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.
Tuesday'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+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather 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.
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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+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather 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.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 7th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Frequent rain and severe gales over Scottish Highlands, easing from west later; feeling cold. Strong wind with showers and sun breaks in south Scotland and England, showers increasingly frequent from north, extended falls forming. Showers scattered in Wales, least rain south with lighter wind.
Headline for West Highlands
Frequent rain and severe gales; only later starting to ease
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50-60mph, may approach 70mph at times over highest tops. Trending northwesterly afternoon, beginning to ease, finishing near 40mph and further easing into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions well into the day: you will struggle to stay on your feet with buffeting gusts knocking you around even while crouching; significant wind chill. Effects will ease, but strenuous conditions until at least nighttime.
How Wet?
Rain rarely breaking until later
Pulses of persistent rain spill over the Munros from the north and west, heavy bursts with hail, and a mix of sleet and rain on highest summits, and likely setting in persistently from midday. Later, breaking back into showers, scattering into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Several periods of blanket cloud shrouding all hills from 600m upward, lower bases during heaviest rain. Some windows of higher bases, breaks locally towards 800-900m south and eastern hills, mostly in the morning, but returning lower in showers. Beginning to break up somewhat later, most notably south/west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy bright glimpses, mostly overcast and dull afternoon, particularly well-inland. Largely poor visibility, hazy towards west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C. Feeling like -7 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above the highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 7th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-30mph, easing, shifting westerly, 15mph afternoon; into night, southwesterly, restrengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery start and feeling chilly, easing to small effects.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Well-scattered light showers will drift onto the coast and hills from Glencoe southward, tending to fade to largely dry conditions.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy banks rise to high terrain with breaks
Scattered banks from middle slopes up, local lower patches where sheltered, but soon lifting, mostly isolating above 900m and increasingly breaking up inland. Summits nearest the coast, and highest inland summits more often capped, and later returns west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, some extended windows of bright sun. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, rising to 7C. Feeling like -5C in direct wind early, wind chill effect easing.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 10th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 7th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph, strongest north, strengthening afternoon, sustained 40-45mph over high tops with gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becomes widely strenuous, gusts over high tops increasingly challenge balance with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain increasingly frequent
Patchy rain drifts from the southwest, a little drizzle on the high western summits. Patches more frequent with time, and setting in widely as afternoon goes, heavy falls forming.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some clearer windows
Cloud often shrouds westernmost hills from at least 700m up, sometimes lower. Bases more varied inland, breaks to or above 900m for periods, and may more widely break up for a window. Later, will more extensively fill in, widely to middle slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun but more often cloudy. Generally poor visibility, some better windows when cloud lifts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, only slight drop into night. Feeling near or below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by strong to gale force mountain winds. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point, feeling cold in the wind chill. A few high pressure ridges bring settled windows, notably afternoons of Wednesday and Friday; northwestern areas, particularly in Scotland, will tend to hold onto some hill cloud despite high pressure. Weather remains varied from the weekend into next week, Scotland most often unsettled, best windows of improvement to the south. A more settled period is indicated in the later month with warm temperatures.