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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 29th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very windy Scottish Highlands, afternoon gales, strongest north. Extensive low cloud and rain, most west, some breaks east but little sun. Morning cloud over England and Wales, clearing Wales and S Pennines for afternoon sun. Cloud slow to clear west slopes of Lakeland and N Pennines, spotty rain and blustery here.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, afternoon gales; often drizzly west, particularly afternoon
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph at dawn, strengthening to 40-50mph afternoon, strongest gusts over high Cairngorms to 60mph. A westerly shift as well. Easing overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, difficult high tops afternoon; frequent buffeting knocking you off balance, staying upright difficult in strongest gusts. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain west, most persistent afternoon
Rain on and off in western areas much of the day most persistent near Ben Alder and Drumochter and more widely drizzly over Monadhliath and west Cairngorms afternoon. Some patches drifting towards Deeside. East of Ben Macdui only sees spots of light rain in the wind.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering high terrain west, some breaks east
Covering high tops fairly frequently toward western side of Cairngorms above 800-900m, some lower patches in rain. Breaks higher up more common eastward, best chance of a clear summit towards Glen Avon, but then a few afternoon hours where cloud more extensive here too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny glimpses in the east, best early in the day, but trending overcast. Visibility good below cloud, but deteriorating afternoon in central/western areas where drizzle and rain set in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, rising to 9C or locally 10C northeastern Cairngorms. Wind chill feeling like -7C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 30th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20 to 35mph, notable gusts particularly early when reaching downslope to north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions on exposed terrain, more frequent buffeting higher up. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain moves in from west
Largely dry start, patchy rain encroaching in from south and west as midday approaches, increasingly frequent through afternoon with patches falling more widely and some heavy bursts coming and going.
Cloud on the hills?
Forming over tops from west
Many mountains clear in the morning, bar odd patches. Cloud banks forming onto higher slopes from the west, filling in above 900-1000m as rain develops, lower banks towards 700m south slopes. Northeastern hills may maintain breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% dropping to 20% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun in morning mainly east before high cloud builds. Visibility very good, reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C afternoon, or 10C N Cairngorms; small change to summit. Feeling just around freezing on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 31st May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20-25mph, occasionally reaching 30mph over high Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking affected on high terrain, at times becoming strenuous over highest summits with a chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Some showers
Morning showers, and perhaps a few hours of heavier, more persistent rain early. Breaking into only scattered showers, extended dry windows. Some risk of heavy rain with thunder in the far northeast Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting above most summits
Banks of cloud above 900-1000m in the morning; east Cairngorms clearer, particularly north slopes. Cloud largely lifts above the summits by afternoon, only passing caps on Ben Macdui and neaby high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early cloud breaks for often sunny conditions, some patchy high cloud around. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C, or 10C northern Cairngorms. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Nearer average temperatures for all into the weekend onward as changeable southwesterlies prevail. England and Wales remain fairly sunny through Saturday, only beginning to deteriorate afternoon. Sunday will see showers for all, most in the west, and more frequent with heavy bursts in Scotland. A generally unsettled theme is expected during the first ten days of June with lower pressure dominating. Frontal systems come in from the Atlantic - rain, drizzle and low cloud most common on western coastal mountains, but showery days are likely more widely at times, possibly rain more widely further south later in week. Wind speeds will vary, but reaching gale force on mountains for periods. Occasional cooler spells when the wind turns northwesterly.