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.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Tuesday 15th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Clusters of showers over Scotland from dawn, a few dry, bright breaks forming, mostly south, but pulses of showers return too. A band of rain over England and Wales just at dawn soon passes east for a bright window, followed by intermittent rain, driest windows later afternoon. Cool-to-mild and breezy.
Headline for West Highlands
Blustery, frequent showers, easing south somewhat
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 30mph, risk stronger gusts early in the day, possibly 40-45mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery across the hills, strenuous walking on exposed higher terrain with buffeting gusts and considerable wind chill, particularly in the early hours.
How Wet?
Often raining, breaking south with time
Showery rain throughout the day, most frequent toward northern hill groups and coasts early morning, small risk of an odd flash of lightning. Showery clusters will extend well-inland. Showers will break up somewhat in the south afternoon, staying more frequent north, ]also drizzly on high tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent north, varied breaks, notably south
Often capping coastal mountains above 700-800m, banks of cloud to 500m at times, or lower towards northern hill groups in rain. Further inland, bases typically 900m with some brief breaks higher up, best of higher breaks south of Loch Lyon later in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly well inland, more breaking out on low slopes later in the day. Visibility very good away from showers, variably deteriorating, most often north; some haze near coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change all day. Feeling like -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty northwesterly 30-35mph, shifting westerly and lessening, later SW'ly, strengthening, finishing 30-40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery start, easing to fairly small effects for a time; conditions strenuous into evening, further deteriorating.
How Wet?
Showery rain clears, then returns later
A band of showers drifts from the north in the morning, clearing away for a dry afternoon. Patchy rain will return from the west as afternoon goes, increasingly setting in as evening approaches.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, high breaks for a time, then deteriorating
Cloud banks at varied heights in the morning, clear windows between layers, least cloud towards Ben Lomond. Cloud will tend lift and break up, varied layers on high terrain linger towards the coast. Will increasingly fill in from mid-afternoon onward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, deteriorating from mid-afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, most extensive south of Rannoch Moor, high cloud thickens from the west later. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C to start, mildest south, rising to 6C, rising slightly further into night. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 17th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 35-50mph, strongest north and also quite gusty, tops speeds to 55-60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, more arduous north with considerable buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, may set in
Showers stream from the west from dawn, increasingly pushing inland and becoming frequent, and may set in more widely for several hours. Most persistent heavy falls near and north of Glencoe, some risk of hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Varied bases between 800-1000m from dawn, lower towards the coast in showers; best of high breaks inland and south. Cloud more persistent with time, bases widely to 800m, variably lower, approaching 400-500m coast from Mull northward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sun, mostly east, increasingly clouding over. Visibility starts good inland, but deteriorating with cloud, rain, and haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C. Feeling like -5C, to as cold as -10C in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A brief window of brighter weather on Wednesday, though some scattered showers around and feeling fresher in cooler temperatures. Showers and strong wind return on Thursday, and then the weather stays often unsettled during the next week as westerlies prevail - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing bands of rain, followed by showers, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Often windy, sustained periods of gale-force westerly winds over higher terrain; significant wind chill, particularly in the north where temperatures will occasionally approach freezing point on high Scottish tops. A brief window of high pressure may form Saturday into Sunday, and a chance of a window of higher pressure the following week, but confidence is currently low.