Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dull and damp for northern Scotland much of the day, low cloud blanketing the hills, fresh northwesterly winds, feeling cool. Drier and better cloud breaks southward across the Highlands. Some cloud on hills in northern England and Wales tending to lift and break, some warm sunshine.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Breezy and cool; rain, drizzle and cloud covering hills.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 30mph early in day with some stronger gusts locally 40mph in east, tending to ease to 20-25mph, strongest northeast Cairngorms, less southwest.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery particularly in morning, affecting comfortable walking and feeling rather chilly on exposed tops; tending to improve, through staying breezy high Cairngorms.
How Wet?
Light rain and drizzle mostly north
Some steady rain and drizzle over a few hours in the morning on northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath, tending to become patchy, but some drizzly patches continue or return later in north. Less toward Glen Garry.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding high terrain, lifting, breaks south
Covering hills fairly widely above 800 to 1000m in the morning, some banks to 600-700m northern areas. Lifting to 1100m or above, then breaks forming into afternoon, best southward, whilst banks may linger northern tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 50% north, 70% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy north, some glimpses of sun south, may break through a little more widely afternoon. Visibility reduced around dampness, then very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 11 to 13C, warmest toward south and east. In morning, feeling below 0C in the wind, near -5C high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 23rd July 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15 to 25mph, strongest sustained speeds over higher Cairngorm plateau, increasingly later in day to 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small effect on walking, but feeling breezy and quite cool on high terrain. Becoming increasingly blustery evening.
How Wet?
A little drizzle northwest
Odd patches of drizzle north Cairngorms to Monadhliath in the morning, then likely dry. Risk some light rain mainly later evening. Largely dry further south and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Early low cloud lifting and breaking
Some cloud banks from 500-700m upward early in the day, particularly northern areas. Base rising to 1000-1200m during morning, increasingly lifting and breaking above most tops during afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy start, visibility becoming very good below cloud, occasional sun breaking through, best in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C from dawn, rising to 12 to 14C afternoon, warmest in eastern areas. Feeling near 0C in the wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 24th July 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 40mph, gusts 50mph over higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting over high terrain, making walking strenuous, gusts knocking you off balance. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzle most frequent west
Drizzle on and off for mountains near and west of the A9 corridor. Patchier eastwards, more often dry toward Deeside. Toward evening, some steadier rain likely develops from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent western tops
Covering hills from Ben Alder to west Cairngorms and Monadhliath much of day above 800-1000m, brief breaks. East near Deeside, bases 1000-1100m, good breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% west, to 60% furthest east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, visibility reduced at times in drizzle west, otherwise good below cloud, some sun breaking through in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 10C, local 12C eastern tops; little change with added height on Munros. Feeling like 0 to -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds strengthen widely later this week, reaching gale-force over Scottish tops on Friday; low cloud across western Scotland, drizzle and steadier light rain, turning heavier later Friday. A swathe of persistent rain and strong winds moving southwards across Britain into Saturday, leaving a legacy of showers for Scotland, winds tending to lessen. Further areas of showers into Sunday. A changeable westerly pattern into next week and likely into early August, bringing spells of rain and showers; varying wind speeds, strengthening at times to gales on high tops. Often cooler for Scotland, a mix of cooler and warmer days for England & Wales.