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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Friday 21st August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early showers in north Scotland, then a dry afternoon, though cloud lingers on northern tops. Largely dry start for south Scotland and England, mostly clear hills, then afternoon showers forming, particularly over the Pennines. Showers on and off in Wales, some heavy bursts. Cool-to-mild and little wind.
Headline for West Highlands
Rare light showers; cloud lifts, off many tops
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15-20mph, shifting northwesterly and tending to ease, to around 10mph inland areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Rare light showers
A few showers here and there, drifting from the north; light in nature and most hills substantially dry much of the day. Showers at and before dawn may fall as sleet/snow on Ben Nevis summit.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting towards high terrain with breaks
Varied cloud mostly above 600-700m in the morning, locally more extensive north where showers occur, particularly towards Creag Meagaidh. Lifting with time to just banks over high terrain, best chance of summit breaks south of Rannoch Moor.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40%, to 60% towards south central highlands
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, longer sunny windows on lower slopes. Visibility becomes very good, including on some southern summits where cloud lifts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 6C to start, mildest south, and rising towards 7C, or a degree milder towards central highlands; least rise west of Loch Linnhe.
Freezing Level
Just above the Ben Nevis summit at dawn, lifting higher.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-20mph, gusty, notably in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though gusts will affect ease of walking at times.
How Wet?
Some drizzle, rare light rain
High terrain along the coast (and perhaps more widely north of Glencoe) will see a fine drizzle much of the day. Occasional spots of light rain will drift onto the coast as well. Substantially dry towards Ben Lomond.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming fairly extensive
High coastal terrain shrouded early, patchy inland, early clear tops south/east of Glencoe. Cloud soon filling in above 1000m in Lochaber, gradually spreading more widely and lowering, all summits shrouded afternoon with bases towards 600m west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early patchy sun in the east and south, gradually clouding over from the northwest and increasingly dull with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C rising slightly, locally up to 9C well-inland; only small drop into night.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 23rd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 10-20mph, strongest speeds north and gusting stronger over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but some nuisance gusts over northern summits.
How Wet?
A little drizzle
Drizzly on high terrain near the coast, may reach towards lower slopes just around dawn. Drizzle fades, lingering near and west of Loch Linnhe, but increasingly widely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some improvement south/inland
Most hills shrouded to middle slopes at dawn, patchy lower banks, extensive to low slopes along the west coast. Bases rise, few breaks above 700m along the coast, though higher inland; some summits from Ben Lomond to Bridge of Orchy may see a few fleeting breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny glimpses appearing in the south, more often cloudy to the north, often dull along the coast with poor visibility on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, rising slightly well-inland, locally to 9C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
The weekend is often cloudy in north and west Scotland, some drizzle on the summits with occasional light rain, amounting to little. Drier south and east Scotland, but cloud will reach here too, particularly on Sunday. England and Wales will be largely dry and bright this weekend with little wind and mild temperatures. On Sunday, high pressure west of the country may facilitate local inversion conditions, but low cloud likely quick to fade. Next week begins dry and bright, but wind shifts southeasterly and pressure drops again as the week goes, bringing periods of cloud and rain (sometimes heavy) to most hill groups, some stronger wind at times. Similar conditions persist into the following weekend: generally unsettled but a chance of a settled window, best in the east.