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
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.
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.
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
Friday 30th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 29th Jan 26 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales for northern England and Scotland all day with powerful gusts over tops and downslope to the northwest. Several hours of snow in these regions as well, passing from west-to-east with time, the snow level lifting to mid-slopes; northwest Scotland mostly dry and bright. Blustery in Wales, most of the rain south/east.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, powerful gusts; snow mostly south, brighter northwest
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, sustained speeds 45-55mph, powerful gusts in places downslope toward the north/northwest, strongest around high slopes of Glencoe and Lochaber, gusts up to 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions in exposure, stability difficult in powerful gusts, limiting mobility, not just on high tops. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow on southern Munros for a time, only patchy northward
Patchy flurries (amounting to little) reaching the central highlands from the east in the morning. Rain and snow soon over the southern islands as well, merging into a broader area of precipitation across southern areas for several hours. Patchy snow to Creag Meagaidh and Ben Nevis, mostly dry west of Loch Linnhe.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive south and well-inland, clearest west Lochaber
From dawn, cloud shrouds the high terrain towards central highlands, soon fairly extensive into Loch Lomond NP, Arran and Kintyre, to some mid-slopes. Higher cloud base northwestward, mostly above 700-900m, higher breaks near and west of Loch Linnhe where summits may clear. A risk of filling in towards Glencoe/Loch Linnhe later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% central highlands, to 60% coastal Lochaber
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun western Lochaber, though high cloud will build. Cloudy and misty around southern hills and central highlands, whiteout if in fog over snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C at dawn, rising slightly, -2 or -1C, highest temperatures near the coast; approaching 0C Arran to Mull. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
500-600m, to 400m Loch Lomond and southern islands. Rising slightly inland, higher on coastal slopes where reaching 800-900m, highest levels south.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 31st January 2026
Last updated
Thu 29th Jan 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 30-35mph, at times gusting 40mph in exposure. Speed may vary, trending lighter with time, 25-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous in exposure with buffeting gusts and wind chill; trending lighter, but walking remains impeded.
How Wet?
Rain/snow south and central areas
Snow most frequent on Munros around and south of Rannoch Moor, patches drifting to Glencoe/Ben Nevis range. Sleet and rain also affecting the southern islands for periods. West of Loch Linnhe mostly dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive east, breaks near the coast
Blanket cloud to the middle slopes from Rannoch Moor south to Loch Lomond. The cloud more patchy west of Loch Lomond, though with periods of more extensive coverage. Best breaks west of Loch Linnhe, often above 800m, with summit breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best of sunshine on northern coastal areas, often cloudy well-inland. Good visibility out of precipitation, though a light haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, rising to -1 to +1C, highest temps always west coast slopes, notably south. Feeling like -10 to -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
600-700m, highest west coast, locally 800m; rising more widely to 700m or higher with time.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 1st February 2026
Last updated
Thu 29th Jan 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 25-40mph, strong gusts probable. May ease with time though confidence in detail is low.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking often strenuous in exposure with buffeting and significant wind chill; effects may ease with time.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, snow on high terrain
Spots of sleet/snow in well-inland areas early, mostly rain below 700m though higher up where near the coast. Rain arrives to the west coast with patches spreading inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds most high terrain, some higher and broken areas in Lochaber to start the day. Cloud often down to middle slopes from southern islands to Rannoch Moor, Creag Meagaidh often cloudy as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some bright glimpses in coastal Lochaber but otherwise cloudy. Visibility variable, at times good but suddenly very poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C most hills, 1C Mull and nearby coastal hills. Feeling like -10 to -13C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around 800-900m most hills, though up to 1000m along the coast.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled this weekend: often cloudy and patchy rain for most. Variable winds cause rapid local changes in cloud amounts, rain, and impact on walking. The freezing level may lift somewhat, isolating snowfalls to higher Scottish terrain. In the coming week, periods of precipitation and wind will affect most mountains at least every few days. Scottish Munros generally below freezing point, with snow cover and drifts most substantial from the Cairngorms to central and southern Highlands, some additional falls in the week ahead (with continued flooding risk too); much less precipitation northwestward. Hills in England and Wales may see a period of freezing levels above the summits as a southerly flow brings slightly milder air to the country. An indication of colder easterlies in February, though detail is very uncertain.