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.
Monday'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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force and very gusty southeasterly winds Scottish mountains, tending to strengthen. Patchy snow and low cloud affects the eastern Highlands; largely dry and clearer toward west/northwest. Some cloud breaks for the Lakes. Rain and upland gales moves into Wales from the west in the afternoon.
Headline for West Highlands
Upland gales, gusty. Local light snow and low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 40-45mph early morning, powerful gusts downslope to some lower ground in west; generally strengthening, sustained 55mph by afternoon, 60-65mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking challenging with buffeting gusts making balance difficult in exposure. Any mobility increasingly difficult on high terrain afternoon. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy snow central highlands
Light snow flurries affecting the hills near the central highlands from Loch Lomond to Creag Meagaidh. Most west hills will stay dry, some patchy sleet/rain onto the southern islands. Rain/snow arrives from dusk from southwest, mostly rain to higher slopes on islands.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and inland
Cloud shrouds high terrain south of Lochaber, with lowest bases around the southern islands and Loch Lomond, down to 600m on east slopes or lower in snow. Higher bases and more broken around/west of Loch Linnhe, an odd break to coastal tops possible.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Morning patchy sun in Lochaber, but weakening with building high cloud. Very poor visibility in snow, better towards northwest coast but also a haze; difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m, up to 600m or slightly higher on coastal slopes and west of Loch Linnhe. Local frost in some inland glens in the morning as well.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 55-70mph, reaching sustained 80mph on higher tops, with powerful gusts downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult conditions - mobility likely only by crawling in full force of wind and gusts. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Most hill snow south and inland
Snow setting in central highlands, becoming heavy Loch Lomond to Rannoch Moor. Falling as rain or sleet below 400m inland, or to some upper slopes near coast/islands. Patchier amounts northwest across Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southern/central mountains
From the southern islands towards Loch Lomond and the central highlands, cloud shrouds high terrain, down to middle slopes in snow. More broken and on high terrain around Ben Nevis range/Lochaber, perhaps breaks to summits west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% south, to 30% northwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some brighter periods west of Loch Linnhe where good visibility, though widely poor during snowfalls; whiteout southern mountains.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, locally up to 0C on coastal slopes. Feeling like -18 to -23C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m. Locally much more variable near coast and on islands, above freezing point to some higher elevations.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40 to 60mph - some uncertainty, peak speeds varying, generally strongest toward coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions with powerful gusts to some lower slopes. Significant wind chill. Chance of local improvements.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, snow tops
Rain may be frequent for a few hours, snow on high tops mainly inland, locally risk more persistent.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, higher northwest
Covering many mountains all day, to mid-slopes southern areas. Higher bases and some breaks northwest across Lochaber.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Hazy near coast, better visibility lower terrain in Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, highest toward coast and islands.
Planning Outlook
Powerful southeasterlies prevail across Scotland this week and many indications favour strong east or southeasterly winds onward into the first half of February. Scottish mountains are expected stay below freezing in the extended range, fresh heavy snowfalls giving substantial depths and drifts across south and eastern areas, much less snow 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. A generally unsettled pattern with Atlantic lows continuing to frequently circulate over Britain on a southerly track, whilst high pressure resides away to the north.