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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 11th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 10th May 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold northerly breezes, but a bright day with broken cloud lifting above the mountains and some sun. Scattered showers with snow flurries on hills. A band of showers moves south over Wales in the morning. Later in the day, westerly winds increase and cloud thickens in western Scotland with drizzly rain arriving.
Headline for West Highlands
Cold, but largely dry, then rain from dusk. Windier later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 15-20mph, occasionally less; turning westerly, tending to increase to 25-30mph during evening hours, stronger by dusk in Lochaber, reaching 40mph with stronger gusts into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small much of day, but distinctly chilly over the mountains. Becoming more blustery toward evening, deteriorating further after sunset.
How Wet?
Rare flurries; later drizzly rain northwest
Isolated snow flurries over the hills early in day, fading to be largely dry for much of day. Into evening, drizzly rain arrives west of Loch Linnhe, preceded by snow flurries on tops, more persistent dusk onward in Lochaber; rain widely more persistent into night, some heavier.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches lifting, lowering by dusk west
Patchy cloud banks over higher slopes in morning, but lifting above most tops. During evening, cloud banks lowering onto coastal hills near Mull, then up to dusk extending further inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, dropping to 30% west evening.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun mostly south in morning, then weakening as high cloud builds from west. Visibility excellent, then reducing later in day mainly west Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -3C at first, rising to +3C afternoon, or slightly milder into night. Feeling colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m from dawn, nearer 1000m coast & islands; gradually rising widely to 1200m or above afternoon, then further above all tops dusk into night.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 12th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 10th May 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 45mph, squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting across the hills, challenging walking at times in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and snow on tops
A band of rain clears southeast at dawn, then a scattering of showers becoming more frequent, some heavy, snow falling at times to 800m, also hail to lower slopes. Chance of isolated thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, lifting higher with breaks
Cloud frequently changing, covering tops above 800m for periods, but tending to rise higher in afternoon, with time only occasionally capping tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun. Visibility often very good, but intermittently very poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind on tops..
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, highest inland toward central highlands afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 13th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 10th May 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 25 to 30mph, strongest toward coast, risk increasing all western hills later toward 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, very blustery, may become more challenging in exposure over coastal and island mountains.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and hill snow
Showers mostly coastal mountains early morning, then developing increasingly widely inland, heavy bursts with hail, risk isolated thunder; snow often falling on the Munros, at times down to 700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying quickly over high tops
Cloud frequently changing over the tops, around showers fairly extensive above 900-1000m, ragged patches to 600m, but periods where breaking to clear even highest slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun and intermittently excellent visibility, but suddenly appalling where in cloud, snow or hail.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, rising to 1200m or above into afternoon, but lowering slightly in showers.
Planning Outlook
Notably chilly for mid-May across the hills this week as air from the north-northwest prevails. Frequently near or below freezing over Scottish Munros, and at times dropping to freezing on high tops in England and Wales. Wind speed will vary, but increasing at times to gale force on hills, giving significant chill factor. Broadly showery, heavy bursts with hail and thunder in places, also often falling as snow on higher mountains, at least in Scotland, intermittently elsewhere. Some more persistent precipitation especially northwest Scotland. Also some drier windows - varying locally day-to-day - away from showers cloud will lift above hills and visibility will be very good. Less windy and fewer showers suggested by next weekend into early next week.