Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
Wednesday 29th July 2026
Last updated
Tue 28th Jul 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A swathe of frequent to persistent rain through central & southern Scotland, some heavier bursts with possible thunder and lightning afternoon. Patchier showers in northwest, rather cool here. Warmer and humid southwards, low cloud covering many western hills, some drizzle near Irish Sea.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy. Some heavy rain south afternoon, cloud breaks north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 gusts 50mph around dawn, easing to 25-35mph during morning, 20-25mph later afternoon, but still some stronger gusts, particularly around rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over the hills, considerable buffeting early in the day lessening, but will affect comfortable walking much of day. Notable wind chill on high terrain.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, heavier bursts forming mainly in the south afternoon
A mix of drizzle and some pulses of heavy rain, becoming frequent or setting in more likely afternoon-evening in southern half of Cairngorms NP where possible thunder. Generally drier toward the north, smaller amounts of rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, breaks north
Most persistent cloud banks near Ben Alder to southern Cairngorms slopes to 800-1000m. Higher and broken above 1000m northwards, lower patches in rain, but may be often above many hills for much of day Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south to 70% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun most often north and east. Visibility often very good below cloud in north; reduced around rain in south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 or 11C, little change, local 13C eastern areas afternoon; dropping to 8C into evening from west. Feeling like 0C in the wind, colder at first.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 30th July 2026
Last updated
Tue 28th Jul 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening in morning 20-30mph, risk reaching 40mph, gusts 50mph, shifting westerly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
May start fairly small, but deteriorating to make walking challenging, buffeting gusts. Increasingly significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Thundery bursts of rain setting in
Largely dry start, then showers form, developing into a cluster of frequent heavy rain afternoon, torrential downpours particularly in northeast, risk of thunder and lightning, may continue into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting for a time, lower in rain
Varied cloud banks over hills in the morning, lifting to higher slopes and clearing for a time. Lowering again in rain, ragged patches down to forest canopies.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy, some sun breaking through for periods mainly morning. Visibility very good when dry, reduced to poor around heavier rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, lowering to 4C into evening. Feeling like -5C in exposure to stronger winds on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 31st July 2026
Last updated
Tue 28th Jul 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 30mph, risk occasionally 40mph, gusty in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking on high terrain, gusts challenging balance on exposed tops at times. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers develop, risk of lightning
Dry much of the morning, scattered showers forming, increasingly widely during the afternoon, heavy bursts drift east into evening. Risk of hail and thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops or above
Patchy cloud around some mid to upper slopes early in day, lifting mostly above 1000m, clearing high tops for periods. Lowering ragged patches during/after rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly morning, clouding over into the afternoon. Visibility very good, reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, reaching 9C afternoon in east. Feeling like -3C in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Cool and showery westerlies late this week and into Saturday, windy over high terrain; western hills often capped in cloud. Rain may encroach from the southwest on Sunday, winds turn southerly and warmer air wafts back across England and Wales at least. A complex area of low pressure is then expected to circulate slowly over Britain early next week, bringing areas of rain and heavy showers, some thundery downpours possible. Winds varying, may strengthen northwesterly by Tuesday to gales. An improving trend into midweek, but showery westerlies likely prevail in Scotland at least. Despite spells of rain, beware ongoing fire management restricting access to some mountains.