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.
Tuesday'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 13th Apr 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy light rain and fog soon spread into Wales from the south, soon windy too, briefly gales. Starting sunny elsewhere, high cloud spreads north over England, later into central Scotland. Patchy rain into Lakeland to the west Highlands later, wind strengthens, gales coastal west Highlands. Northern Scotland stays sunny.
Headline for West Highlands
Early sun, slowly weakening; increasingly windy; coastal gales
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 15-25mph, some directional variability. Soon strengthening and trending southeasterly, 35-45mph afternoon with powerful downslope gusts to the northwest approaching 55mph+ Mull and Lochaber for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small at dawn, increasingly blustery, soon arduous on most high terrain, and likely challenging for several hours with gusts requiring bracing to maintain balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some light showery rain afternoon
Risk a few odd spots of rain southern islands early but otherwise dry. Through afternoon, a rising risk of showery rain arriving from the southwest, though light in nature. Rain reaches most areas by evening, remaining patchy during daylight, deteriorating overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Likely all clearing for most of the day
Patchy cloud around some southern slopes in morning at various heights, also mist in some glens at first. Largely breaking up or lifting above the hills into middle of day, some fleeting caps over high tops. Later afternoon, cloud returns to high terrain Arran to Mull, perhaps inland highest tops, becoming extensive overnight.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny well into the morning, high cloud starts to build from the southwest, gradually weakening the sun, overcast in the south later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C, to 5C Lochaber and later more widely 5C. Staying elevated into nighttime. Feeling colder as wind increases, later in day risk chill factor feels like -10C.
Freezing Level
900-1000m early in day, to 800m central highlands; light frost inland glens too. Rising to around 1200m noon, rising above the high tops through afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 15th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 13th Apr 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 45-60mph, powerful gusts, not just high slopes, locally variable direction; may east somewhat later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill in exposure likely all day; chaotic gusts constantly affecting balance.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day
Rain frequently streaming in from the south, setting in persistently for periods, heavy falls probable; occasional brief breaks in the rain but often drizzly on high terrain during these lulls too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, local slight improvements
A sheet of cloud shrouds the mountains, largely to lower slopes in the morning, as low as coastal cliffs in the south. A slight lift of bases inland-north, best around Creag Meagaidh, but unlikely breaking above 600-700m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun expected. Largely poor visibility due to cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, cooling sharply into night. Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, may just graze the summits of Ben Nevis around dusk, lowering towards 1100m overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 16th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 13th Apr 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph, strongest south, a general easing trend, to 25-30mph, some variability.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure most of the day, notably early where walking more strenuous and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Showers and drizzle, heavy early
A stream of showers driving in from the west, most frequent and heavy in the morning with a risk of early hail and thunder. Drizzly on the tops for a time as well, even between showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, slow improvement, best inland
Most terrain above 800m shrouded at dawn, lowest bases south and west, locally to coastal cliffs. A lifting trend, breaks to upper terrain well-inland, bases slow to rise above 600m closer to the coast. Only late in the day will higher summits possibly clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine breaking out on lower slopes with time, gradually to higher slopes too. Variable visibility, often poor in rain but excellent during breaks.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising to 3C; southern islands always a degree milder. Feeling like -10C in early wind.
Freezing Level
About 1200m at dawn, gradually lifting to clear all summits.
Planning Outlook
Milder from Wednesday into the weekend, but Scottish high tops below freezing at times, locally lower in the northwest. Unsettled conditions in the immediate near-term with showers (sometimes heavy with hail and lightning), occasionally more persistent rain, accompanied by often gusty winds, gales over mountains for periods, but also brighter spells between rain. With spring sunshine, temperatures will tend to rise several degrees during daylight, often becoming warm in the valleys; slopes north of major hill groups often milder. Saturday sees continued showers, mostly north and west, but higher pressure gradually builds through late weekend into early next week, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days. Confidence is low regarding how long high pressure will establish.