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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
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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.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 28th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 27th May 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gusty winds, warm and humid, a mix of strong sun and high cloud - the warmest day this week for the Highlands, but locally low cloud southeast. Northern England starts with a risk of thunderstorms, but clearing. An isolated thunderstorm possible for Highlands, mainly NW later. Low cloud near west coast of Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Varied, local gusty wind. Very warm sun, some low cloud south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southeasterly 15-25mph, lowest toward Monadhliath in morning, but local 30-35mph eastern Cairngorms, tending to more widely increase to gusty 30mph. Then SW'ly into night, rising to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied early in day, blustery mainly eastern areas, but widely increasingly blustery, some buffeting gusts affecting ease of walking and balance on exposed terrain.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Substantially dry all day, but odd spots or an isolated brief burst of rain possible from thicker high cloud in places, mainly middle of day into afternoon. Into night, showery rain locally, mainly west, chance isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Early banks southern hills dispersing
Banks of low cloud from dawn into early morning, mostly southern areas; higher tops above 1100m near or above cloud in places, but then drifts upslope and largely disperses by middle of day, some patches may linger in east. Into night, cloud banks develop widely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best in north early in day, thin high cloud tending to thicken during the day from the south, but may leave hazy sun. Beware sunburn and dehydration. Visibility starting very good, but some misty slopes in south/east; increasing general haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C (some slopes start cooler near 7C if in cloud), rising to 14 to 16C, warmest north & west Cairngorms NP afternoon, humid. (Local 27C around Strathspey afternoon). Feeling cooler in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Well above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 29th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 27th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, to 60mph at least in gusts higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, difficult high tops; frequent buffeting knocking you off balance. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain, showers
Rain on and off in western areas for a few hours, mainly morning, most persistent near Ben Alder. Some showery rain drifting eastwards through the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Often capping high tops, breaks east
Covering high tops fairly frequently toward western side of Cairngorms above 1000m, some lower patches in rain. Breaks higher up more common eastward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, occasional sun mostly eastern hills. Visibility good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C. Wind chill feeling like -7C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 30th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 27th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 25 to 40mph, may reach 50mph at least in gusts higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions on exposed terrain, more frequent buffeting higher up. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain moves in from west
Largely dry start, possibly much of morning, but rain encroaching in from west likely to develop more persistently with time, some heavier rain southwest Cairngorms afternoon. Less northeast.
Cloud on the hills?
Forming over tops from west
Many mountains clear in the morning, bar odd patches. Cloud banks forming onto higher slopes from the west, filling in above 900-1000m as rain develops, though northeastern hills may maintain breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% dropping to 20% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun in morning mainly east before high cloud builds. Visibility very good, reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -2 to -5C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Gale or near-gale force southwesterlies on Friday for the Highlands, strongest toward the northwest, where accompanied by rain, drizzle and low cloud. Nearer average temperatures for all into the weekend onward as changeable southwesterlies prevail - a generally unsettled theme is expected during the first ten days of June with lower pressure dominating. Frontal systems come in from the Atlantic - rain, drizzle and low cloud most common on western coastal mountains, but showery days are likely more widely at times, possibly rain more widely further south later in week. Wind speeds will vary, but reaching gale force on mountains for periods.