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
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 27th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 26th May 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A largely sunny day in NW Scotland, whilst low cloud in central-E Scotland & NE England in the morning will gradually thin and break, but may linger toward the North Sea. Gusty SE'ly winds for England & Wales, but remaining very warm. Localised thundery rain may develop in Wales, mainly south.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early low cloud thinning; warmest west. Light wind.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Varying in direction, or mostly south-southeasterly, 5 to 10mph, local gusts may form 15-20mph during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly negligible
How Wet?
Largely dry
Isolated spots of fine drizzle where in low cloud in morning, mainly southeast.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud dispersing during morning; hills then clear.
Early patches or banks of low cloud, most toward south & east, local mist into the glens up to mid slopes; some upper slopes clear above. Some patches lift upslope, but will tend to thin and disperse eastward in middle of day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% lifting to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine at first mainly in west and over some upper slopes, but sun breaking through more widely. Beware high UV and sunburn. Visibility good or very good away from early mist.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C lifting to 10 to 14C, highest temperature west Cairngorm Plateau over to Monadhliath.
Freezing Level
Well above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 28th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 26th May 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southeasterly 15-25mph, may start less locally, but likely strengthening to gusty 35mph, risk over 40mph in east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, affecting ease of walking and balance on exposed terrain.
How Wet?
Risk thundery rain late in day
Most likely only toward evening, chance of odd bursts of rain forming or moving in from the south, possibly thundery by dusk into night - the risk of rain then becomes greater especially west & southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
The mountains largely clear all day. Toward dusk onward, some ragged patches may form over tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and thin high cloud, tending to thicken during the day from the south. Visibility good, some haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, rising to 14 to 16C, warmest north & west Cairngorms NP afternoon.
Freezing Level
Well above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 29th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 26th May 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 40mph, risk 50mph at times higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions, frequent buffeting affecting balance over exposed terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain, showers
Rain on and off in western areas for a few hours, mainly morning. Scattered showers drifting eastwards through the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over 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?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly eastern hills. Visibility good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, warmest toward east. Wind chill feeling like -5C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Very warm air wafts north across the Highlands by Thursday, but this also brings a risk of scattered thundery showers forming; strong and gusty southerly winds. Gale or near-gale force southwesterlies into Friday for the Highlands, strongest toward the northwest, where accompanied by rain, drizzle and low cloud. The recent heat across England and Wales will ease back to nearer average temperatures into the weekend. From the weekend into next week, southwesterlies will prevail, bringing changeable conditions in from the Atlantic - rain, drizzle and low cloud most common on western coastal mountains, but showery days are likely more widely at times. Temperatures near average, some cooler days.