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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 7th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Mar 26 at
4:32PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Another dry and mostly sunny day across the Scottish mountains, but patchy cloud capping some western tops at times; strong southerly wind for northwest Highlands, gale force gusts Skye. England and Wales: Sunny for Lakes and N Pennines, but low cloud much of Wales, and capping Peak District, a little light rain.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Dry and sunny with the mountains cloud free, but blustery southerly wind.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20 to 30mph, rather gusty in places, especially to north of Cairngorms where may gust 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and at times gusty southerly winds, may impede walking at times.
How Wet?
Dry
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any
Possible fragments around some south-facing slopes for a time, but otherwise mountains clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Greater than 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, but some lower slopes colder in the morning; small change with added height.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some glens and sheltered higher areas after dawn, but lifting above freezing to the tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 8th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Mar 26 at
4:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20 to 30mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and rather gusty at times across higher terrain.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southern hills. Clearer in north.
Cloud banks covering higher terrain in fog across Drumochter over to Ben Alder. Northern areas seeing little more than occasional caps on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% south, 70% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, may be fairly extensive N Cairngorms. Marked haze likely. Best visibility northern mountains.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C, highest northern areas.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but slight frost some glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 9th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Mar 26 at
4:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph, perhaps 30mph for a few hours in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Mostly dry
A little light rain may move in later from the west, snow flurries for tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly in the south and west.
Banks of low cloud will be mostly confined to hills from Drumochter to Ben Alder. Little, bar some patches over tops, elsewhere.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south, 60% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, mainly north and east. Otherwise cloudy. Visibility good, but poor where in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, later down to 2C
Freezing Level
Above summits, but lowering to 1200m later in the day.
Planning Outlook
More cloud by Sunday as weak fronts encroach in from the west, some drizzly rain moving into mainly western parts, hazy elsewhere; dense across southern areas. Patchy rain likely in the west at least early in the new week, likely dropping back just below freezing on the Munros for a time with some snowfall on higher areas. Winds fairly light early week, then a risk of strengthening southwesterly later in the week; changeable weather conditions with spells of rain coming in from the Atlantic. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only very patchy snow remains around highest tops in England and Wales.