Scottish Highlands cloud inversion forecast
From Ben Nevis to Loch Lomond and Perthshire, Highland glens and sea lochs fill with cloud under winter high pressure.
Long winter nights and high pressure can leave Highland glens and sea lochs under a lid of cold, damp air for days, while the summits bask in sunshine and temperatures above freezing.
Around Fort William and Glencoe, the cloud often fills Loch Linnhe and Glen Coe. Further south, Conic Hill and Ben Lomond look over Loch Lomond, and Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion over the Perthshire glens.
The forecast below is for the valleys around Fort William. Pick a viewpoint to see whether its summit is likely to be above the cloud.
Viewpoints to try
| Viewpoint | Height |
|---|---|
| Conic HillShort climb from Balmaha above Loch Lomond | 361 m |
| Ben VrackieAbove Pitlochry and the Tummel and Garry valleys | 841 m |
| Ben LomondAbove Loch Lomond and the Trossachs | 974 m |
| Buachaille Etive MòrStob Dearg, guarding the entrance to Glen Coe | 1,022 m |
| SchiehallionIsolated peak above Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel | 1,083 m |
| Ben NevisHighest summit in Britain, above Fort William | 1,345 m |
Loading the forecast for Fort William…
Other cloud inversion forecasts
- Lake DistrictDeep glacial valleys and big lakes make the Lake District one of the best places in Britain to look down on a sea of cloud.
- Peak DistrictThe Hope Valley is famous for filling with cloud on calm, cold mornings, watched from Mam Tor and Win Hill.
- Eryri (Snowdonia)Steep-sided valleys and lakes in Eryri trap cloud below the summits of Yr Wyddfa, the Glyderau and Moel Siabod.
- Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)The Usk valley fills with fog on calm mornings, seen from Pen y Fan, the Sugar Loaf and the Skirrid.
- Yorkshire DalesRibblesdale and the Three Peaks are a fine place to watch cloud fill the dales below limestone summits.