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.
Sunday'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.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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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.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Sunday 1st February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive low cloud and patchy areas of rain, or snow on higher mountains, merging into more constant precipitation from the west over England, Wales and southwest Scotland. Driest conditions for the coastal northwest Highlands. Improving afternoon for Wales. Variable winds, dropping fairly light Highlands.
Headline for West Highlands
Wind drops inland, increases again coast with showery rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 20mph, local gusts 30mph Ben Nevis area at first, but easing with time to southerly 10mph or less into afternoon. However, near coast south from Jura to Arran may switch westerly 20-30mph by afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in places at first, but becoming mostly small. Locally toward coasts in south becoming more blustery with marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy snow inland tops; showery rain southern coasts
Spots of sleet/snow in well-inland areas early, mostly rain below 700m though higher up where near the coast. Showery rain arrives to the west coast with patches spreading inland, most widely south, locally more frequent rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some breaks north
Cloud shrouds most high terrain, some higher and broken areas in Lochaber toward northwest of Ben Nevis. Cloud often down to middle slopes from southern islands to Rannoch Moor, Creag Meagaidh often capped as well. Filling in more widely in rain south, then may lift on islands later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 40% northwest Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some bright glimpses for a time in coastal Lochaber but otherwise cloudy. Visibility variable, at times good, most often west of Fort William, but locally poor toward south in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C most hills, 1C coastal tops and islands. Feeling like -10 to -13C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around 800-900m most hills, though up to 1000m along the coast.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 2nd February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 20-30mph, gusty. Rising afternoon, top speeds to 45mph central & south areas afternoon through dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small early, deteriorating, becoming strenuous-to-arduous with significant wind chill, soonest toward south.
How Wet?
Precipitation mostly inland and south
Patchy rain, or increasingly snow flurries above 700m, focused on inland areas south and east of Rannoch Moor, may become more persistent with time. Very little reaching coast and west Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly south and inland
Cloud covers most high terrain from Loch Lomond to Creag Meagaidh, bases to mid-slopes during precipitation, also often shrouding tops on southern island hills. Well broken west of Loch Linnhe, some clear summits, but varied banks drifting westwards with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% inland, to 50% western Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Regularly sunny west coast near Mull, some lower western inland slopes too. Very good visibility out of precipitation, but rapidly turning poor during snow/sleet.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Coast and island tops up to 0 or +1C. Feeling like -10 to -13C in the wind.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, highest toward the coast, tending to lower inland later in daytime, toward 600m by dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 55mph, very gusty in places around higher mountains and downslope west of high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, more difficult in places, frequent buffeting affecting balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly well inland
Snow most frequent in areas south and east from Rannoch Moor. Patchy flurries extend west, light rain spots below 500m, but often dry much of west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks west
Often covering inland mountains above 800 to 1000m, banks of cloud drifting westwards, but more broken toward coast, best west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly toward coast, where visibility mostly good. Some haze toward south. Very poor visibility in snow and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C well inland, to -1C coast and islands. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
400-500m well inland, to 600m further west, or locally varied higher up nearest coast and on the islands.
Planning Outlook
Southeast then easterly winds will prevail during the week ahead, strong to gale force over many hills for sustained periods. From Monday into Tuesday onward, colder air temperature and lower freezing level again, leaving mountain terrain widely frozen from mid-elevations upward, or to lower slopes in eastern Scotland. Further snow will affect eastern mountains, with additional accumulations and drifting. Some periods of hill snow for England and Wales into midweek. Cold easterly patterns are expected to continue onward into mid February, though higher pressure to the north may see reduced precipitation amounts, always driest with highest cloud in west.