Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 31st July 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly winds, tending to strengthen through the day will continue to bring lower temperatures to the mountains (particularly W & NW Scotland), Showers, throughout day W and NW Highlands, but mostly afternoon elsewhere - and few if any S Pennines and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Showers, mainly afternoon. Wind speed tending to increase.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly typically 20 to at times 25mph, although until late morning or midday no more than 10 or 15mph on many summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small.
How Wet?
Showers - from about midday onwards
Dry most or all morning, before showers extend across region in afternoon; some becoming heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Nearly all clearing through morning
All or nearly all clearing after being fairly widespread on higher slopes, particularly west of A9 until mid morning. Now and again in afternoon, fragments on higher slopes near showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising through morning to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of bright sunshine - most sun eastwards toward Deeside. The air very clear indeed.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 7 to 9C afternoon, warmest eastern summits Cairngorms NP. Feeling near or below freezing in the wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 1st August 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20-30mph; generally most gusty near rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Locally fairly small, but ease of walking often impacted on high terrain, some more strenuous moments with wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers developing
Showers, some briefly heavy, from about midday onwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits increasingly clearing
At dawn, varied cloud above 600m, mostly west of A9. Cloud lifts through morning, many summits clearing by midday, particularly east of the A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% by afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny morning, sunshine gradually more patchy. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 12C. Will feel near freezing point directly in wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 2nd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 30th Jul 26 at
2:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20 to 25mph after dawn. Will drop toward 10mph through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small before becoming mostly negligible.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Possibly the odd brief shower, but very likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
More or less all clearing
Patches over a few hours on some higher slopes, but by late morning, very little anywhere.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% gradually rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Periods of sunshine, although later the sun hazy. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 12C. Feeling close to or below freezing point directly in wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Extensively dry with cloud widely confined above the mountains this weekend, although mainly Saturday in Scotland, showers and on western mountains areas of low cloud. Relatively chilly on the west and NW Highlands, but otherwise fairly normal temperatures for early August. Very complicated early next week; areas of rain will drift slowly across central and northern Britain, but the distribution of rain (and associated low cloud) very uncertain. Probably very little rain across Wales. Despite some rain (mainly in Scotland), away from the W & NW Highlands terrain remains exceptionally dry 'tinder dry'.