Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 21st September 2026
Last updated
Sun 20th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Warm and humid air across the country brings low cloud shrouding hills extensively, foggy to some lower elevations in the west. Some rain moves east across Scotland then generally damp air with fairly persistent drizzle over western hills. Strongest winds toward northern Scotland, gusty not just on highest tops.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusty wind, gale-force in places; some rain, cloud on hills.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 30mph to in places very gusty 40 to locally 50mph on the higher Cairngorms and some slopes toward northern corries, the strongest gusts not confined to highest summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Variable, but blustery on most exposed high terrain, affecting ease of walking and in places knocking you off balance, sudden buffeting gusts around tops and locally just downslope.
How Wet?
Patchy drizzle mostly west
Some steady rain for a time early in the day mainly northern areas, fading to leave patchy light rain and drizzle, most common toward Drumochter; more often dry toward Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, possible breaks east
Blanket cloud shrouding the hills, foggy from mid-elevations upward much of the time in more western areas. From dawn, briefly eastern hills in particular may be clear, but cloud likely soon envelops all tops. Cloud base higher all day eastward, clinging to most high tops, but local breaks emerge afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 40% east afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly, but locally furthest east will break through more often. Misty poor visibility many hills, but locally good below cloud in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 to 13C, small change with added height and little change into night; quite humid, but still feeling near 0C if directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Last updated
Sun 20th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, very gusty for a time higher Cairngorms and northern corries; dropping later below 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied conditions, blustery in exposure and for a time more frequent buffeting in morning, then becoming smaller.
How Wet?
Drizzle, rain for a time
Patchy rain and drizzle, most common areas near Drumochter in morning, becoming steadier rain over a couple of hours, smaller amounts reach eastern areas. Rain then fading from west through the afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, at times extensive, breaks north
Banks of cloud around some slopes at varied heights, most persistent areas accessed from Glen Garry. Some banks shroud higher Cairngorms, most persistent during rain for a time, but likely to break for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% dropping to 10% in rain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine emerging at times, best to the north of the Cairngorms, but periods where widely overcast. Visibility very good out of cloud and when dry, but poorer in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C, locally up to 12C northeast, humid; then likely to drop evening-night to 6C. Feeling near to 0C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Last updated
Sun 20th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally northwesterly 15-25mph, though some variability possible in the early hours, locally lower speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over high Cairngorms, fairly small most other areas.
How Wet?
Risk early heavy rain, otherwise dry
Risk a few hours of rain from dawn, which may be heavy for a time, but this ultimately passing east, breaking for a dry day; rain may clear relatively quickly but this uncertain.
Cloud on the hills?
May start fairly extensive, little or none afternoon
May start fairly extensive just around dawn if rain lingers; as rain clears, cloud will break into varied banks, mostly high terrain (a few ragged low patches briefly), but ultimately clearing for cloud-free hills aftenroon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%; may start at 20% for a few hours
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy just at dawn, but soon becoming mostly sunny. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, rising a degree. Feeling below 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain affects western Scotland on Tuesday, patchier rain extending eastward. Then into Wednesday, a heavier swathe of rain moves east, more likely over England & Wales, clearing from the west leaving a few showers. South-southwesterly winds increase again on Thursday and rain may move into western Scotland, but elsewhere is likely dry. A variable outlook continues into next weekend and just beyond with high pressure building from the south at times with fairly warm and dry conditions, but some Atlantic systems still pass to the north bringing occasional rain and showers toward western Scotland at least. A trend toward drier conditions more widely around the change of month.