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.
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Saturday 14th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very much less windy, especially England and Wales in afternoon. But still cold day with hail and snow showers, and particularly Wales away from western hills spells of sun. The snow will penetrate to lower slopes in Scotland but be confined above 600m elsewhere.
Headline for West Highlands
Wind and snow showers easing & cloud base rising.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, 30mph after dawn. Will during morning east to widely 20mph, although gusts to 30 or 35mph near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Becoming fairly small, although balance difficult and wind chill considerable in gusty winds in precipitation.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow showers.
Precipitation frequent as shower after shower comes in. Snow and above 300, rising to 500m snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Almost constantly covering higher mountains, but cloud base rising
Varied cloud base: sometimes patches below 450m near precipitation mainly morning western hills. Increasingly cloud becoming confined above 700 to 1050m, lowest within a few miles of the general lie of the west coast and highest central highlands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, later 30% toward central highlands
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mainly central highlands. Hazy, mainly near the coast morning; very poor visibility in snow
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C; varying by a degree or two as showers come and go. Will feel as cold as minus 14C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
600m post dawn; mostly 800m by mid afternoon
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 15th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly typically between 35 and 45mph. Risk strengthening further later afternoon onwards.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued difficult walking and wind chill significant on exposed higher areas. Expect balance, and in places general mobility to be difficult.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail
Widespread rain after dawn, snow higher tops. Soon snow as low as 600m. Through day, succession of sometimes heavy hail and snow showers (most rain only lowest slopes). Isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistently covering nearly all mountains
Typically, quickly varying cloud base between 450m (locally lower) and 600m near precipitation to otherwise 700 to perhaps 1000m. Generally lowest cloud base will be on more western mountains, highest central highlands.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mainly lower slopes well inland. Varied visibility; appalling in precipitation but otherwise good - although a haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Soon -2C. Will feel as cold as minus 15C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Soon between 400 and 600m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 16th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly; near Clyde sea lochs 35mph. Elsewhere, 45mph morning before easing.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill and arduous or at difficult walking,. Balance may well be a struggle particularly morning.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Shower after shower; sometimes particularly morning the precipitation - often hail and above 300, later 600m snow - almost constant giving whiteout. Precipitation may set in toward dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistently covering nearly all higher areas; highest cloud base afternoon.
Cloud base will vary: near precipitation forming below 450m, sometimes 300m. Otherwise, cloud base 600m morning, and 800 to temporarily 1000m (most likely well inland) into the afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun only - mainly lower slopes well inland. Persistent haze - but appalling visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising toward 0C. Will feel as cold as minus 18C due to wind chill.
Freezing Level
600m, rising toward 900m.
Planning Outlook
Frequent upland gales until Tuesday - generally strongest Scottish Highlands. Precipitation will continue on most mountains, focussed in the west - lengthy periods of showery weather and occasional swathes of widespread rain. Freeze thaw cycles will continue: on the Scottish Highlands, thaw periods brief and snow widely accumulating. Further south, lying snow mostly confined to higher summits. There is now high likelihood of an abrupt transition mid-week as pressure builds north of Britain: extensively fine; cloud often clearing, particularly western Britain and temperature levels more varied - fairly warm some afternoons but frost widely at night.