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.
Friday'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.
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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.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 31st July 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly winds, tending to strengthen through the day will continue to bring lower temperatures to the mountains (particularly W & NW Scotland), Showers, throughout day W and NW Highlands, but mostly afternoon elsewhere - and few if any S Pennines and Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Showers; chilly. Wind speed tending to increase..
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly typically 20 to at times 25mph, although until late morning no more than 10 or 15mph on many summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small.
How Wet?
Frequently raining, particularly western mountains
Showers throughout the day - sometimes frequent - generally driest central highlands morning and tending to become drier from west late in day.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering higher slopes; by afternoon mostly confined to near coast
West coastal slopes: frequently covered all day above 600m, occasionally 450m. By around 10 miles inland from the general lie of the coast, by midday cloud nearly all above 800m. Elsewhere, by midday, summits rarely covered.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% near west coast to by midday 80% elsewhere
Sunshine and air clarity?
Ranging from glimpses of sun only toward the coast to a patchwork of bright sun central highlands. The air very clear, but visibility markedly reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising marginally through day coastal slopes, but to 8C central highlands. Will feel below freezing point directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 1st August 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20-30mph; generally most gusty near rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Locally fairly small, but ease of walking often impacted on high terrain, some more strenuous moments with wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, most along the coast
Showers drive into western Munros most of the day, some more persistent falls at times. Well-scattered inland, except afternoon when more frequent with heavy bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive toward coast, base rising well inland - higher tops may not clear
Extensive above 500-700m in the morning, lowest toward west coast. A lifting trend, particularly central highlands, where breaks above 900m increasingly common by midday. Nevertheless cloud base dropping again near showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% western mountains; rising to 40% toward central highlands
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy cloud and sun, trending cloudier, though western areas brighten up later. Very good visibility out of cloud, becoming hazy in the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising slightly, to 8C well inland. Will feel close to or below freezing point directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 2nd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10 to 20mph after dawn; strongest Lochaber. Will drop widely to 10mph or less by afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Becoming negligible.
How Wet?
A few showers; dying out
Starting showery, particularly Lochaber. Showers will become confined to Lochaber and by about midday more or less all die out.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming confined to higher slopes, later may well almost all clear
Progressively improving as extensive cloud above 700m Lochaber and more patchy above 900m elsewhere gradually rises. By mid afternoon, perhaps still fragments some higher tops; but the hills mostly cloud free.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% gradually rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun morning, mostly central highlands. Gradually becoming more sunny across region, but later the sun increasingly hazy. Very good or excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9 to 13C, warmest central highlands and Loch Lomond NP.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Extensively dry with cloud widely confined above the mountains this weekend, although mainly Saturday in Scotland, showers and on western mountains areas of low cloud. Relatively chilly on the west and NW Highlands, but otherwise fairly normal temperatures for early August. Very complicated early next week; areas of rain will drift slowly across central and northern Britain, but the distribution of rain (and associated low cloud) very uncertain. Probably very little rain across Wales. Despite some rain (mainly in Scotland), away from the W & NW Highlands terrain remains exceptionally dry 'tinder dry'.