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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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 7th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 6th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showers in west Scotland from dawn, spreading east. Gales across the highlands, severe northwest, feeling cold. Early rain in England and Wales breaks for sun through high cloud, windy in the north. Prolonged rain arrives into south Scotland from midday, spreading into north England with time, and later Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wind strengthens to gales; showers, some extended falls
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, speeds rising, to sustained 60mph over high Cairngorms, gusting stronger into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous to increasingly difficult walking, any mobility becoming challenging with time over the high Cairngorms; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, some extended falls
Mostly dry just at dawn, a few light showers drifting into Monadhlaith and Drumochter, and a few hours of showery rain spreading more widely, briefly persistent, mostly southern Cairngorms. Will break back into showers later, mostly affecting west and south slopes; driest towards Glen Avon.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying on higher slopes
Often confined above 900-1000m and breaking for periods above 1200m, particularly north and eastern areas. Lowering banks over tops around rain, lowest around Drumochter where reaching 700m, but rising again where rain breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine in and out, best of sun north of Cairngorm plateau, but also some more broadly cloudy periods will come and go. Visibility good when dry, a slight haze, then reducing during rainy periods (poorest south Cairngorms/Drumochter).
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C to start, rising a degree east Cairngorms. Feeling like -5C, to -10C in strongest wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 6th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50-65mph, direction becomes variable, orienting northwesterly, tending to lessen.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, powerful buffeting gusts and significant wind chill; tending to variably lessen but remaining strenuous.
How Wet?
Showers, pulses of steady rain
Showers drift from the north and west all day, with pulses of persistent rain coming and going as well; heavy falls with some hail likely, sleet mixed in on high Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive over high terrain
Blanket cloud from middle slopes up near and west of the A9 to start, a few higher breaks to the east at times. Bases lift slightly, variably lowering around rain, and more extensive again through afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare bright glimpses. Mostly poor visibility in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 to 6C, rising a degree eastern areas. Feeling like -5 to -7C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above the highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Last updated
Sun 6th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 30-40mph, beginning to ease, shifting westerly, 15-20mph afternoon, lower towards evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure to start, considerable wind chill; effects gradually easing to small later.
How Wet?
Showers fading
Scattered showers stream into the Cairngorms from the north from dawn, gradually scattering and clearing away to the east, becoming largely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain, increasingly breaking
From dawn, fairly extensive across north Cairngorms, to mid-slopes; bases will lift, breaking up soonest on southern slopes, increasingly to the tops, best chance of clear summits later but some banks may continue to roll over the Cairngorm plateau.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Starting cloudy north Cairngorm plateau, sun breaking out, mostly sunny later with very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C, or locally a degree milder southern Cairngorms. Feeling like -5C in direct wind early, wind chill effect easing.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through next week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by strong to gale force mountain winds. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point, feeling cold in the wind chill. A few high pressure ridges bring settled windows, notably afternoons of Wednesday and Friday; northwestern areas, particularly in Scotland, will tend to hold onto some hill cloud despite high pressure. An unsettled weekend is indicated, followed by a rising chance of longer settled windows from mid-month, particularly England and Wales. Temperatures will be generally near or above average, best sunny windows east hill groups.