Northwest Highlands
A mixed day in the Northwest Highlands, with strong, gusty winds.
Sunshine and sky
More sunshine later. Sunshine is indicated more often later in the day.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. The regional median prevents one unusually bright or dull summit cell defining the whole area.
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
High-ground wind (900 m)
At around 900 m, expect a southerly wind of 25–35 mph, gusting 40–50 mph, strongest first thing and easing later. Gusts like that are strong enough to knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges.
Walking impact
Gusts of 40–50 mph are strong enough to knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges.
Rain and showers
It should stay dry.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 85% early, about 90% around midday and about 90% later.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay clear of cloud all day.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 900 m it will be 2 to 6°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. It turns milder through the day. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Freezing level
The freezing level is above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 08:06, Sunset 18:01, about 9.9 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaAcross these hills, a reasonable night to camp, with a well-chosen pitch: gusts of about 25 mph. 64Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across these hills, a reasonable night to camp, with a well-chosen pitch. Gusts reach about 25 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the south. Some light rain is forecast overnight. Up around 900 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 900 m.
Moon overnight
Waxing gibbous moon
- Illuminated disc
- 80%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 02:59 next morning BST
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 21 Oct, 17:00 BST to 22 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Representative location: 57.369, -5.060. Times vary across the area.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 11 mph / 18 mph
- Coldest
- 6.3°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 14 mph / 22 mph
- Coldest
- 6.3°C
- In cloud
- 20% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 16 mph / 26 mph
- Coldest
- 3.3°C
- In cloud
- 40% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGusts near 40 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. 39Poor · Poor View detailsHide details
Regional climbing & scrambling outlook
A broad guide to dampness and exposed rock across the area, not a forecast for every crag. Lower, sheltered crags and individual rock types may behave differently.
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look poor (39/100). Rock is likely to be mostly dry, though local seepage and shaded holds remain unresolved. Gusts may reach about 40 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes psammite, pelite or semipelite and sandstone or gritstone. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture between crags and routes.
Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.
Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part
Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.
This is about Northwest Highlands on Wednesday 21 October 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.
Open the questions to take part.
About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead
Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
Updated 15 October 2026 at 05:28 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Northwest Highlands.