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.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 28th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 27th May 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gusty winds, warm and humid, a mix of strong sun and high cloud - the warmest day this week for the Highlands, but locally low cloud southeast. Northern England starts with a risk of thunderstorms, but clearing. An isolated thunderstorm possible for Highlands, mainly NW later. Low cloud near west coast of Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Increasingly windy. Very warm sun, high cloud, chance a shower.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 15-25mph early, strongest coasts, locally higher gusts, strengthening into afternoon to 30-40mph, most powerful sustained speeds coasts & islands, later shifting S'ly, slightly dropping. Into night, SW'ly 25-40mph, stronger later in night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, affecting ease of walking and balance on exposed terrain, becoming considerable buffeting in places, particularly coastal areas afternoon.
How Wet?
Largely dry, possible isolated showers
Chance of an odd burst of rain as high cloud thickens, mainly southern areas in morning, low risk isolated thunder briefly. Odd spots or a brief burst drift north through middle of day into afternoon, but many places stay dry. Into night, bursts of rain develop more widely from west, possible thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Some early low cloud south, clearing
Banks of cloud mostly southern hills early in day, some higher slopes above cloud at first, then drifting upslope and dispersing. Later in day, low cloud banks drift onto coastal hills, filling in more widely over mountains into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best early in day toward north/west of Ben Nevis group; high cloud soon tending to build from south, but may leave hazy sun. Beware sunburn and dehydration. Visibility starting very good, but increasingly very hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11C (some slopes start cooler near 7C if in cloud), rising to 14 to 16C afternoon, though moderated by wind; warmest Lochaber, humid. (Inland glens 25 to 27C afternoon). Cooling to 8C well into night.
Freezing Level
Well above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 29th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 27th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35 to 45mph, often 50mph with stronger gusts higher tops particularly in Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting affecting balance on high tops. Significant wind chill higher areas.
How Wet?
Rain and showers
Rain fairly persistent over Lochaber hills in the morning, heavy for a time, patchier southeastwards; tending to break up into showery rain and some drizzle on windward slopes toward coasts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding many higher mountains all day, often extensive above 600-800m west of Loch Linnhe, at times coastal areas further south. Some breaks above 1000m inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun well inland and south but largely cloudy. Visibility reduced in rain, otherwise good below cloud, but some haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C. Wind chill feeling like -7 to -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 30th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 27th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 25 to 40mph, may reach 50mph at least in gusts higher mountains, mainly Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions on exposed terrain, more frequent buffeting higher up. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and showery bursts
Patchy rain moving in from the west in morning, likely to become more persistent fairly widely, some heavier rain mixed in at times. Later showery, some heavy bursts possible.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasing extensive
Patchy cloud banks mostly coastal hills at first, starting clearer inland. Cloud lowering and filling in over many mountains to 600-800m, or lower slopes near coast; higher bases mainly near Glen Spean.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy and dull after a brighter start. Visibility starts good, then reducing to poor in rain, general haze especially coasts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, slightly higher inland afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -5C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Gale or near-gale force southwesterlies on Friday for the Highlands, strongest toward the northwest, where accompanied by rain, drizzle and low cloud. Nearer average temperatures for all into the weekend onward as changeable southwesterlies prevail - a generally unsettled theme is expected during the first ten days of June with lower pressure dominating. Frontal systems come in from the Atlantic - rain, drizzle and low cloud most common on western coastal mountains, but showery days are likely more widely at times, possibly rain more widely further south later in week. Wind speeds will vary, but reaching gale force on mountains for periods.