Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday'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.
Very warm
Warm conditions across the hills, rising above 15C on tops. Increasingly hot on lower terrain, reaching 25C+ in many valleys. Beware of dehydration.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
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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.
Very warm
Warm conditions across the hills, rising above 15C on tops. Increasingly hot on lower terrain, reaching 25C+ in many valleys. Beware of dehydration.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 9th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Jul 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Warm-to-hot sun for most, risk of sunburn and dehydration. Early sea fog on low slopes near west coasts of England and Wales, may briefly lift but soon dissipating. Varied cloud western Scottish Highlands, mostly Mull to Skye, little or none eastward; high tops in and around Lochaber above the cloud layer.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Mostly sunny, becoming very warm
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 15 to 20mph, gusts approaching 25-30mph over tops and high passes at times, but a general easing trend, to 15mph or less later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling blustery early in the day around some higher slopes mainly higher Cairngorms, otherwise fairly small, and later mostly small.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches mostly west, largely clearing
Patchy cloud around some slopes early in day, most notably Drumochter area. May drift higher up onto some tops for a few hours, tending to disperse or lift above most summits into afternoon. Little cloud in the Cairngorms, and summits above any scattered banks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% Cairngorm plateau; 50% Drumochter and Monadhliath, rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and broken cloud, some periods of more extensive sun but also thin high cloud around. Some patchy early mist, otherwise visibility very good out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12C rising to 16 to 18C afternoon, warmest east and northeast areas (where glens may rise up to 25C).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 10th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Jul 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15mph early in day, but soon below 10mph, variable direction.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Risk of a thunderstorm later
Spots of rain from high cloud from time to time, but most of the day amounting to little. Later in day, a risk of odd bursts of rain forming almost anywhere, chance of an isolated thundery downpour.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, may form later north
Rare patchy cloud mainly toward west. If a late shower occurs, cloud patches forming at various levels. Greater risk of cloud over the high Cairngorms through afternoon, which could fill in across northern slopes with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some weak sun through a veil of high cloud, which may thicken across the sky. Visibility mostly very good, some early mist, then misty later if rain occurs.
How Cold? (at 900m)
14C, possibly rising to 18C southern Cairngorms, but later may drop several degrees north (glens reaching 25C).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 11th July 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Jul 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally easterly but variable 10mph and often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Periods of rain, early drizzle
Drizzly on the high tops in the morning. Rain comes and goes, some steadier falls with a risk of local heavy bursts. With time, rain trending lighter and patchier.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Extensive cloud to the middle slopes at dawn, to lower slopes and locally glen level to the south and east. Bases tending to rise, breaks to 700-800m forming, any higher breaks brief.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, sometimes dull and poor visibility on high terrain. Where below cloud, visibility will be very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C rising to 12 or 13C, mildest towards Drumochter.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying warm in Scotland, hot for England and Wales into the weekend. High pressure shifts northward, facilitating a strengthening easterly wind across most areas. Some lingering cloud and rain over the Scottish Highlands on Friday and Saturday, some risk of heavier thundery bursts on Friday. The weekend is likely dry across England and Wales with fairly extensive sun, some sea fog beginning to affect northeastern hill groups later weekend. Easterly wind will persist next week, sometimes quite strong England and Wales. Mostly sunny and quite hot, including Scottish Highlands. Low pressure south of the country may push showers into Wales, though confidence is low. Otherwise, this hot and dry pattern is likely to persist until late next week, at least.