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.
West Highlands
Friday 23rd May 2025
Last updated
Thu 22nd May 25 at
4:20PM
A sunny start for most. High cloud begins drifting over western areas, gradually thickening through afternoon. Patchy high cloud builds in eastern Scotland and down the spine of the Pennines before high cloud reaches these areas too. Overcast for most by dusk with rain setting into western coastal areas, spreading east overnight.
Patchy sun, high cloud increasing; evening rain setting in
Variable 10mph or less. Shifting southwesterly afternoon 15-20mph, further strengthening by dusk to 25-35mph, soonest and strongest near coast and islands.
Negligible much of the day. Some uncomfortable winds later afternoon, deteriorating into the evening - balance challenges may arise after sunset.
Setting in later afternoon into evening
Dry for much of the daytime. Rain approaching from the west later afternoon, soonest Mull to Jura; extending inland through dusk, setting in steadier then heavier widely. Rain and drizzle continues during night.
Little if any until evening
Isolated cloud caps may drift over highest terrain around Lochaber/Loch Linnhe at first, soon dissipating for cloud-free hills. Banks of cloud returning to high terrain along the coast later afternoon, widely filling in, lowering, and spreading inland into night.
Above 90% most of daylight
Extensive sun through morning, high cloud filling in through afternoon, becoming overcast by evening. Superb visibility.
4C; well inland areas may be near 2C at dawn. Rising to 6 or 7C, reaching near 9C well inland.
Above the summits. Frost inland glens at dawn.
West Highlands
Saturday 24th May 2025
Last updated
Thu 22nd May 25 at
4:20PM
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, near 40mph over higher tops in morning and again by evening, risk stronger onward into night.
Blustery over the mountains, affecting comfortable walking and balance on exposed tops and ridges, feeling cool.
Rain or drizzle all day
Generally damp, constant drizzle, mixed with periods of steadier rain; may ease off a little for inland areas in the afternoon. Likely extensive heavier rain moving in from southwest evening into night.
Extensive very low cloud
Blanket cloud from lower slopes up most or all day coastal mountains and on islands. Further inland, cloud base 400-600m, occasionally may break higher toward east of Loch Treig to Creag Meagaidh.
10%
Rare if any glimpses of sun, generally overcast and dull, poor visibility across the mountains, misty to low levels near coasts.
8C, little change all day. Feeling sub-zero directly in the wind, nearer -5C at times on highest summits.
Above the summits
West Highlands
Sunday 25th May 2025
Last updated
Thu 22nd May 25 at
4:20PM
Westerly 40-50+mph. Frequent squally gusts around showers.
Walking arduous, squally winds may inhibit forward progress or blow you over. Significant wind chill.
Frequent showers, heavy bursts west
Showers merging into near constant precipitation. Heavy bursts with some hail mixed in, some snow on highest tops later. Chance an odd flash of lightning northern coastal slopes.
West coast often shrouded, variable bases
Widely shrouded along the west coast from 500-600m and up, becoming variable. Higher bases inland though will vary in showers. Breaks up to 1000m well inland and near Creag Meagaidh.
20%
Overcast in the morning, breaking for glimpses or patchy sun. Visibility often poor, though good out of showers inland.
3 to 5C at dawn, coolest along the coast. Cooling to around 2C most areas. Feeling like -10C in direct wind.
Above the summits early in the day. Soon lowering to highest tops Lochaber and north, settling near 1200m here afternoon.
Low pressure facilitates a strong westerly Atlantic breeze over the weekend: blustery winds, low cloud, damp conditions for Saturday, then widely heavier rain is expected by Saturday night, accompanied by winds strengthening to gale force over many hills. Remaining very windy through Sunday and Monday with mountain gales; cooler too, with heavy showers, particularly frequent in western Scotland, a risk of hail and thunder. A changeable week follows, winds generally easing and likely a period of rain for England and Wales Tuesday. Eastern Scotland may be substantially dry with regular sun. Some improvement likely late week into the weekend.