Mr. Ross McLellan reports

WESTERN GOLD COMMENCES MAIDEN DRILLING PROGRAMME AT THE CALEDONIAN GOLD PROJECT

Western Gold Exploration Ltd. has commenced its maiden diamond drilling program at the Caledonian gold project. The project is held through the Glen Lyon joint venture (the JV), a joint venture between the company, which holds a 90-per-cent interest, and Acrux Gold which holds a 10-per-cent interest and owns the Cononish mine, Scotland's only producing gold and silver mine. Drilling is initially focused on the Lyon licence application, targeting high-priority prospects identified through the company's systematic exploration program.

"The surface grades found across the Caledonian gold project point to the same structurally controlled high-grade gold mineralization that drives the neighbouring Cononish mine," said Harry Dobson, chairman. "The Lyon area targets have never seen a drill bit. This program is our first opportunity to test that potential below surface."

Program overview

The initial program is planned to comprise a minimum of eight diamond drill holes totalling at least 1,500 metres, targeting the highest-priority prospects identified within the Lyon licence area. All holes will be drilled using NQ3 diameter core, with equipment mobilized by helicopter given the steep and remote terrane. The program is being conducted by Mineral Exploration Drilling Ltd., an experienced diamond drilling contractor. Initial core logging and assay results are anticipated in late Q3 2026, with full program results expected through Q4 2026.

Drilling will focus on three prospects -- Creag Sheileach, Coire a'Ghabhalach and Chruitein vein -- each hosting high-grade gold-bearing, structurally controlled quartz-sulphide vein mineralization of a similar nature to the adjacent Cononish gold-silver mine. None of the three prospects has previously been tested by diamond drilling. At Creag Sheileach, grab sampling has returned up to 38.6 grams per tonne Au (see the company's press release dated March 30, 2026), with mineralization defined over at least 300 metres of strike. At Coire a'Ghabhalach, grab sampling has returned up to 61.7 g/t Au (see the company's press release dated April 29, 2026), with veining traced over at least 180 m of strike. Chruitein vein has been mapped to up to 10 m true width, with grab sampling returning up to 36 g/t Au and 2,760 g/t Ag (see the company's press release dated April 29, 2026). Drilling aims to test each prospect at depth and along strike beyond known extents.

About Western Gold Exploration Ltd.

The company is a mineral exploration company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol WGLD. The company is focused on the exploration of gold, silver and critical minerals in Scotland.

In November, 2025, the company formed the JV (joint venture) with Acrux Gold Ltd. to explore for gold, silver and critical minerals as part of the Caledonian gold project in central Scotland. The JV has applied for two Crown estates mines royal option agreements (exploration licences) across the Tyndrum mineral district, specifically the Orchy and Lyon licence areas, which form the Caledonian gold project. The company also operates at the Lorne project, which includes both Lagalochan and Ardlochan prospects, and are located in the highly prospective Lorne porphyry district of the wider Caledonian belt.

Review by qualified person, quality assurance and quality control

David Pym (CGeol), a consultant of the company, is the qualified person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101) who supervised, verified and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this press release on behalf of the company. The results presented in this press release are from the company's own sampling and provide an important validation of historical assays quoted in previous press releases. Historical assay results have not been checked consistently against assay certificates, nor is there significant QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control) information available.

Rock-chip material was collected from in situ outcrops as well as float found within burns and scree slopes. Each sample was crushed, split and pulverized prior to analysis. Multielement geochemistry (48 elements, including silver and base metals) was determined using a four-acid digestion followed by ICP-MS analysis (method ME-MS61L). Gold was assayed using a 30 g fire assay with an ICP-MS finish, providing a detection limit of 0.005 ppm (Au-AA23).

All analytical work was undertaken by ALS Global, Ireland. ALS Geochemistry laboratories operate under a unified Global Geochemistry Quality Manual in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and use a global laboratory information management system (LIMS) to ensure consistent, high-quality and reproducible analytical results.

We seek Safe Harbor.