Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday'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.
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.
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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.
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
Friday 30th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 29th Oct 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy across Scottish mountains, gales on high tops most sustained toward west, where low cloud, patchy rain and drizzle will also occur. Drier and better cloud breaks inland and north of major hill groups. England & Wales starts with extensive fog mainly on low ground which tends to thin and break up.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, largely dry, lowest cloud southwest.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly typically 35mph, to on Cairngorm plateau 45mph. Will tend to ease a little through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous over hills, in places balance difficult around higher tops and wind chill significant where exposed.
How Wet?
Largely dry
A little fine drizzle where in cloud southern areas. Late in the day, patchy drizzly rain tends to develop from the west, but amounting to very little.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southwestern areas, clearer north
Banks of cloud mostly southern Cairngorms NP to Ben Alder area, often covering slopes above 700-800m, occasional breaks form higher. Monadhliath to Deeside: Cloud confined above 900 to 1200m, but clear at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% southwest to 60% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, mainly northern Cairngorms NP but later cloudier from west. Mostly very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 31st October 2026
Last updated
Thu 29th Oct 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20-25mph, occasional 30mph higher areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but starting to affect comfortable walking on some higher slopes at times.
How Wet?
Largely dry; a little rain mainly later west
Much of the region may stay substantially dry, though pockets of drizzle in places toward west, where becoming some steadier rain toward evening, some patchy light rain then extending east from dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, better north/east
Fog from 500 to 700m up from Ben Alder east to summits north of Glen Garry, may lower further in rain later. Further north, higher cloud base, often 800 to 1050m, with breaks best toward the north and east of Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sunshine and generally hazy, but locally northeast of the Cairngorms and toward Deeside some brighter areas and glimpses of sun may emerge.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C. Feeling like 0C if in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 1st November 2026
Last updated
Thu 29th Oct 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 10 to 15mph, occasional 20mph over high Cairngorm, mainly more eastern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Dry all day
Cloud on the hills?
Low-level fog, some patchy cloud
Fog in glens and some lower hill slopes early in day, patchy cloud may drift upslope locally, but mostly dispersing to just local patches around some slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and patchy cloud. Visibility very good, some early fog in glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, small variation with height from glens up early morning, or all day above about 700m.
Freezing Level
Some higher slopes close to freezing, plus patchy frost in some glens early morning.
Planning Outlook
High pressure will dominate the weather pattern through into the start of November bringing settled conditions. Broadly dry for a week or so, but some areas of misty dampness and regular fog on low ground, whilst many hills would be in the clear above an inversion, particularly in Scotland next week. Overnight frost in glens will be common, plus some frost pockets for sheltered high terrain, whilst many summits will stay often just above freezing point. Light winds for several days into next week for Scotland, but stronger easterlies are likely for England and particularly Wales which would push cloud banks higher up here during the week ahead.