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.
Saturday'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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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
Saturday 21st March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cloud covering some western Scottish mountains much of day, a little rain or drizzle mostly Lochaber to Skye. Clearer hills east and southwards in the Highlands, and some breaks form in far northwest. Gusty winds toward north/west. Sunshine, haze and early low-level fog England & Wales, light winds.
Headline for West Highlands
Wind fairly light during day. A little rain locally, varied cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10 to 20mph, at times gustier, particularly Ben Nevis group. Increasing evening into night to 35-45mph, over 50mph for a time overnight Ben Nevis group.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during day, locally may feel more noticeably gusty higher areas in Lochaber. Deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Local light rain, mostly west Lochaber
Mostly west of Loch Linnhe, occasional light rain or drizzle, a little at times into the western Ben Nevis group. Largely dry further south and well inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive Lochaber, varied fog lifting in south
Covering many mountains above 700 to 900m in Lochaber to Mull and Glen Etive areas, lowest near coast. Further south more varied with fog lower down in morning, patchy cloud drifting over tops, then clearer afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north/west; 40% rising to 70% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through high cloud, cloudier in Lochaber, particularly west where misty over hills. Visibility better in south, some haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, slightly higher inland.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Patchy frost some southern inland glens at first.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest becoming mostly westerly, 25 to 35mph, stronger gusts for a time around rain, then squally in showers later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, affecting comfortable walking and balance at times on exposed high terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain for a time, then snow flurries
A brief band of rain moving southwards over an hour or so in morning, steady rain mixed with showery moments, turning to snow flurries above 900m. Into afternoon, local showers with snow flurries to 600m, mostly in Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, then breaking
Covering hills for a few hours at least, lowest around rain in morning, bases 600 to 800m. Then likely to lift and break from north, mostly above 900m, clearing toward higher tops for periods, varied patches.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70% afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy for a few hours, then brighter skies and sunshine breaking through from the northwest. Visibility poor for a time, later very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+2 or 3C in morning, dropping during day from north to -1C. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits at first, but lowering during morning, to 1000m before noon in Lochaber, 700-800m widely later in day.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 23rd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during day, from 25-30mph early morning, to 50-60mph, later 70mph Ben Nevis area.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating significantly as gales arrive, making walking increasingly difficult, risk becoming severe, especially Lochaber.
How Wet?
Rain developing
Likely dry morning, then during afternoon patchy rain arriving from west, briefly snow may fall on high tops, then rain becoming more persistent, heavier into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little, then lowering over hills
Some patches starting to form over higher slopes in the afternoon, then quickly filling in and lowering as rain develops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, dropping to 20% later in day.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sun through high cloud, thickening to become overcast. Visibility very good, then poor later in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to +2C by late afternoon. As wind increases, chill factor feeling like -12 to -15C in exposure.
Freezing Level
700m plus frost inland glens around dawn. Tending to rise, by late afternoon likely lifting just above freezing to highest tops.
Planning Outlook
A changeable mix during the week ahead, but feeling wintry with snow and hail showers widely into midweek. Fine conditions on Monday, but southwesterly winds increasing, later severe gales on Scottish mountains. A spell of rain by late Monday into the night with a brief rise of temperature, but the freezing level drops from the northwest again into Tuesday, falling sub-zero across all hills of Britain above 600-700m later Tuesday into Wednesday. Significant chill factor from gale force west then northwesterly winds. High pressure to the southwest then likely rebuilds to settle things again toward next weekend and temperatures will tend to recover. A mixed west to southwesterly flow may continue to bring more changeable conditions to west and northwest Scotland.