloud banks drifting over higher slopes above 800 to 1000m, higher and broken westwards, clearer west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly toward coast, visibility generally good out of cloud, perhaps slight haze. Navigation more difficult in fog over snow cover on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C inland areas, up to +1C locally over coastal mountains. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700m well inland, higher westwards and more variable, just above freezing to some upper slopes near coast and on islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 30th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph, very gusty in places around Ben Nevis group and downslope NW of major tops elsewhere.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance in exposure, local frequent buffeting not just on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Local snow mostly south
Patchy flurries, small amounts, most common toward central highlands. Some showery rain or summit snow near Arran.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks northwest
Shrouding most hills in Loch Lomond NP, Arran and Kintyre, to some mid-slopes. Higher cloud base northwestward, mostly above 800-1000m, higher breaks near and west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sun through high cloud mostly west Lochaber. Cloudy and misty around southern hills, whiteout if in fog over snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
600m inland, to nearer 800m or slightly higher near the coast and on islands, slight rise during daytime.
Planning Outlook
Slow-moving weather patterns and a broadly similar regime to recent times over the next week or so. Scottish mountains generally below freezing point, with snow cover and drifts most substantial from the Cairngorms to central and southern Highlands, some additional falls in the week ahead, much less northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, sub-zero for periods to 600m or lower, but intermittently lifting just above the tops - a mix of rain and upland snowfall. Wind speed will vary, some periods of lower speeds than recently, though gusty SE'ly winds remain common in the Highlands. Scope for widely colder conditions toward mid February.