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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Monday 23rd February 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Feb 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread gales, severe for several hours on higher terrain. Early showers from the west affect many hills, particularly Scotland where rain will be frequent; snow on high terrain. Rain slowly eases afternoon, then a warm front approaches Wales, brining more rain and rising temperatures here, spreading widely overnight.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, severe for a time; early frequent rain, easing
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 45-50mph from dawn, strengthening and shifting westerly as midday approaches, speeds up to 60mph for several hours fairly widespread. Easing afternoon, reaching 25-30mph into evening, restrengthening later overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions widespread for several hours before and around midday with severe wind chill; crouching likely necessary for stability. Effects easing afternoon, but wind remains a nuisance.
How Wet?
Frequent heavy rain early, fading afternoon
Frequent showery precipitation overnight and through morning, at times heavy with hail and merging into more constant areas of rain; snow above 900m. Fading from late morning to lighter showers, only few patches by late afternoon. Rain returns overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, improving, best inland
Fairly extensive early across high terrain, bases often down to 600-700m in rain or lower along the west coast. Tending to lift and break toward upper slopes afternoon, but may often cap highest tops. Lowering into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through, best chance inland but high cloud soon thickens through afternoon. Poor visibility early in fog and rain, improving as rain eases, very good inland during dry periods.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C from dawn, lifting to 2C through daylight, further rising a few degrees overnight. Feeling like -15 to -18C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m, only a slight rise afternoon, then lifting from the south as evening approaches, to above the summits overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 24th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35 to 50mph, the strongest wind coastal Lochaber and also gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over the mountains, difficult in places higher up. Significant wind chill despite milder air.
How Wet?
Rain/drizzle high slopes
Drizzle affects high slopes in cloud, particularly near the west coast, at times drifting inland too. With time, a greater risk of light rain west of Loch Linnhe. Wet underfoot where snow melts upper-mid slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest south and coasts
Shrouding the mountains widely, from lower slopes up coast & islands, 600-800m inland Lochaber, highest near Glen Spean/Creag Meagaidh.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy, murky many areas, poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C. In exposure to wind, feeling like -8 to -10C.
Freezing Level
Above all summits with thawing toward upper slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 25th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 20-30mph, notable gusts, not just high slopes. A risk of strengthening later though low confidence.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking affected by inconvenient buffeting, at times strenuous in highest wind.
How Wet?
Persistent rain
Rain affects most mountains nearly all day, persistent to nearly constant near the coast from Mull/Ben Nevis northward and with heavy falls. Some breaks further south, but these fleeting.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds nearly all hills to the middle slopes, often to lower slopes, most persistently lower near the northern coastal areas. Some higher breaks possible towards Creag Meagaidh, but unlikely above 700m at best.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Very poor visibility in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C; little change with added height. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail during the week ahead as areas of low pressure move toward northwest Scotland; regular rainfall here, most frequent and heavy over western mountains. Weak high pressure keeps the weather drier to the south and east early in the week. Sustained gales over the mountains, only brief lulls around mid-week. Temperatures rising into mid-week with freezing levels soon lifting off summits in England and Wales for substantial snow thaws. Some thawing in Scotland too. Later in the week, becoming more widely unsettled again with cooler temperatures, at times showery with hail, some snow on Scottish Munros. The final days of February favour colder northwesterly air and a drop of freezing level; a dry and bright spell is possible early weekend.