Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Monday 14th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 13th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Humid southwesterly air brings extensive low cloud and drizzle to many mountains. Locally drier with some cloud breaks toward northeast of major mountain groups. Around Skye generally wet all day, whilst more prolonged heavier rain likely moves into southwest Scotland afternoon-evening. Strong and gusty winds.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery, gusty; low cloud particularly south, some drizzle.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, strongest on higher Cairngorms, but speed varying locally, tending to generally rise during afternoon toward 50mph; some notable strong gusts especially downslopes north/east Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Some variations, but often affecting comfortable walking in exposure; with time increasingly frequent buffeting, very gusty in places affecting stability, not just highest terrain. Wind chill becoming considerable despite mild air.
How Wet?
Occasional small amounts of rain or drizzle
A little patchy rain or drizzle spilling in from the southwest at times, amounting to very little for much of the daytime, especially toward Deeside and Glenmore where more often dry. Late in the day and into evening, increasing risk more persistent rain developing from southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, some breaks northward
Shrouding most high terrain all day, lowest most persistent cloud bases near Drumochter to Glen Garry, typical base 700-900m, lowest on south-facing slopes. Fairly persistent across much of higher Cairngorm plateau and Monadhliath, but local good breaks to 1000m or above toward north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% south-southwest, to 30% northernmost tops.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly toward Glenmore and locally Deeside. Visibility good below cloud, reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C, locally up to 13C northeast areas if out of cloud, little change all day; starting to drop slightly only well into night. Feeling near/below 0C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 15th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 13th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly typically 25-35mph, but possibly strongest just at first, risk gusts 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery across the hills, strenuous walking on exposed higher terrain with buffeting gusts and considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain
A possible area of rain from overnight and after dawn, some heavy, clearing eastward. Then showery rain spreading from the west, may become more frequent over a few hours with scattered heavier bursts mainly afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Confined to high tops with breaks
Most cloud above 900m, often confined to 1100m or higher further east with breaks over higher summits at times. Lowering patches especially in west in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, mostly toward east. Visibility often very good, reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, small change then trending slightly cooler later in daytime. Feeling like -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 13th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty northwesterly 20-30mph, stronger gusts over high tops, lessening and shifting westerly 20mph, later shifting SW'ly.
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery start with some buffeting in exposure, easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Showers clear, then late rain
Some early showers stream into the Cairngorms from the north, fading for dry conditions well into the day. From late afternoon, patchy rain returns from the west, gradually setting in into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking well into the day
High Cairngorms begin shrouded, varied banks to middle heights, most extensive northern slopes with some mist into glens. Cloud will lift and break up, just passing patches over highest Cairngorms well into the day. Returning more sheet-like evening into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Soon mostly sunny, high cloud thickening from the west late in the day. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 6C, staying elevated into night, later rising slightly. Feeling like 0 to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled during the next week to 10 days as westerlies prevail - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing frequent rain, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Often windy, sustained periods of gale-force westerly winds over higher terrain. Fairly cool by Tuesday onward, close to freezing on highest Scottish summits on Wednesday morning, possibly again for a time next weekend; often considerable wind chill on the mountains. Higher pressure and better weather tends to expand further north later in month.