Best time to visit Northwest Highlands for mountain weather.
Across a typical year, 33% of high-ground days were settled for rain and wind, with around 231 wet days.
Settled high-ground days33%Dry with manageable model-grid gustsWet days per year231At least 1 mm of precipitationTypical annual precipitation1,860 mmRepresentative high-ground gridAnnual bright sunshine1,044 hrsMet Office 1991–2020 · Loch Glascarnoch
Sunshine is a separate Met Office long-term average from Loch Glascarnoch, used for regional context. It is not included in the settled-day score and does not promise summit views.
Plan beyond the forecast
Choose an area and week.
Saturday dates are highlighted because they usually unlock the widest choice of seven-night cottage stays. Other arrival days still work.
Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 37 · 12 September
What this week is typically like on Northwest Highlands high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 31% were settled for rain and wind and 27% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live Northwest Highlands forecast →Settled rain and wind31%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind17%Dry, manageable wind14%Mixed42%Poor17%Severe10%
Historically dry34% of daysTypical daily max gust31 mphStronger days around 44 mphTypical high ground6.2°C24-hour mean near 1,055 mPoor or severe rain/wind27% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
September context: 36% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 23% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full September guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Ullapool.
Representative base · 10 mTypical daily high14.4°CWarmer days 16.6°CHistorically dry30%29% dry with lighter windMaximum wind15 mphStronger days 21 mphTypical overnight low10.8°CCooler nights 9.2°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Northwest Highlands month by month
January to December
Northwest Highlands weather by month.
Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.
January28% settled rain/wind
High ground: 34% mixed · 38% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 33% dry · 7.1°C daily high
February27% settled rain/wind
High ground: 36% mixed · 37% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 33% dry · 7.1°C daily high
March31% settled rain/wind
High ground: 38% mixed · 31% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 36% dry · 8.4°C daily high
April39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 15% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 44% dry · 10.0°C daily high
May42% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 12% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 45% dry · 12.3°C daily high
June40% settled rain/wind
High ground: 52% mixed · 8% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 43% dry · 14.3°C daily high
July36% settled rain/wind
High ground: 54% mixed · 10% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 37% dry · 15.7°C daily high
August33% settled rain/wind
High ground: 52% mixed · 15% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 34% dry · 15.8°C daily high
September36% settled rain/wind
High ground: 41% mixed · 23% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 38% dry · 14.6°C daily high
October29% settled rain/wind
High ground: 39% mixed · 32% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 33% dry · 12.3°C daily high
November30% settled rain/wind
High ground: 38% mixed · 32% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 32% dry · 9.5°C daily high
December31% settled rain/wind
High ground: 32% mixed · 37% poor or severe for rain/windUllapool: 34% dry · 7.4°C daily high
Strongest historical signals
Best weeks of the year for Northwest Highlands mountain weather.
These are the six week bands with the largest historical share of settled rain-and-wind days. Views are not included; use the live forecast nearer the trip.
- 01Week around 17 April46% settled rain/wind · 13% poor or severePlan this week →
- 02Week around 8 May45% settled rain/wind · 11% poor or severePlan this week →
- 03Week around 29 May44% settled rain/wind · 9% poor or severePlan this week →
- 04Week around 5 June44% settled rain/wind · 9% poor or severePlan this week →
- 05Week around 22 May43% settled rain/wind · 16% poor or severePlan this week →
- 06Week around 17 July42% settled rain/wind · 9% poor or severePlan this week →
20 mountain areas
Compare another part of the UK.
The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.
Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually