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.
Friday'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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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
Friday 27th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery showers in north and west Scotland, snow above 800m, this level lowering; wind eases, showers isolate to the northwest. Patchy rain in south Scotland and north England, fairly small wind effects, some clear hills. Overnight rain central/south Pennines and Wales turns patchy; risk of changeable conditions here.
Headline for West Highlands
Early breeze; showers from the west, increasingly as snow
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20 to 30mph, stronger pre-dawn and southwesterly. Tending to ease and shifting northwesterly, 15-20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
In the morning, blustery wind impedes comfortable walking over higher terrain with marked wind chill. Easing towards fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Showers, snowfall level lowering, easing later
Showers arrive from the west, snow falling to 800-900m, lowering with time to 300-400m by evening. Showers at times move through as clusters. Tending to ease, lingering longest near/west of Loch Linnhe.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, sometimes lower, may improve
Terrain above 800-900m often in cloud, bases to middle slopes during showers, but with time a breaking trend, some "ribbons" at higher elevations but also breaks to summits possible, best chance inland. Despite improving trend, a risk of passing high cloud banks near coastal Lochaber into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun bursts increasingly break out between showers, best chance to the east. Good visibility but some haze towards the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C from dawn, tending to lower from northwest to -1C, locally -2C in the north, then more widely into night. Feeling near -10C directly in the wind early in the day, this effect easing.
Freezing Level
1000-1100m from dawn, a lowering trend likely, perhaps reaching to 700-800m over Lochaber to Mull afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-20mph, shifting southerly and slowing rising, 25-40mph by dusk, always strongest west
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small to start, increasingly blustery, walking becoming challenging in exposure in west and wind chill significant.
How Wet?
Much of day likely dry
Chance of brief showers near coast in morning, snow flurries above 600m. Onward into the night, risk of rain preceded by hill snow moving in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting from many hills
Some cloud banks along coastal Munros and near Loch Lomond in the morning, mostly above 900m. A breaking and lifting trend with time, many inland Munros clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly a good amount of sun, patchy cloud for a time south; high cloud tending to build later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, lifting to -1C, 0C later along coast/islands. Wind chill feeling like -10 to later -15C.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m, plus frost some sheltered lower areas early morning. Likely rising somewhat later in day near coast/islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 1st March 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30-35mph, strongest towards the west coast and downslope to the north. A rising trend with time, to 55mph west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day. Deteriorating, conditions becoming difficult west; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, rain more extensive later
Patchy rain and snow from dawn, snow falling mostly above 700m but locally lower. With time, rain arriving from the southwest, may become widespread into later afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some variability early
The Munros becoming shrouded from 700-800m up as the day goes, bases often lower on southern aspects, notably Loch Lomond to Mull. More variable cloud in the morning, bases higher with breaks to some tops, some patches in corries too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% early, soon lowering, to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little sunshine expected. Very good visibility away from fog/rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, lifting to 4C. Feeling like -10 to -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m from dawn, local variability, including lower frosts. Lifting with time to above the summits afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime continues through the weekend into early next week. Colder for a time with lowering freezing levels on Saturday allowing some refreezing of higher mountain terrain mainly in Scotland, the snowpack on high mountains consolidating following recent thawing. Early low frosts possible into north England as well. Milder air and thawing returns into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. During next week, higher pressure is expected to develop around the British Isles, bringing quieter weather, drier for most with lighter winds. Some fronts may continue to graze northwest Scotland with rain and stronger winds. Temperatures tending to be on the milder side during early March, occasional cooler winds lowering freezing levels, but winter conditions only on high Munros.