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.
Today'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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, rising above 10C 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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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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, rising above 10C 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
Wednesday 30th April 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Apr 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine and warm, or very warm Wales and Pennines. Strong sunshine, some thin high cloud; beware sunburn and dehydration. Toward northwest Scotland, strengthening southwesterly winds, more cloud at times, one or two brief showers. Into night, some rain moves into Scotland from the west.
Headline for West Highlands
Patchy cloud clears, mostly sunny, warm. Becoming breezier.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest Ben Nevis group and out to Mull, may reach 30mph on some high tops by afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small especially southern areas. On tops in Lochaber may start to feel noticeable and affect balance on ridges.
How Wet?
Little or no rain during day
Small risk a shower early morning north from Mull. Late evening into night, increasingly risk of rain associated with a front moving in from west, some heavier bursts possible locally overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Early patches clearing; lowering into night
Patches early morning on some slopes, mostly toward and west of Loch Linnhe, dispersing to leave the mountains clear. Lowering cloud returning near Mull up to dusk, filling in more widely over the hills into night, to mid-slopes near coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90% by mid-morning.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine weakening or obscured at times due to varied high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C at first, or all day toward Mull, but rising up to 14C inland areas by afternoon. As wind increases, feeling nearer 5C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 1st May 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Apr 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20-30mph, risk up to 35mph at times higher tops around Ben Nevis.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to impede walking, some stability challenges if highest winds occur; feeling increasingly chilly.
How Wet?
Occasional showery rain
Bursts of showery rain from time to time. Chance of some drizzly moments along the coast in low cloud.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive at first, improving, breaks inland
Coastal slopes extensively covered at dawn, mid slopes upward inland. Bases lifting inland but highest terrain will often be covered, briefly lower in showers. Some breaks near the coast, though always a risk of fragments of low cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, becoming 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun morning, occasional breaks appearing through the afternoon. Hazy or misty start, visibility becoming excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C, locally slightly warmer Loch Lomond NP in morning.
Freezing Level
Lowering from northwest during morning into middle of day to around 1200m, mainly Lochaber mountains.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 2nd May 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Apr 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over tops in Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling blustery around high tops. Starting to affect balance on exposed higher ridges. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Light showers locally
One or two brief showers, a snow flurry on higher Munros early morning, mainly Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Rising to tops, clearing at times
Patches of cloud likely to come and go above 800-1000m in morning, lowest toward west, lifting with time to higher slopes, but may come and go on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and some sun. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C rising to 5C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -8C.
Freezing Level
Near highest summits around 1100-1200m from dawn, lifting above all tops into middle of day onward.
Planning Outlook
Dropping colder across the Highlands by Thursday, near to freezing on higher summits; strong westerly winds in the north giving considerable chill factor and bringing a few showers. Warmer further south - risk of local thundery rain for Wales later Thursday. High pressure centred toward the northwest maintains plenty of dry weather over the Bank Holiday weekend with broken cloud and sun; brief local showers possible. Cool and breezy toward north and eastern mountains, lighter winds and warmer toward southwest Highlands, Cumbria and west Wales. Further into next week, risk spells of chilly and strong west-northwesterly winds particularly for the Highlands, some showery days.