Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday'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
Thursday 29th October 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Oct 26 at
12:04PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy Scottish, particularly NW Highlands. Across upland Britain, low cloud will give extensive fog, breaking in some areas (notable N Scotland and Wales) through the day, but holding on in others. Mild.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy higher areas. Low cloud particularly more southern mountains.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to at times 35mph, mainly Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small lower slopes, but particularly on Cairngorm plateau expect wind to make walking arduous and give marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Dry mot of region; drizzle southernmost hills
Patches fine drizzle likely in cloud from Ben Alder east to hills accessible north from Glen Garry.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud breaking progressively northwards across region..
Cloud base progressively higher northwards: From Ben Alder east to summits accessed north of Glen Garry: low cloud, most or all day from around 300 to 500m up. Monadhliath and N Cairngorms: May clear at times, particularly Braemar area and toward Cairngorm ski centre but typically cloud base 1050m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10% south to 40% northern mountains
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun and very good visibility mainly Monadhliath and N Cairngorms NP. Progressively duller and mistier southwards toward Ben Alder and southern summits in Cairngorms NP.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C - but will feel below freezing point in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 30th October 2026
Last updated
Wed 28th Oct 26 at
12:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly typically 35 to on Cairngorm plateau 45mph. Will tend to ease a little through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect walking to be strenuous and balance difficult and wind chill significant where exposed.
How Wet?
Little if any rain
A front edging in from west may later bring pockets of drizzle, mostly likely west of A9 and perhaps southern hills in Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly confined to higher tops - but may deteriorate during day
Monadhliath to Deeside: Cloud confined above 900 to 1200m, and may clear at times - but threat mainly west of A9 of base lowering afternoon. Further south, confidence low with increasing threat from west of cloud increasingly shrouding areas above 500m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, mainly northern Cairngorms NP but may turn cloudy 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
Wed 28th Oct 26 at
12:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20-25mph, tending to ease through daylight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small
How Wet?
Rain on and off; very little eastern hills
Rain will progress slowly southeastwards to the Monadhliath and perhaps slowly across the region. Total rainfall very small Monadhliath to Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering most higher areas all or most of day
Fog from 400 to 700m up likely from Ben Alder east to summits north of Glen Garry. The cloud may lower further in rain. Further north, higher cloud base, often 800 to 1050m, but slowly dropping as rain approaches.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sunshine and generally hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
High pressure will bring many days of fine weather and frequently little wind next week. Beforehand there is one 'troublesome' front to contend with: On Friday and the weekend its zone of low cloud and patches of drizzly rain drifts into NW Scotland and then slowly southeastwards (but will stop and temporarily edge back again), before clearing to often clear skies and frosty nights (in valleys). Until it clears, even away from the front, fog will be extensive, albeit some mountains will protrude above the fog into daytime bright sunshine.