Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Tuesday 28th July 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Jul 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Challenging conditions over high terrain with gale-force winds, severe gales on the higher Scottish mountains. A few hours of persistent rain, some heavy for the Highlands, leaving drizzly conditions, low cloud across most hills. Some heavier rain again later in western Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales strengthen, severe high terrain. Rain and low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly strengthening during morning 45 to 60mph, then more sustained higher speeds later in afternoon, gusts increasingly over 70mph on higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions on exposed higher terrain, gusts could knock you over, particularly afternoon, any mobility becoming challenging higher Cairngorms. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain in morning, patchy drizzle afternoon, wetter again later
Periods of persistent rain widely in morning, mixed with drizzle, generally wettest in Drumochter area. Easing off to be drier at times afternoon, for longest in eastern areas. Rain returns from southwest later evening-night, some heavy bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Blanket cloud shrouding the mountains much of the day above 700-900m, lowest and most persistent western areas, rising a little, some higher breaks may form in east/northeast during the afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, poor visibility in rain, some improvements to be good below cloud when dry, brief moments of sun in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 or 11C, little variation all day, locally up to 13C eastern areas, quite humid. Feeling below freezing directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 29th July 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Jul 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest in the morning, nearer 40mph around dawn. Lessening a little afternoon-evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over the hills, considerable buffeting early in the day lessening, but will affect comfortable walking much of day.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, heavier bursts forming
Occasional rain, a mix of drizzle and some showery bursts, risk of becoming more frequent, locally heavy, possibly thundery downpours forming afternoon-evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, breaks north
Most persistent cloud banks near Ben Alder to southern Cairngorms slopes to 800-1000m. Higher and broken above 1000m northwards, lower patches in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south to 60% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun most often north and east, visibility very good below cloud; reduced around rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C rising to 12C, may reach 14C east. Feeling near to freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 30th July 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Jul 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 20mph in morning, shifting westerly and strengthening, to 35-40mph, later gusts 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
May start fairly small, but deteriorating to make walking challenging, buffeting gusts. Increasingly significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, risk thundery rain
Broadly showery, but may cluster into a more organised area of heavy rain over a few hours, possible torrential downpours particularly in northeast, risk of thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting for a time, lower in rain
Varied cloud banks over hills in the morning, lifting to higher slopes and clearing for a time. Lowering again in rain, ragged patches down to forest canopies.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy, some sun breaking through for periods mainly morning. Visibility very good when dry, reduced to poor around heavier rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, lowering to 4C into evening. Feeling like -5 to -7C in exposure to stronger winds on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A complex pattern into the start of August as weak low pressure is nearby to the west. Some showery bursts of rain, possibly thundery in places on some days, locally persistent rain possible, but some places may well escape drier. Cloud varying over the hills from day to day. Strong southwesterly winds later this week, then becoming more variable in speed and direction over the weekend into early next week, may strengthen again for periods. A generally showery westerly may then prevail during next week. Temperatures near average or on the cooler side for Scotland, warmer for Wales and Peak District. Beware ongoing fire management restrictions to access despite rain in the forecast.