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.
Thursday'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.
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.
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.
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
Thursday 16th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 15th Apr 26 at
4:06PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dawn gales over summits of south Scotland and north England, strongest wind moving north, but staying breezy in northern parts of England and Wales. Showers for many in the morning, soon easing with sun breaks, but remaining frequent with heavy bursts in west Scotland; some rain approaches Wales later afternoon.
Headline for West Highlands
Frequent showers, easing later; often very windy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph in the morning, strongest speeds in the south which may be up to 45mph over highest tops before dawn. Strongest speeds will slip north through morning, but then an easing trend afternoon, 25-30mph, to 35mph highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions early with significant wind chill; greater effort needed to maintain stability. An improving trend with time, notably south, but always blustery on high exposed tops.
How Wet?
Frequent heavy showers, later easing
A stream of showers driving in from the southwest, frequent and heavy for several hours with risk of local hail. Drizzly on the tops for a time as well, even between showers. Tending to slowly ease through afternoon but always a risk during daylight. Rain from the southwest overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, slow improvement, best chance of high breaks inland
From before dawn, extensive cloud to middle slopes at least, locally to coastal cliffs. A lifting trend after sunrise, breaks to upper terrain well-inland, bases slow to rise above 600m closer to the coast. Base will vary as showers come and go, only late in the day will highest summits possibly clear, if at all.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun breaking out on lower slopes with time, gradually to higher slopes too, best inland later in the day, but then high cloud builds into evening. Variable visibility, often poor in rain but excellent during breaks.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising to 3C, or 4C around Creag Meagaidh. Southern islands milder later, approaching 5C around dusk. Feeling like -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
About 1100-1200m at dawn, gradually lifting to clear all summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 17th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 15th Apr 26 at
4:06PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40-45mph, variable and tending to strengthen, to 55-60mph Mull and Lochaber coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking often arduous in exposure with considerable wind chill, increasingly difficult along the west coast.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day, late heavy showers
Showery rain from before dawn soon sets in persistently for several hours with heavy falls. The rain will break into frequent showers with time, regular heavy bursts and with a risk of local hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud covers high terrain much of the day, extensive to middle slopes south in the morning during rain. Higher breaks through afternoon, best east, though variably lowering during showers to middle slopes with ragged lower patches too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, 30% north late in the day
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy and often dull in rain with poor visibility. Sunny glimpses later with good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C. Notably cooling late in the day into night. Feeling as cold as -10C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 18th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 15th Apr 26 at
4:06PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 40mph, likely strongest over tops in Lochaber early in day, tending to drop a little, but gusty in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery conditions affecting comfortable walking in exposure, likely improving. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail, snow higher tops
Showery rain on and off throughout the day, frequent for periods toward coast, although fairly widespread by afternoon. Some hail, also snow falling on the Munros, perhaps later toward 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops
Covering higher slopes fairly widely, typically 700-1000m in morning, some breaks higher up, lower patches in showers; base rising during the day, but frequently capping higher summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, some sun more often toward coast later in day. Visibility varying, at times very good, but poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, slight drop from late afternoon. Feeling like -10 to -13C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1200m, to possibly as low as 1000m in Lochaber later in the daytime.
Planning Outlook
Friday stays windy with a band of rain passing east across the British Isles. A settling trend begins on Saturday, showers lingering in western areas, then the most settled conditions of the weekend on Sunday. Light or even negligible wind by Sunday with cool-to-mild temperatures, though perhaps on the chillier side in Scotland. The stronger sunshine will feel mild despite chiller temperatures. More certainty regarding a dominance of high pressure next week: a mix of cloud and sun, often dry, and cool temperatures. Greatest chance of scattered showers in eastern areas, more cloud here, and some low fog in the mornings as well. Easterly wind at times quite blustery and gusty in England and Wales, generally lighter Scotland.