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
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:53PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Damp for most, fairly widespread drizzle, rain, and low cloud; a rising risk of steady falls with heavy bursts in England and Scotland. Areas north of major hill groups see lighter, patchier rain, and north Scotland starts drier. Scotland will be windy; lighter wind southward, particularly Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Rain and drizzle, patchy north Cairngorms; gusty wind
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph, gusty around higher Cairngorms, strongest gusts approaching 50mph in places near and north of high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Some variability but likely always affecting comfortable walking, more strenuous on some terrain, sudden buffeting gusts affecting stability with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle mostly south
Drizzly rain most frequent southern Cairngorms NP, may become steadier rain with time. Small patchy amounts toward Strathspey, for periods more often dry on north Monadhlaith hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, locally better north
Toward the south, low cloud blanketing many hills in fog from lower elevations upward. Shrouding the Cairngorms fairly extensively, but cloud base nearer 700-800m to north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull and misty from many lower slopes upward, but locally better visibility below cloud toward Strathspey, a few bright glimpses.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, may lower slightly for a few afternoon hours. Feeling like -3 to -7C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Likely to vary, south-southeasterly 20-30mph early morning, then a lull, later may switch westerly 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for periods, but feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, may be more blustery at times.
How Wet?
Early rain likely fades
Some uncertainty, a risk of persistent rain particularly toward east in the morning, then patchy with dry windows for a time, risk later in day of rain returning from south, turning to snow on the Munros from dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering many higher mountains, varied bases, often 800-1000m, but likely lower in east in morning. Some breaks mostly toward Strathspey if drier.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Visibility good if dry below cloud, but reduced in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C well into the day, tending to drop to 2C around evening. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits likely all day, but into evening likely dropping to 1200m, then nearer 1000m into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-20mph, trending south-southeasterly into/overnight and greatly strengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Little expected
Rain from overnight clears eastward around dawn (or perhaps already dry by daybreak). The day is largely dry, a small risk a few showers drifting from the south and west later.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied caps on summits
Early patchy low cloud soon lifts and breaks up to just passing caps above 900-1000m, mostly western areas around showers. Highest Cairngorms may see some caps even out of showers, slopes to the north mostly clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine in and out, most often sunny north of high Cairngorms. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lifting to 2 or 3C. Feeling near -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, lifting to or just above the high summits.
Planning Outlook
A complex weather setup into midweek with slow-moving fronts bringing areas of rain and fairly extensive low cloud over the hills. Varied wind speeds and direction, though a risk of gales quickly sweeping into England and Wales Wednesday. Thursday may offer a window of brighter weather and lessening wind, but Thursday evening into night sees a deep area of low pressure move across England & Wales with heavy rain and gales, possibly turning to snow on higher mountains. Scotland may avoid this system and just see showers mostly in the west for Friday, wintry on tops. Atlantic southwesterlies then follow into the weekend: strong wind, periods of low cloud and rain, brighter windows too but with showers in the west. Some risk of stormy conditions in Scotland. Generally unsettled weather likely prevails to the end of October.