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
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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
Sunday 5th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 4th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Notably cold for Easter Sunday, sub-zero across Scottish mountains and high tops in England & Wales, severe chill factor where exposed to gale-force westerly winds over hills. Heavy, squally showers with hail, also snow falling at times to lower elevations; chance of isolated thunder.
Headline for West Highlands
Mountain gales, bitterly cold; heavy showery hail and snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Stormy conditions overnight lessen before dawn, then westerly 40 to 50mph, squally gusts; briefly less in morning, and tending to ease a little near coast up to dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking challenging on higher exposed terrain, sudden powerful gusts making balance difficult. Beware possible storm damage from overnight around forests. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow; risk lightning
Fresh lying snow to some lower hill slopes, mainly Lochaber. A succession of heavy hail and snow showers; snow falling to lower elevations early in day at least. Isolated thunder & lightning. Intensity of showers slowly easing later in daytime from south.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, often capping higher slopes above 800m toward coast & islands; patches to 600m or lower at times, whilst briefly clearing higher up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun and very good visibility, but suddenly appalling in cloud and snow or hail, temporary whiteout.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 to -4C, rising slightly afternoon. (Around -6C on Ben Nevis summit). Feeling like -15 to -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m in morning, rising to 700-800m afternoon, but lowering briefly again around showers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 6th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 4th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 40mph, strongest west coastal mountains, may increase a little more widely.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance on ridges and higher tops; notably gusty on some downslopes north of high tops.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain mostly near coast
A little patchy rain or drizzle mostly coastal areas near Mull, perhaps feeling generally damp where in cloud over many coastal tops. Very little if any rain inland areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly coastal slopes, little inland
Patchy cloud banks mostly over western mountains in the morning above 800m, well broken inland. Cloud banks may linger or fill in near coast and on some islands, but inland Lochaber often clearer all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% coast/islands, to 70% well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through high cloud, but very good visibility inland. Hazier toward coast, thicker overcast skies possible, may become poorer visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C from dawn, rising to +2C locally +4C afternoon. Feeling like -7 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens in morning, much mountain terrain frozen all day, but air temperature rising above freezing to tops by late in day.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 7th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 4th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30 to 50mph, locally very variable, typically strongest Mull, powerful gusts on some downslopes to north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions particularly over coastal mountains, variable but sudden buffeting gusts also in places inland.
How Wet?
Risk rain later coasts
Chance of patchy rain pushing onto coastal areas during day, mostly spots from high cloud, possibly an odd burst of rain forming mainly later in the day. By evening onward, risk of rain setting in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any much of day
Patchy mist some glens at first. The mountains generally clear much of the day, but later some cloud banks may form on islands and near coast, risk filling in further by evening onward into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best early in day, becoming fairly weak through high-level cloud, tending to thicken to cover the sky. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 9C. Directly in the stronger wind, feeling below freezing, in places nearer to -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Possible slight frost some sheltered inland glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
A cold frosty start to Monday, but milder southerly air arrives - dry and many hills clear with hazy sun, but gusty wind, risk of local gales west coastal mountains of Scotland. Quite warm by Tuesday, but strong to gale force southerly winds more widely; dry for many, rain encroaching into western Scotland, thawing of recent snow. Staying warm on Wednesday for many, but likely becoming cooler later in the week. Scotland likely remains changeable, often windy later in the week, rain at times, varying temperatures, at times below freezing on higher Munros. England and Wales sees occasional rain or showers late week, but some drier days and lighter winds.