Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday'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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Last updated
Fri 21st Aug 26 at
3:54PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cloud clings to northwest Scotland slopes, a little drizzle. Cloud clears most other Munros, varied banks over highest summits. Rare showers in England but most hills dry, morning cloud lifting off summits with patchy sunshine. Early showers in north and west Wales will clear for patchy sun as well.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery east early; cloud lifts to summits with breaks
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph, notably stronger speeds over eastern high terrain in the early morning with notable gusts, approaching 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places; strongest wind over tops in the east early in the day will affect ease of walking with a distinct chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
A little fine drizzle/damp air in early cloud, but otherwise entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits with breaks
Fairly extensive cloud covers northern slopes; high Cairngorms may be near the top of the cloud layer at dawn, and southern slopes have well-broken cloud. The layer will rise through morning to summit level, varied breaks off the summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best on southern Cairngorms, but occasional cloudier periods as well. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 8C, locally a degree milder southern Cairngorms. Feeling below freezing in exposure on high tops in the morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 23rd August 2026
Last updated
Fri 21st Aug 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 15-20mph, strongest early with sustained speeds to 25mph or briefly higher.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though quite breezy over the Cairngorm plateau early in the day.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
A little drizzle affecting high terrain early in the day, notably west, and fading. Small chance of odd spots of light rain afternoon, but more likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain with summit breaks
Fairly extensive at dawn, some varied layers of cloud, including patches into glens/corries. Cloud will lift, mostly isolating to high tops and breaks increasingly forming, best in the east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few bright glimpses breaking out on low terrain. Excellent visibility out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C, or locally 10C eastern Cairngorms. Feeling near freezing in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 24th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 21st Aug 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 10-15mph, some gustiness over the Cairngorm plateau, downslope to the north early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but some nuisance gustiness at times.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little expected
Cloud banks at varied heights in the morning, mostly below middle slopes including into glens and corries. Lifting and dissipating for largely clear hills much of the day. Later, cloud begins to lower onto eastern summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% most of the day
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, more often sunny for a time northern Cairngorms. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 11C, perhaps a degree milder northernmost Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A core of high pressure drifts over the country on Sunday, bringing light and varied wind, dry weather, and minimal hill cloud fairly widely. Northwest Scotland will see a westerly breeze with a little drizzle and lingering hill cloud. It will feel warm in England and Wales in the sunshine, but fair weather cloud will tend to build in the afternoon. Monday is settled too, but high pressure slips away to the northwest, facilitating a southeasterly wind into Wales, later more widely. Tuesday sees a return of low pressure from the south: temperatures will rise and patchy rain will increasingly spread northward with some local stronger wind. Conditions likely continue to unsettle as next weekend approaches with bands of heavy rain forming, varied conditions continuing through the weekend, and likely staying warm and somewhat humid.