Mountain Weather
Information Service
West Highlands Forecast

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
Dry and sunny
Warm

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Thu 16th Jul 26 at 4:24PM Last Updated Thu 16th Jul 26 at 4:24PM
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Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Friday 17th July 2026
Last updated Thu 16th Jul 26 at 4:24PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Dry conditions persist with high wildfire risk; some areas inaccessible due to fire hazards. Dawn sea fog over north/east Scotland and eastern Pennines largely clears, occasional patchy hill cloud drifts into north Scotland. Warm with sun and high cloud western areas, most hills cloud-free.

Headline for West Highlands

Warm sun, risk of some haze/smoke from the east

How windy? (On the Munros)

Northerly 10 to 20mph, gusty over high terrain.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small but quite gusty on high terrain.

How Wet?

No rain expected

Cloud on the hills?

Little if any

Patchy cloud banks drift onto some slopes in the morning, most near Great Glen and coastal Lochaber, and largely below 1000m. Cloud soon lifts after dawn, may briefly cover tops, but also thinning, little or none remaining by midday.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

Above 90%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Early high cloud fades for fairly extensive sunshine. Visibility very good, slight haze toward the south and perhaps some smoke drifting here from fires to the east.

How Cold? (at 900m)

13 to 15C early, warmest in south (high summits start warmer). Rising towards 15C more widely inland by afternoon, locally warmer south. Staying nearer 14C along the coast.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Saturday 18th July 2026
Last updated Thu 16th Jul 26 at 4:24PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Northerly 10-15mph, strongest west and gusty over high tops and passes.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small, though frequent nuisance gusts over high terrain.

How Wet?

Likely dry

Occasional fine drizzle may drift around the high tops along the coast, notably west of Loch Linnhe, but more often dry and elsewhere likely entirely dry.

Cloud on the hills?

Lifting above most summits

Patchy cloud banks at dawn, mostly northern areas and near the coast; highest tops near or above cloud layer. Bases rise, shrouding high terrain for a time, but then likely above the tops afternoon; banks return to coastal tops at times. Southern Munros largely clear.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

70%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Patchwork of cloud and sun, more extensive sunshine south of Mull/Loch Linnhe in the morning. Very good visibility.

How Cold? (at 900m)

7 or 8C, rising to 11 to 13C, warmest Arran to Loch Lomond.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Sunday 19th July 2026
Last updated Thu 16th Jul 26 at 4:24PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Northerly 5-15mph, slightly northwesterly trend later.

Effect of the wind on you?

Small.

How Wet?

No rain expected

Cloud on the hills?

Little expected

Patchy mist here and there west of Loch Linnhe in the morning, little if any elsewhere. The hills stay clear most of the day, a few patches occasionally affecting high terrain from Mull northward.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

80%

Sunshine and air clarity?

A patchwork of cloud and sunshine. Excellent visibility.

How Cold? (at 900m)

9C rising to 12 to 14C, warmest well inland. Less rise along the coast.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Planning Outlook

Settled summer weather continues through the weekend and next week as high pressure dominates. Extremely dry ground conditions persist with a high risk of wildfire. Temperatures will trend cooler, dropping below 10C on summits overnight in Scotland, but afternoon temperatures rising to warm or very warm; most persistently cooler in the far north where some cloud will be drawn onto high terrain and over tops at times with occasional light showery rain; high summits of the Scottish Highlands sometimes above a morning cloud inversion. Otherwise generally ongoing dry weather, with good amounts of sun and hill tops often clear of cloud. A change of weather pattern indicated late in the month brings scope for rain and thundery showers.