Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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.
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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 26th July 2026
Last updated
Sat 25th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Spells of rain and showers affect most places during the day, some heavier falls toward eastern Scotland in afternoon. Cloud covering most high terrain, bases rising during day, breaks emerge at times. Blustery winds for England, Wales and southern Scotland, more moderate speeds for the Highlands.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Rain and showery bursts, low cloud. Moderate breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 15-20mph, sometimes sustained 25mph over northern Cairngorms, local gusts over 30mph mainly eastern areas, likely strongest later in day here.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but some more blustery upper slopes, feeling cool in exposure on tops.
How Wet?
Periods of rain, some heavier
Patchy rain drifts from the northwest, both wetter and drier windows through the day, but then some heavier afternoon showers, in places more sustained rain. Tending to become drier from north into the evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering high terrain, varied bases
From dawn, most terrain above 700-800m in cloud. Cloud will lift, some brief breaks towards higher terrain, but returning to or below 800m in rain, ragged patches to some lower elevations after heavy showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sunshine. Varied visibility, often poor on high tops but very good when out of showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10C south Cairngorms; little or no rise north Cairngorms. Feeling close to freezing directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 27th July 2026
Last updated
Sat 25th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15-25mph, trending slightly southwesterly and strengthening, top speeds 30-35mph over summits later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small at first, but walking becomes strenuous over summits with wind chill.
How Wet?
Spotty drizzly rain
Occasional spots of light rain drift from the west through the day, dry windows common, particularly east; drizzly over high western tops. Into evening/night, a risk of more rain to the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive over high terrain
At dawn, patchy banks of cloud over the tops, eastern Cairngorms probably clear. Through afternoon, cloud builds from the west, becoming fairly extensive above 1000m bases to 700m west but some breaks may still form.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun, very good visibility, trending more cloud afternoon but a few glimpses of sun may still break out.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 11C, or warmer east; staying elevated into night. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 28th July 2026
Last updated
Sat 25th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, gusts over 70mph on higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions on exposed higher terrain, gusts could knock you over. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain
Periods of persistent rain widely, mixed with drizzle, generally wettest in Drumochter area. Easing off to be drier at times, for longest in eastern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Blanket cloud shrouding the mountains much of the day above 700-900m, lowest and most persistent western areas, some higher breaks may form in east/northeast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, poor visibility in rain, some improvements to be good below cloud when dry, brief moments of sun in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 or 11C, little variation all day, locally up to 13C eastern areas, quite humid. Feeling below freezing directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West-southwesterly winds will bring rain to most places early in the new week, some more prolonged heavier falls for western Scotland by Tuesday, accompanied by gales over high terrain, severe on Scottish tops, but rather humid for all, warm for England and Wales. Cooler air toward northwest Scotland moves across all of Scotland by Wednesday. Showery rain through mid-late week, some heavy and possibly thundery bursts, mainly Scotland. Likely drier for Wales and southern Pennines. More uncertainty toward next weekend and early the following week, but a risk of a broad zone of low pressure bringing areas of rain and heavy showers through early August.