Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday'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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Tuesday 29th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 28th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A windy start strengthens to widespread gales, powerful gusts not just on high terrain. Feeling chilly despite mild-to-warm temperatures, increasingly humid too. Some patchy rain and cloud moves north through Wales into England and later Scotland; northwest Scotland bright and dry well into the day.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wind soon gale-force; cloud building, rain later arriving
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 35 to 40mph to start, strong turbulent gusts over tops and downslope. Wind strengthens, sustained 50mph over high tops at least, strengthening overnight, strongest gusts approaching 70mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becomes challenging, buffeting gusts making balance difficult and later powerful enough to knock you over, not just in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Little until later
Mostly dry well into the day, but a few odd spots of rain drift from the south, a little drizzle on the high Cairngorms too. As afternoon goes, increasingly damp on tops with steadier falls forming.
Cloud on the hills?
Rolling over high tops, filling in afternoon
Banks of cloud rolling over the high Cairngorms towards the northwest, most slopes below 1100m clear of cloud, little cloud to the north of high tops. As afternoon goes, cloud will thicken, filling in more extensively as evening approaches.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, later lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early weak sun giving way to overcast skies as afternoon goes; staying brighter north until later. Good visibility before cloud thickens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7 or 8C afternoon, further rising to approach 10C into evening and increasingly humid. Rising slightly further overnight. Feeling like 0 to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 30th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 28th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40 to 60mph, but at times 70mph over tops, particularly higher Cairngorms early in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance, any mobility at times difficult.
How Wet?
Heavy rain for a time
A band of rain moves northeastward across the region likely during morning into middle of day, some heavy falls mainly southern areas. Later a few showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking, best north
Extensive cloud over the hills in early rain, then lifting rapidly and clearing toward upper slopes, though some patches may linger, mainly on tops and southern slopes, and some broader banks may reform later in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine breaking through as rain clears. Poor visibility in rain, then improving to be very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 12C or above morning, dropping during the day to a fresher 9C later. Feeling near/below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 1st October 2026
Last updated
Mon 28th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, will vary with some periods of lighter speeds. Strengthening overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Nuisance wind in exposure likely all day with a chilly feeling, more strenuous walking on high Cairngorms at times.
How Wet?
Little expected
A few showers drift onto hills around Drumochter at times, but any falls light and most other hills entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly just high tops with breaks
Cloud from 800-900m upward southern Cairngorms, rolling over the tops; well-broken north slopes. Cloud will lift to just patches over tops, increasingly broken, only patches over high west tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun increasingly extensive, particularly north and east. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, may rise a degree towards Glen Avon. Feeling near 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A band of rain moves northeast through early Wednesday, leaving fresher and blustery south-southwesterlies into Wednesday and Thursday, showery in the west but often bright between showers, particularly eastern areas. Friday will be a wetter day again, the rain quite frequent with extensive cloud over western hill groups and quite windy in England and Scotland. On Saturday, higher pressure tends to expand from the south, bringing more settled weather to England and Wales; temperatures generally mild, some cool nights when skies are clear. Scotland will stay cloudier and windier, particularly in northern areas early next week, some drizzle in the northwest and occasionally broader bands of rain slipping eastward.