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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Mostly sunny but cool
A bright and largely sunny day with the mountains mostly free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Mostly sunny but cool
A bright and largely sunny day with the mountains mostly free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
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
Thursday 30th October 2025
Last updated
Wed 29th Oct 25 at
3:54PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A temporary lull in the wind will give way as later in the day upland gales reach western mountains. Substantially dry, although 'patchy' rain will reach Wales and later in the day SW Scotland and NW England. Higher terrain frozen across the Scottish Highlands.
Headline for West Highlands
Increasingly windy: Upland severe gales developing.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 10-20mph morning, locally 30mph near coast. Progressively strengthening 40, to 60mph western mountains by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Morning: mostly small. Then particularly near coast, sudden buffeting and wind chill become considerable, by dusk difficult.
How Wet?
Little or no precipitation
Widespread rain (initially snow above 800m) spreading north at about dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little all day. Most likely to form Loch Lomond NP.
Fragments slow to lift off some higher slopes, but most summits cloud free by about midday. May come and go all day above about 600m Loch Lomond NP (most likely Trossachs area).
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine will give way from south as high cloud thickens. Superb visibility in the hills; a few pockets of fog valleys and corries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C; rising slowly through the day. Will feel as cold as minus 12C in the wind later in day.
Freezing Level
800m rising toward 1100m. Note, frost many valleys morning.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 31st October 2025
Last updated
Wed 29th Oct 25 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, speeds increasing quickly with height to around 50mph; strongest coastal mountains where locally 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult walking where exposed on higher areas and significant wind chill in upland gales.
How Wet?
Areas of rain; least wet N Lochaber
Rain frequently or almost constantly. But north across Lochaber, particularly near and north of Glen Spean, total rainfall becoming small or negligible.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive; breaks to higher slopes Lochaber
Loch Lomond NP and near Mull: Persistent fog from a few hundred metres up. Elsewhere, cloud base between 600 and 900m, but toward and north of Glen Spean, breaks to 1050 to 1200m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sunshine at times mainly or only Lochaber. Widely dull elsewhere. Very good or excellent visibility Lochaber, but persistently poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C. Will feel more like minus 7C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 1st November 2025
Last updated
Wed 29th Oct 25 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly in the range 30 to 40mph; particularly gusty near precipitation.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking difficult and considerable wind chill on higher areas, especially near precipitation.
How Wet?
Frequent precipitation
Overnight rain clearing to sudden heavy showers - sometimes one after another, particularly western mountains. Hail and increasingly snow, by mid afternoon snow as low as 700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Widespread, particularly western mountains.
Cloud widely covering higher areas from dawn. Will improve intermittently as cloud base rises to around 750m western mountains and 900m central highlands. Near precipitation cloud often forming lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief patches of sun, mainly toward central highlands. Sometimes good visibility but often very poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 dropping toward 0C. Will feel as cold as minus 12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1250m dropping to 950m.
Planning Outlook
A long period (well into November) of frequent rainfall, particularly western mountains where widely considerable accumulation, strong or gale force upland winds and low cloud. Temperatures generally higher than at present: brief interludes in Scotland where freezing level drops below higher summits.