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.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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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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.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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
Thursday 24th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 23rd Sep 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southerly gales develop widely over Scottish mountains, becoming severe northwest coastal tops. A little rain moves northeast, then more persistent rain sets in for western mountains, turning heavier. Wind strengthens too for England & Wales, generally dry and hills clear, sun giving way to a veil of upper cloud.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales strengthen; patchy rain later sets in west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25-35mph from dawn, but already strengthening into morning, to 40-50mph, soonest near coast, stronger sustained speeds 50-60mph into afternoon; powerful downslope gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becomes challenging, strongest gusts knocking you off your feet, mobility increasingly difficult with time on exposed high terrain; feeling chilly despite mild temperature.
How Wet?
A little rain, later more widely heavy rain
A little drizzle and patchy rain on high terrain near the west coast, particularly northern areas, more often dry inland. Later afternoon, rain will tend to increase and spread widely from west, heavier evening and first part of night.
Cloud on the hills?
Little through morning, filling in afternoon
Patches drift over the tops through morning, mostly near and north of Mull, many clear windows too. Through afternoon, banks more often shroud tops, first towards the coast, lowering and filling in more widely late in the day/into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of early sun, weakened by high cloud, trending cloudier. Very good visibility, a little coastal haze building, poorer later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 8C afternoon, tending to then lower gradually onward into night. Feeling as cold as -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 25th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 23rd Sep 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, at times gusts 50mph around high Ben Nevis group; lessening a little more southern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, more frequent buffeting north tops, moderating a little in south; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Rain most frequent on coastal mountains and islands from Jura to Mull; likely to come and go over many western hills, some heavier showers afternoon. Drier well inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied to fairly extensive on tops
Often in cloud above 700 to 900m west coastal mountains and islands, but more often above 900-1000m well inland with some breaks higher up, best north of Rannoch Moor to Creag Meagaidh.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 50% northeast Lochaber
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sun mostly inland Lochaber. Fairly hazy coastal areas and reduced in rain, but better visibility where dry inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, little change all day. Feeling like -3 to -6C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 26th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 23rd Sep 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 50mph, sustained speeds tending to rise, typically strongest from Ben Nevis group out to Mull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous walking conditions, buffeting gusts knocking you off balance on exposed terrain; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Showery rain most common toward coastal mountains, sometimes may give steadier rain locally, but mostly light occasional rain for areas well inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Often capping higher tops
Likely to come and go above 800m toward coast & sea lochs, at times lower patches. Mostly above 900-1000m inland, but often covering higher slopes, some breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly well inland. Visibility very good where dry and out of cloud, hazier near coasts, reduced in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change all day. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
South to southwesterly winds prevail onward into the weekend and next week. Some rain drifting in from the Atlantic, a mix of drizzle, some showery falls, and locally steadier rain at times over western mountains. Cloud often shrouding hills, best of breaks toward east and north. Generally mild air, but prepare for marked chill factor on tops due to often strong winds, gales for periods over high terrain, most sustained in Scotland. Into mid-next week, risk of a more widespread gale, or severe gale over higher mountains. Higher pressure then tends to expand further over the country into the start of October for drier and quite warm weather.