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.
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly gale-force winds over high terrain in northern England and near west coast of Scotland; wind strengthening widely over the Highlands. Areas of persistent rain and heavy downpours becoming widespread for the Highlands, local thunderstorms. Frequent rain for northern England, less for Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Strengthening wind, rain becomes frequent, heavy bursts.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph from dawn into morning but around Loch Lomond & Arran southwesterly 20-25mph in morning. Afternoon onward, becoming west or northwesterly, rising to 25 to 35mph, strongest in south, risk 40mph coasts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small many places in morning, but worsening conditions in afternoon affecting ease of walking and balance on ridges, more challenging on coastal mountains. Marked wind chill develops.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain; local thunderstorms forming
Areas of rain affect the region much of the day, increasingly setting in heavier for periods afternoon with some thundery downpours mixed in, local torrential bursts with lightning, possible hail. Local drier windows possible mainly morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding mountains widely much of the day, with ragged patches from lower slopes up around heavier rain. Rare breaks toward some higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility poor during rain, occasionally improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, coolest in Lochaber, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 6th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest then westerly, later southwesterly; 15 to 25mph, strongest early morning, again by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling rather chilly in exposure to breeze on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Brief showers, rain later
Well scattered light showers, often dry. Light showers may come and go near the coast and islands during the day, later some steadier rain, pushing inland evening up to dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting with breaks to tops
Most cloud soon above 700-800m in the morning, lifting higher. Patches likely to come and go above 1000-1200m, best breaks further inland. Tending to lower over coastal tops later in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7C afternoon. Feeling below freezing if exposed to the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Only just above freezing point on Ben Nevis summit.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 7th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, strongest north. Strengthening, tops speeds to 50mph Mull and Lochaber, nearer 30-35mph Arran.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery from dawn, deteriorating to challenging walking with significant wind chill, mostly northern Munros.
How Wet?
Most rain early
Frequent or persistent rain for several morning hours, particularly along the west coast. Rain will linger Mull and northward, perhaps all day; an easing tendency south, but always a risk of patches here and there.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding high terrain
Extensive at dawn, to lower slopes Mull and north with ragged patches to forest canopies. A lifting trend, breaks approaching 800-900m Ben Lomond to Rannoch Moor, some chance of more improvement; further west and north, only small improvement.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a little weak sun may break through, best chance south. Visibility poor along coastal hills, improving below cloud well-inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, rising a degree, or locally 9C south and east Munros. Feeling like 0 to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail later this week and into the weekend and further weather fronts will come in off the Atlantic to bring low cloud and rain especially to western mountains in Scotland. A brief ridge of high pressure this Thursday offers a better day with the wind lessening for a time and fewer showers, but winds likely strengthen again by Friday, toward gale force over northwestern Scottish mountains at least. Heavy rain likely affects western Scotland on Saturday, becoming widely showery into Sunday. A brief window of improvement is indicated early next week, but a generally unsettled theme likely continues into mid-month.