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
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.
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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine, sunny with light wind mountains in England and Wales. Much of Scotland will be dry but showers, mainly W & NW Highlands, where there will be persistent fog. Progressively windier northwards; near gale force northern Scotland.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy; mostly foggy and showery.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly 20-30mph, rising to 35mph high tops Lochaber by dusk. Least windy on more southern hills.
Effect of the wind on you?
Considerable wind chill and walking often strenuous where exposed. In places, mainly Lochaber, balance difficult.
How Wet?
Showers, temporarily the rain frequent
Showers from time to time, although perhaps over an hour or so, the rain frequent. Showers brief and isolated Arran.
Cloud on the hills?
Most mountains persistently cloud covered; clearing toward central belt
Cloud base will vary, sometimes below 400m mainly near showers within 10 miles of the west coast, where only occasionally reaching 750m. Further east, by midday, most cloud above 650m with breaks to 900m, perhaps 1050m central highlands. On Arran, most cloud above 800m by midday.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil most of region; 20% central highlands
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun only, mainly lower slopes well inland from west coast - although the sun in and out near Clyde sea lochs. Hazy western hills. Mostly very good visibility well inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, but will feel as cold as minus 5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
May just touch the summit of Ben Nevis at dawn, soon lifting above.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 4th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, increasing markedly with height to 40-50mph on higher exposed areas. Probably nearer 35mph Arran.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill and walking difficult. General mobility strenuous on higher summits, particularly Lochaber.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, mainly western hills.
Curtains of drizzly rain coming in off the sea penetrating inland. Toward central highlands, Arran and summits near Clyde sea lochs, drizzly only now and again.
Cloud on the hills?
Foggy across nearly all mountains all day
Persistent low cloud penetrating inland from about dawn will persist all day, forming on some coastal cliffs and inland from just above valleys. Well inland - toward central highlands most cloud above 600m, locally higher.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine now and again lower slopes toward central highlands, where visibility good. Elsewhere, often misty.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C. Will feel as cold as minus 6C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 5th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly typically 40mph, but where exposed on higher summits sometimes 55mph. Sudden gusts some lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking where exposed: balance strenuous in sudden gusts (some reaching lower slopes), and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most or all day, concentrated west
Overnight rain, concentrated on more western mountains may well rarely cease all day, particularly Lochaber and Mull. Toward central highlands and south of Oban, the rain progressively less heavy - perhaps only a little drizzle Arran.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent fog.
High likelihood of persistent fog: near coasts with the sea to the SW, from 200 to 400m upward, whilst elsewhere above typically 600m (800m Ben Wyvis). Chance of a rise in cloud base of a couple of hundred metres extending south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensively dull and misty. Chance isolated pockets of sun easternmost lower slopes and valleys - but even here hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C. Feeling like minus 5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain at some stage more or less daily on most mountain areas through the coming week. However, total rainfall small, and frequently dry E & S Wales and S Pennines. Frequently windy Scottish Highlands, whilst progressively southwards, periods of strong winds will less frequent. A brief period of colder weather around the middle of next week will bring snowfall to some northern mountains.