Weather

Click here for Met Office forecast for Strathclyde Region

It would be a brave man indeed who attempted to give a weather forecast for the whole of the West Highland Way! The weather in the West of Scotland can be very unpredictable and can change very quickly from one extreme to the other. For this reason, anyone planning to walk the Way should ensure that they are equipped to deal with all weathers.

The hottest months of the year are May to August and, as a result, these are the busiest months on the Way. Most walkers will try to complete the walk in early May, before the midges reach their most ferocious! The main tourist season is July and August when the Way is likely to be really busy with tourists and day trippers.

The average total rainfall for the year is around 2000mm (80 inches) with the Northern end of the Way being wetter that the South. In Milngavie, the average annual rainfall is 1000mm (40 inches) while in Glen Nevis it can reach as high as 3000mm (120 inches) half of which falls as snow during the winter months. The wettest months are September to January

One advantage of walking in the summer is the length of the days in the West of Scotland. At the height of summer it hardly seems to get dark at all, with twilight seeming to last until the first rays of dawn.

For a detailed weather forecast for the Western Highlands visit the Mountain Weather Information Service at http://www.mwis.org.uk/.

For specific Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park information please use-http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/leisure/