Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday'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.
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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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.
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
Saturday 8th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 7th Aug 26 at
3:59PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Ranging from persistent gales, and increasingly toward west and north, rain and fog across the Scottish Highlands to blustery but largely dry Cumbria and S Scotland. Extensively warm and sunny elsewhere.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales or severe gales. Fog higher areas. Increasingly wet later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40 to 55mph most of day. Slow drop in speed toward evening. Least wind toward Deeside and southeastern summits in Cairngorms NP.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill; strongest gusts may knock you over.
How Wet?
Patchy rain afternoon onwards, mainly west of A9
Isolated pockets of rain until early afternoon. Then rain setting in west of A9. Rain will gradually extend into Cairngorms NP, though often 'spots in the wind' until evening (when heavier). Hardly any rain all day toward Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Persisting higher summits and Cairngorm plateau
Typically lowest cloud base Ben Alder to southern summits in Cairngorms NP; varying between 600 and 800m. Elsewhere, typically 750 to 1000m, perhaps sometimes above 1100m Deeside. Will tend to lower in rain later in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun, mainly glens east from A9. Deteriorating to overcast conditions with poor visibility, mainly west of A9.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C. Feeling as cold as minus 4C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 9th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 7th Aug 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph, notable gusts; may lessen somewhat.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous conditions on the high Cairngorm plateau; buffeting gusts and notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
Perhaps rain post dawn, this soon clearing to isolated showers, most likely west of A9.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud base rising but remaining extensive on higher areas
Cloud base rising through morning to typically 750 to 900m west of A9 to 900 to 1100m elsewhere (generally highest eastern summits).
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A cloudy start gives way to a patchwork of sun - most sunshine toward Deeside. Very good or excellent visibility developing through morning.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 10th August 2026
Last updated
Fri 7th Aug 26 at
3:59PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph morning, progressively dropping to very low speeds later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small
How Wet?
Well scattered showers
Here and there a brief shower; not heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Confined to higher tops
By late morning, cloud rare below 1100m with most or perhaps all summits then clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Periods of sun - perhaps through areas of high level cloud. Excellent or increasingly superb visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, rising toward 12C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Extensively fine and warm early next week - indeed very little rain or low cloud and frequently light winds England and Wales all week. Generally less settled after midweek northwestwards across Scotland where occasional rain and areas of low cloud.