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.
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 19th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Jan 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain near the west coast of Scotland, largely dry inland, but low cloud covering southern Highlands widely, higher and more broken cloud northward. Rain or drizzle and blanket fog over the Pennines, drier for Lakes and Wales, with best cloud breaks northern areas. Southerly winds strongest N/W Scotland, gusty.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy; lowest cloud south, rain mostly coastal areas.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 35mph, gusty around some higher mountains and downslope to north, particularly Ben Nevis to Mull; easing a little during afternoon from south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure, starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on some ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain or high-level snow, mostly near coast
Patchy areas of rain, or snow flurries mostly on higher terrain, most frequent near coast and on islands. Small amounts further inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks north
Low cloud shrouding most hills Loch Lomond NP and up coast to Mull, to many mid-slopes. Higher bases northward, some breaks to tops near/west of Ben Nevis, but often capping high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% south, to 40% N Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little if any sun, glimpses mainly north Lochaber where visibility good. Murky southern areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C, small change with added height inland. Feeling like -10C where exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, lowest inland.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Jan 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 45mph, tending to strengthen, very gusty in places including downslope north of higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and making balance challenging on exposed ridges; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain mostly south, snow on tops
Frequent or persistent rain coastal areas in south, snow falling mostly above 800-900m. Patchier inland and northwards into Lochaber, but occasional flurries on tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding southern hills to mid slopes, higher bases Lochaber; bases may drift higher up during day with breaks locally mainly north/west of Ben Nevis group.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brightest in northwest Lochaber, visibility good below cloud. Hazier toward south, poor visibility in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m. Patchy slight frost some lower slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Jan 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40 to 50mph, in places 60mph, powerful gusts downslope N/W of major tops; may moderate from south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions widely, walking difficult in exposure on high terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and upland snow
Snow falling above 800m, rain lower down, most frequent Loch Lomond NP into central highlands, intermittently extending westward, but small amounts near/west of Ben Nevis group.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south, higher north/west
Covering hills in south above 600 to 800m. Higher cloud base northward, but often capping tops above 900-1000m, breaks best toward west of Fort William.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun mostly toward west of Lochaber, where visibility very good. Very poor if in snow and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C, highest toward islands. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C where exposed on higher areas.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, but likely just above freezing to some higher slopes near coast and on islands.
Planning Outlook
South to southeasterly winds prevail during the week ahead, widely strengthening to become persistently windy, gales over mountains with powerful gusts. Mountains near to freezing point in Scotland, typically just above freezing to high tops in England and Wales for a few days. A slowly circulating weather system will bring areas of rain and high-level snow, becoming more persistent as the week progresses, cloud covering most hills; generally driest and clearest in northwest Scotland. Colder air trying to move in from the east into later January, leaving most mountain terrain frozen in the longer range.