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.
Thursday'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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be 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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 8th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fairly benign conditions, breezier in northern Scotland. Local snow flurries, patchy cloud and some sun. A developing system to the southwest moves into Wales with heavy snow setting in increasingly widely later, extending into the Peak District by evening, accompanied by gales.
Headline for West Highlands
Light-moderate wind. Local flurries, varied cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southwesterly, 10 to 20mph, strongest around Ben Nevis to Mull, in places 25mph in morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but noticeable chill factor and blustery around some northern tops in the morning.
How Wet?
Patchy light snow, showers coasts
Occasional snow flurries, showers most common toward Mull, sleet or rain lower coastal slopes. Often dry well inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied to fairly extensive
Cloud banks around upper slopes and corries, in places persistent to mid-slopes. Some mist lower down inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some glimpses of sun. Visibility very good where dry, reducing in showers. Beware difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, up to -1C nearest coast / on islands. Where exposed to wind, feeling nearer -10C, particularly Lochaber.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen and snow covered, some glens stay sub-zero. Just above freezing to 600-700m coasts & islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 9th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction, mostly below 15-20mph, in places often little wind.
Effect of the wind on you?
Likely small.
How Wet?
Coastal showers
Showers mostly around the islands, falling as snow on tops, possibly hail at times; mostly rain on low-mid slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches
Patchy cloud clinging to some upper slopes and corries, but expect clearer spells over many mountains. Larger cloud banks near coast if showers occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak due to a veil of high cloud. Visibility very good over many hills, some haze or mist inland glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen into the glens, some slopes around 300-500m inland just above freezing point, or up to 700m coasts.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10 to 25mph, gusty in places on some downslopes to the north of higher mountains, mainly Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small some slopes, but gusty spots may feel more noticeable locally, giving considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Coastal showers, flurries
Occasional showers, most common toward coast, brief snow flurries pushing inland, here falling to lower slopes, but near coast mostly rain below 500m, some hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches
Patchy cloud around some slopes and tops, may linger around corries. Some mist possible lower slopes inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, nearer 0C coastal tops. Feeling near -10C if in gusty wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen inland; just above freezing around 300-500m, up to 600-700m near coast, slightly higher islands.
Planning Outlook
Terrain remaining widely frozen into the weekend, extensive deep snow cover for Highlands, less nearer the central belt. A fresh good covering for Wales and south Pennines from Thursday night too. Quiet weather for Saturday daytime. Then into Sunday, southerly winds strengthen to gales - as a frontal system approaches, snow then freezing rain is likely. A rise of freezing level from the southwest - some thawing develops, rising just above freezing toward higher slopes; more pronounced thawing in England and Wales to the tops. Uncertain patterns next week, colder air may return across Scotland, whilst further south often generally milder. Some further hill snow mainly in Scotland.