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.
Sunday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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
Sunday 10th May 2026
Last updated
Sat 9th May 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly windy across the Highlands, rain and some sleet or snow on high tops moving in from the northwest, becoming persistent. By late in the day, snow falling in northern areas to lowering elevations. Chilly NE'ly wind England & Wales tends to ease, a largely fine day, early light rain east Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Wind increases, rain develops, cloud lowers, some snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-20mph from dawn, strengthening westerly into middle of day to 25-35mph, soonest Lochaber, more widely afternoon, reaching 40mph higher Ben Nevis group, gusts 50mph on tops. Switching northerly 25-30mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill, more significant higher tops in afternoon. Becoming more blustery, increasingly affecting comfortable walking, more challenging Ben Nevis area with buffeting gusts.
How Wet?
Showers develop, becoming wetter Lochaber, snow high tops
Largely dry early in day, a few showers mostly coasts near Mull in the morning. With time, showers develop widely, extending inland, during afternoon more persistent rain west & north Lochaber, sleet or some snow falling on tops mostly above 1000m. During evening, turning to showers; snow falling toward mid-heights in north by dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering from northwest, becoming extensive during afternoon
Many mountains start clear, just patches on some upper slopes in morning. Cloud banks increasingly form onto high tops, filling in widely above 700-900m afternoon, lowest and soonest near/west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% dropping to 30% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent sun early in day, but cloud building, clouding over from northwest middle of day into afternoon. Visibility excellent, then reducing, becoming poor in rain/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2 or 3C, but from sunset lowering from north, at least in Lochaber to 0C, after dark more widely -2C inland. Feeling colder as wind increases, around -12C on exposed high tops afternoon.
Freezing Level
800m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Up to 1200m afternoon, but from dusk dropping in Lochaber toward 800m, widely 600-700m inland into night, higher coasts.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 11th May 2026
Last updated
Sat 9th May 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 15-20mph, occasionally less; turning westerly, tending to increase to 25-30mph evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small much of day, but distinctly chilly over the mountains. Likely becoming more blustery toward evening.
How Wet?
Rare flurries, later drizzly rain
Local showers early in day mostly western areas, snow flurries over the hills, fading. During afternoon, drizzly rain develops in west gradually up to higher slopes, more persistent by evening, mainly Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches lifting, lowering later west
Patchy cloud banks over higher slopes in morning, but lifting above most tops. Later in day, cloud likely lowering onto coastal hills, but during evening risk low cloud extending further inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, dropping to 30% west evening.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun mostly south in morning, then weakening as high cloud builds from west. Visibility excellent, then reducing later in day mainly west Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -3C at first, rising to +3C afternoon, or slightly milder by evening into night. Feeling colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m from dawn, nearer 1000m coast & islands; gradually rising widely to 1200m, or above all tops by evening.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 12th May 2026
Last updated
Sat 9th May 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 45mph, squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting across the hills, challenging walking at times in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and snow on tops
A band of rain clears southeast at dawn, then a scattering of showers becoming more frequent, some heavy, snow falling at times to 800m, also hail to lower slopes. Chance of isolated thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, lifting higher with breaks
Cloud frequently changing, covering tops above 800m for periods, but tending to rise higher in afternoon, with time only occasionally capping tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun. Visibility often very good, but intermittently very poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind on tops..
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, highest inland toward central highlands afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Notably chilly across the hills for this time of year during the week ahead as air from the north-northwest prevails. Frequently near or below freezing over Scottish Munros, and at times dropping to freezing on high tops in England and Wales. Wind speed will vary, but increasing at times to gale force on hills, giving significant chill factor. Broadly showery, heavy bursts with hail and thunder in places, also often falling as snow on higher mountains, at least in Scotland, intermittently elsewhere. Some more persistent precipitation especially northwest Scotland. Also some drier windows - varying locally day-to-day - away from showers cloud will lift above hills and visibility will be very good.