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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
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 26th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force southwesterlies, strengthening to be severe on higher mountains. Rain increasingly persistent from the west, some heavier falls setting in for periods combined with lowering cloud over the hills. Near freezing on higher Scottish tops, where some snow falls for a time.
Headline for West Highlands
Upland gales, severe high tops. Rain much of day, heavy spells.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, strengthening during morning, reaching 60mph with gusts 70mph higher mountains, lasting into afternoon. Slightly lessening toward evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains, any mobility challenging on exposed terrain into middle of day, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain often heavy, snow high terrain for a time.
Bands of rain sweep west-to-east, precipitation lingering near the coast between pulses; snow on high tops, locally to 900m in morning, but lifting higher to be mostly rain to higher tops. Some more constant heavy rain middle of day, then more showery later. Wet underfoot, particularly where snow also melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some breaks inland
During rain, fog shrouds high terrain, bases towards 600-700m during heaviest falls. Some local higher breaks inland Lochaber in morning, but the fog extensive on high terrain for several hours. Toward dusk, bases tend to rise with some breaks forming.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief glimpses of sun inland, but largely cloudy. Mixed visibility, at times very good, though very poor during precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C. Feeling like -12 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1100-1200m during morning. Lifting to just high summits, lowering again overnight toward 1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 27th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20 to 30mph, variable, typically strongest toward north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery wind impedes comfortable walking over higher terrain with marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, snowfall level lowering
Showers arrive from the west, snow falling to 800-900m, lowering with time. Occasionally showers more frequent into Lochaber, but mostly scattered and brief.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, sometimes lower, may improve
Terrain above 800-900m often in cloud, bases to middle slopes during rain/snow, but with time a breaking trend, some "ribbons" at higher elevations but also breaks to summits possible, best chance inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy but with bright moments, brief sun bursts possible. Good visibility but some haze towards the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1C tending to lower from northwest to -1C. Feeling near -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000-1100m from dawn, a lowering trend likely, perhaps reaching to 800m over Lochaber to Mull afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, strengthening during day from 20mph, or less inland, to 35-40mph, risk later afternoon 50mph, soonest Mull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, affecting comfortable walking, later more challenging in exposure with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Much of day likely dry
Chance of brief showers near coast in morning, snow flurries above 600m. Late in day or perhaps only onward into the night, risk of rain preceded by hill snow moving in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting from many hills
Some cloud banks mainly Loch Lomond NP in morning, patches elsewhere for a time on some slopes, but clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly a good amount of sun, patchy cloud for a time south; high cloud tending to build later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, lifting to 0C later coast/islands. Wind chill feeling like -10 to later -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, plus frost some sheltered lower areas early morning. Likely rising higher later in day near coast/islands.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime continues through the weekend into early next week. Colder for a time with a drop of freezing level Friday into Saturday allowing some refreezing of higher mountain terrain mainly in Scotland, the snowpack on high mountains consolidating following recent thawing. Milder air and thawing returns into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. During next week, higher pressure is expected to develop around the British Isles, bringing quieter weather, drier for most with lighter winds. Some fronts may continue to graze northwest Scotland with rain and stronger winds locally for a few more days. Temperatures tending to be on the milder side during early March, but some frosts into valleys at times.