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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 8th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 7th Dec 25 at
4:24PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds often gale force over most higher terrain of Britain, less strong toward the north of the Highlands. Close to freezing only on higher Scottish tops. Rain frequent over western Scotland, some patchy rain passing eastwards. Showery rain common on some western hills in England and Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales or near-gales on tops. Rain frequent Lochaber west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 35mph; speed likely to fluctuate, at times 45mph over high tops, most sustained in southern areas and for periods up the west coast / islands.
Effect of the wind on you?
Often strenuous walking in exposure, making balance difficult on high tops and ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off, sleet/snow highest tops
Showery rain most common coastal areas near Mull into western Lochaber, more widely early in the day and spreading inland. A risk of hail, also sleet or snow on highest tops. Showers more scattered around the southern islands.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering many tops
Frequently capping higher slopes, near to coast bases varying 600 to 900m, inland more often above 900m, with some breaks higher up mainly east of Ben Nevis group.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sun mainly inland Lochaber. Visibility good where dry, but reduced in rain at times, briefly poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, starting to rise a little from south into the night, to 5C on/near Arran. If exposed to stronger winds, feeling like -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
1200 to 1300m, rising above the summits onward into night.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 9th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 7th Dec 25 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 35-50mph dawn, rapidly rising to a gusty 55-65mph; shifting SW'ly and rising, risk 75mph over tops late.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions likely persist all day - mobility tortuous, risk severe conditions into night. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Near-constant rain, local flooding
Rain from the south pre-dawn, spreading widely and setting in persistently and heavy. A breaking trend afternoon though patchy rain will linger. Beware fast-rising streams and local flooding.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Widely shrouding the coastal slopes from lower slopes upward and locally down to coastal cliffs in the south. Highest bases from Ben Nevis group towards Knoydart but unlikely rising above 600-700m. Odd breaks southwest later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C pre-dawn, soon rising to around 8C, then sharply cooling from the south later. Feeling like -8 to -10C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, lowering to the highest Munros overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 10th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 7th Dec 25 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph, risk at times 80mph higher tops mainly Ben Nevis group, with stronger gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions from mid elevations upward, severe over higher mountains; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery with snow tops, hail
Frequent showery precipitation, merging to be near-constant at times, falling as snow above 1000m, also hail mostly morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering high tops
Cloud base constantly changing, but often shrouding higher slopes, at times down to 600m coasts, brief breaks to tops inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun mainly well inland. Hazy, visibility poorer in rain, very poor if in snow on highest tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C. Wind chill feeling near to -15C.
Freezing Level
1100 to 1200m
Planning Outlook
A very unsettled spell through the next 10 days as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems move in from the Atlantic. Stormy conditions widely over the mountains on Tuesday, gales remaining severe on high terrain into Wednesday, then potentially intensifying again on Thursday. Temperatures only close to freezing on higher Scottish tops this week, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, leaving snow increasingly patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Rainfall will be frequent and heavy, sometimes showery with hail. Expect wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers.