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.
Friday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 9th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy snowfall and low cloud over the eastern Highlands & N/E Pennines, little if any reaching western Scotland where hills will be clearer, some low-level fog. Extensive fresh snow cover for Wales and Peak District, residual flurries fade, but wind remains strong; showers with hail near west coast of Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Light wind. Largely dry and clear hills, possible inland flurries.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable, or mostly easterly inland, 5 to 10mph, in places little wind, rare gusts. Around Loch Lomond to Arran, mostly north-northeasterly 10mph, occasional 15mph in morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Largely dry, chance of snow flurries inland
Chance of isolated showers near the Atlantic coast of Mull. Possibly flurries over mountains well inland developing from the east during the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, some patches mainly inland
Patchy cloud clinging to some upper slopes and corries, but often clear over many mountains. Some patches may drift in more widely from the east if snow flurries occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak due to a veil of high cloud. Visibility very good over many hills, some haze or mist inland glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen into the glens, some slopes around 300-500m inland just above freezing point, or up to 700m coasts.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10 to 25mph, gusty in places on some downslopes to the north of higher mountains, mainly Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small some slopes, but gusty spots may feel more noticeable locally, giving considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Coastal showers, flurries
Occasional showers, most common toward coast, brief snow flurries pushing inland, here falling to lower slopes, but near coast mostly rain below 500m, some hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches
Patchy cloud around some slopes and tops, may linger around corries. Some mist possible lower slopes inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, nearer 0C coastal tops. Feeling near -10C if in gusty wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen inland; just above freezing around 300-500m, up to 600-700m near coast, slightly higher islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 11th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, strengthening rapidly up to dawn, in range 50 to 70mph much of daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions with frequent buffeting and powerful gusts to some lower slopes, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow turning to rain
Snow and freezing rain soon sweeping in from the west - inland heavy snow may fall to lower slopes for several hours. Increasingly turning to rain, later toward higher levels more widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding most higher terrain all day, to lower slopes near coasts and over southern-facing groups widely. Highest cloud base north Lochaber.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and mostly dull. Visibility generally very poor, appalling if in cloud and blowing snow on hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C, small variation of temperature with height inland. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen to lower slopes inland from dawn, nearer 400-600m coasts; rising variably above freezing toward high tops.
Planning Outlook
Terrain stays widely frozen away from coastal slopes this weekend, fresh extensive snow for Wales and Peak District, whilst substantial snow remains across Scottish mountains. By Sunday, southerly winds strengthen to gales - as a frontal system approaches, snow then freezing rain is likely. A rise of freezing level from the southwest - thawing develops, rising just above freezing toward all higher slopes; in England and Wales much snow will thaw - here only occasionally near freezing on highest tops in the week ahead. In Scotland next week, higher mountains often near or below freezing at 800-1000m upward. A mix of rain and high-level snowfall, often windy through mid-month.