Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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
Monday 20th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 19th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Some patchy drizzle and low cloud covering many northern mountains in the Highlands in the morning. Cloud persists on hills toward northwest coasts, tending to lift and break further inland. Hills in England & Wales mostly clear. Wind fairly light overall. Very dry ground and high fire risk remains.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusty in places. Some cloud banks, drizzle, improving.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 10-20mph, strongest sustained wind eastern Cairngorms where regularly gusting 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but blustery at times over high Cairngorms, particularly east.
How Wet?
Early drizzle northeast, fading
Some fine drizzle occasionally toward the north and eastern Cairngorms early morning, then more likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering many higher slopes in morning, lifting to tops, well-broken later
From dawn, fairly extensive above 700-800m over Cairngorm plateau and Monadhliath; always higher cloud south, near or above 900m. Base lifts, above 1100m afternoon, southern slopes clearing; some summit breaks form but patches may often cling to high Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 60%, 80% later southern summits in Cairngorms NP.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy to start on north slopes, sun increasingly breaking out, most widely later. Very good visibility (may still be smokey due to fires).
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 10 to 13C; always warmest south of Cairngorm plateau (to 14C Drumochter hills).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 21st July 2026
Last updated
Sun 19th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over Cairngorm plateau, gusty in places, tending to strengthen, by dusk 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery especially higher Cairngorms, affecting comfortable walking in places, later strenuous on tops, marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare drizzle
Odd pockets of drizzle mostly toward the north, but often dry across the area.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping tops at times north & west
Cloud banks mostly above 900-1000m toward Monadhliath, north and western Cairngorms, tending to lift and break higher during day. Only patches further southeast, hills often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% northwest, to 80% southeast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun, best toward Braemar and Deeside. Visibility very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 13C, coolest if in cloud, warmest southern Cairngorms NP afternoon. Feeling like 0C if exposed to wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Last updated
Sun 19th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-30mph early in day with possible stronger gusts in east, tending to ease to 20mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery particularly in morning, affecting comfortable walking and feeling rather chilly on exposed tops; likely improving.
How Wet?
Light rain and drizzle fading
Some steady rain and drizzle over a few hours in the morning on northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath, tending to become patchy. Very little further south.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding high terrain then lifting
Covering hills fairly widely above 800 to 1000m in the morning, lowest in northern areas. Lifting to 1100m or above, then breaks forming to most tops into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70%
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)
7C 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.
Planning Outlook
Largely dry weather prevails as high pressure remains nearby to the west. A northwesterly flow keeps temperatures nearer to average for the time of year, dawn temperatures in the middle single digits in Scotland; staying warm in England and Wales but maximum summit temperatures only to the high teens. Cloud and drizzle affects northwest Scotland more often, occasionally drifting further south. Despite this, ground remains very dry with high fire risk, with ongoing wildfire management limiting access in places. A more unsettled trend develops during next weekend, bringing wind, rain and showers first to Scotland and increasingly widely. England and Wales remain quite warm.