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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, at least in morning, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary on mountains.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, at least in morning, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary on mountains.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 6th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Apr 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gusty southerly winds, strongest on west coastal mountains in Scotland. A chilly start with frost, notably chilly at first in the Highlands, gradually warming up to rise above freezing later to all tops. Generally dry, with sun and a veil of high cloud, but most hills clear. A little rain may graze western Scotland later.
Headline for West Highlands
Gusty wind, near-gale coastal tops. Mostly dry, local light rain west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 35mph, strongest west coastal mountains, may increase a little more widely, local 40mph on islands.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance on ridges and higher tops, particularly more coastal mountains; notably gusty on some downslopes north of high tops.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain mostly near coast afternoon
Many places dry all day. A little patchy rain or drizzle mostly coastal areas near Mull into afternoon, feeling generally damp where in cloud over many coastal tops for a time. Substantial fresh snow cover across the mountains.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly coastal slopes, little inland
Patchy cloud banks mostly over western mountains in the morning above 800m, well broken inland. Cloud banks may linger or fill in near coast and on some islands for a time during afternoon, some patches into Loch Lomond NP, but inland Lochaber often clear all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% coast/islands, to 80% well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through high cloud, but very good visibility inland. Hazier toward coast, thicker overcast skies possible, may become poorer visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C from dawn, rising to +2C locally +4C afternoon. Feeling like -7 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Hard frost inland glens in morning, particularly Lochaber, much mountain terrain frozen all day, but air temperature rising above freezing to tops by late in day.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 7th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Apr 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly 30 to 50mph, very variable, typically strongest Mull; powerful gusts some northwest downslopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions coastal mountains, variable but sudden buffeting gusts also inland, not necessarily on tops.
How Wet?
Rain later coasts
Patchy rain pushing onto coastal areas in afternoon, mostly spots from high cloud, possibly an odd burst of rain forming mainly later in the day. By evening onward, more persistent rain setting in west, inland into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any much of day
Patchy mist some glens at first. The mountains generally clear much of the day, but later some cloud banks form mainly on islands and nearest coast, filling in further by evening onward into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best early in day, becoming fairly weak through high-level cloud, tending to thicken to cover the sky. Visibility very good; islands may be hazier.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C. Directly in the stronger wind, feeling below freezing, in places nearer to -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Possible slight frost some sheltered inland glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 8th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Apr 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest Lochaber to Mull, tending to strengthen during day, later 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small inland & south for many hours, but becoming more blustery, locally more gusty and challenging with time.
How Wet?
Rain or summit snow more likely later
A little patchy rain, an odd showery burst possible, small amounts. Later in day, more persistent rain likely returns from the west. Some sleet or snow falling above 900m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied morning, widespread by evening
Varied cloud banks from dawn, to some lower slopes in the morning, may linger for a few hours in southern areas, tending to lift and break. Then later in day, likely lowering more extensively from west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, a little weak sun, but a veil of high cloud thickens again from west. Visibility very good, but locally misty start; reducing later if rain develops west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 to 4C, coolest northwest from Ben Nevis. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind, risk later nearer -15C.
Freezing Level
Likely close to freezing on higher tops around 1100-1200m in Lochaber.
Planning Outlook
Quite warm by Tuesday, but strong to gale force southerly winds widely, very gusty in places, not just over the highest tops; dry for many, rain encroaching into western Scotland, thawing of recent snow. Staying warm on Wednesday for England & Wales at least, becoming cooler over western Scotland, then more widely cooler Thursday; milder by Friday, then likely chilly again by weekend - cooler spells will drop sub-zero on Scottish tops. A changeable mix of weather with some rain and showers with snow or hail on the hills, and often windy late week into the weekend in Scotland, whilst England & Wales will be generally drier and less windy in the outlook.