Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Friday 11th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 10th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fresh westerly winds will be strongest in northern Scotland, speeds lessening a little during the day, but feeling cool in exposure on tops. Light showers mainly in western Scotland tends to fade. Cloud often capping western tops, breaks forming higher with time; clearer hills toward east.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Brisk winds, feeling cool. Largely dry, cloud breaks best east.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly later southwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest in the morning, quite gusty over the Cairngorm plateau; lessening in afternoon to 20-25mph. Rising onward into night to 50mph later 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking impacted in exposure, some buffeting gusts in the morning; feeling chilly. Deteriorating into night to gales becoming severe on mountains.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
A little drizzly rain over high terrain near and west of the A9 early morning, this soon fading for dry mountains. Rain develops from southwest into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high tops, breaking up
A deck of cloud covers high Cairngorms early in day, bases lowest around Drumochter/west of A9, some low ragged patches in sheltered areas. Soon lifting, to just banks rolling over the Cairngorm plateau, these increasingly breaking up. Clearer east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Gradually rising to 60%, 90% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun in and out, more widely in the east with time. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C. Feeling like -3 to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 12th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 10th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 60 to 80mph from dawn, lessening only slowly during day to 30-40mph afternoon, 20-30mph evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very difficult conditions with powerful gusts to low levels for several hours, moderating perhaps only later in day; notable chill.
How Wet?
Early rain, then patchier and drizzly
Rain fairly widely from dawn, heavier falls toward Drumochter for a few hours. Becoming patchier, tending to fade out for periods during afternoon, occasional drizzly showers spread from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Shrouding most high terrain all day, lowest bases to mid-slopes in rain around south and southwest Cairngorms NP. Bases rise and some high breaks form in north and eastern Cairngorms with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, rising to 50% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, some brighter skies may develop, occasional sun north/east. Visibility reducing in rain, locally poor, then improving to be good if dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, up to 10C for a time mainly east. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 13th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 10th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West turning southwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest in the morning. Starting to rise again onward into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling chilly in a fresh breeze in the morning, then mostly small until night.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Chance of a brief light shower.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches likely all clearing
Patchy cloud around mid to upper slopes from dawn into morning, mainly northwest, local mist also at first sheltered glens. Higher summits may start above the cloud, banks then drift higher up, but likely to clear most tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Variable sunshine and cloud. Early slight haze, then visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C during day, tending to rise slightly further into evening and night. Feeling below freezing on tops in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Changeable west-southwesterlies prevail through mid September; often windy, gale-force winds for periods over higher terrain. An active frontal system sweeps southeastward on Saturday with a sustained fall of rain, accompanied by upland gales for most places. Improving for better weather on Sunday, then wind and rain returns into Monday, staying showery into Tuesday. A mixed outlook likely continues later next week with rain most frequent in western Scotland. Temperatures varying, some cooler days especially in Scotland, but often fairly mild further south, at times quite warm and humid.