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.
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
Saturday 4th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Jul 26 at
3:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain sweeps east through Scotland, persistent for several hours; easing afternoon but staying drizzly and dull west. Mild but feeling chilly in strong wind. Lakeland and Pennines very windy and drizzly with hill cloud. Drier in Wales, sunny breaks on low slopes. Warm Wales and England though notable wind chill.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Rain and drizzle mostly west; very windy, gale-force gusts
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly, 25 to 40mph, variable but stronger sustained speeds for a few midday hours, gusting 55mph over the Cairngorm plateau. Lessening again afternoon and shifting westerly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, more challenging for several hours with buffeting gusts knocking you around on high tops with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain, afternoon drizzle, driest later east
Drizzly in the west from before dawn, with persistent rain setting in as morning goes, some extended heavy falls, mostly west. Rain eases through afternoon, leaving drizzle behind on high terrain, and perhaps lower to the west. Deeside may be substantially dry later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some higher bases east
Covering higher slopes near and west of the A9 much of the day above 600-800m, or lower during morning rain. High Cairngorms stay shrouded, any higher breaks mainly north & easternmost areas, particularly late in the day, perhaps towards 1100m Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% west, to 30% north/east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy, dull and often misty west Cairngorms/Monadhliath. Later afternoon brings chance of sun glimpses in the east, where below cloud visibility will be very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C rising to 10 or 11C afternoon, mildest Deeside where may locally reach 12C. Little or no change Monadhliath hills. Feeling like 0 to -2C over high terrain where directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 5th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Jul 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25-35mph; some variability early in the day, briefly lower speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded on high terrain, trending towards more strenuous conditions with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain increasingly persistent
Patchy rain drifts from the west from dawn drizzly over high tops. Rain gradually setting in widely, fairly persistent rain across most hills afternoon. Lighter falls around Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Terrain above 900-1000m rarely clearing, if at all. Lowest bases to the west, often to 600-700m around Monadhliath with lower ragged patches around rain. More variable east, best chance higher breaks Deeside, but filling in as rain sets in.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, often dull western hill groups. Visibility starting very good east out of cloud and rain, deteriorating afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, slight rise, locally to 11 or 12C easternmost hills. Feeling like 1 to 3C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 6th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Jul 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25-35mph; some variability, possibly stronger for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded on high terrain, trending towards more strenuous conditions with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
More often raining than not
Frequent rain western and northern hills, most persistent Monadhliath and towards Drumochter. Some drier windows, but remaining drizzly on the high Cairngorms. Best chance dry windows near Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Extensive at dawn to at least middle slopes widely, lowest Drumochter/Strathspey where patches to glen level around rain; higher bases east Cairngorms. Lifting slightly, to 600-900m, always highest east, local higher breaks when rain ceases.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, often dull western hill groups with poor visibility. Very good east if out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C rising a degree, locally to 11C easternmost hills. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain, drizzle and low cloud persist over western hills from Lake District northward through the weekend and into early next week. Temperatures near average, but feeling cool in exposure to wind on tops, quite strong and gusty in the north. Northeast areas are drier with higher cloud bases but patchy rain reaches here too. Higher pressure south maintains drier conditions in Wales and the south Pennines but cloud and some drizzle will affect high western slopes from time to time; lighter wind here, but nuisance gusts in exposure. A drier and warmer window builds into the middle of next week: very warm in England and Wales, spells of sunshine spread northward, and lighter wind. Some showers and patchy rain continue through late week and next weekend, though detail is uncertain and more often dry.