Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Last updated
Mon 1st Dec 25 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Hail showers will frequent west coast hills fairly widely; snow on the highest tops with risk of isolated lightning. Drier inland, particularly northeast Scotland where sunny bursts will occur. Chilly, feeling cold in a brisk southwesterly wind; this easing in Wales and south Pennines afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Strong wind; cloud and odd showers south and west
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph; stronger higher Cairngorms, risk gusts up to 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking all day, increasingly arduous in exposure where stronger gusts may require bracing to maintain stability. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Odd showers towards central highlands, dry elsewhere
Some pre-dawn showery rain in the northeast Cairngorms clears to the east. Chance of odd brief showers, with snow above 800m, most likely areas from Ben Alder to southern Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south, high breaks north
Banks of cloud may linger on southern slopes in Cairngorms NP and Deeside, to some mid-slopes or lower in morning, but northward from Drumochter bases higher, more often above 900m with breaks above tops. Northern Cairngorm and Monadhliath slopes often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south, to 60% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun north of the Cairngorm plateau. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Last updated
Mon 1st Dec 25 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 30-40mph; gusty over tops, particularly early, up to 50mph. Easing later into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking most of the day; early balance challenges early in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some snow showers, mostly south/west
Isolated light showers onto south Cairngorms and Drumochter, falling as snow above 800-900m though minimal accumulation. Showers increasingly frequent afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
High terrain and southern slopes
Fog covers the high summits and upper southern slopes, including Monadhliath; lowest bases around Drumochter, down to 700m at times. Mostly just high terrain north of high tops with many slopes out of fog.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% to 50% northern Monadhliath
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best of sunshine low slopes of northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath, largely overcast elsewhere.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C. Feeling like -13C in direct strongest wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 4th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 1st Dec 25 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30-35mph, typically strongest east and early, 40mph. May ease central highlands later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure through morning, perhaps most of the day east; an easing trend west. Feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Patchy rain south and east
Occasional patchy rain (snow on high tops) drifts onto southern Cairngorms and around Ben Alder. Patches more frequent Deeside, may set in for periods. Largely dry northern slopes of Cairngorms and Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly tops and south aspects, lowest east
High Cairngorms largely shrouded with banks down southern slopes, lowest Deeside where bases will reach 600-700m with lower banks; some variability. Patchy but broken cloud will drift around northern slopes, best clear periods northern Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%; 60% north Monadhliath
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few sunny breaks northernmost slopes, little sun elsewhere. Very good visibility, some haze Deeside.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C with some variability, typically coolest central highlands. Feeling like -10C or cooler in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1000-1200m, lowest near Ben Alder; may vary.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure circulating to the west and north will dominate the weather for the next 7 to 10 days, bringing generally unsettled weather. A brief period of slack pressure on Thursday into Friday will ease winds for a time though patchy rain will linger in several areas. Strong southwesterly winds return over the weekend bringing cloud and rain to many mountains, most persistent on southwestern slopes. Several low pressure systems with continue crossing the British Isles through the week; often showery and cloudy in the west with broader bands of rain regularly passing east. Wind speed likely to vary though often quite strong with risk of gales coming and going. Brighter, drier periods will punctuate the unsettled weather next week but these likely short-lived.