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
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.
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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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.
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 7th August 2026
Last updated
Thu 6th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain in the Scottish Highlands, persistent central/west areas; windy too, gales developing over summits. Some early rain in England, cloud covering high terrain, improving for frequent sun and minimal hill cloud. Light wind and mostly sunny Wales, just some early cloud and dampness high Snowdonia terrain.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Often raining; strengthening wind to gale-force
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph early, strengthening to sustained speeds of 40-45mph through afternoon, stronger gusts over the high tops with some risk of strengthening further for a time into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions from dawn deteriorate, walking difficult in exposure afternoon with significant wind chill; balance and forward progress becomes a constant challenge.
How Wet?
Frequent rain
Frequent rain onto Monadhliath and western Cairngorms, heaviest falls towards Drumochter, only brief dry windows. Better dry windows to the east but always a risk of showery rain approaching here. An easing tendency later but staying damp west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Terrain soon shrouded above 600-900m, lowest bases western hills with lower banks around rain. Some variability as rain comes and goes, rarely rising above 700m western slopes; a few breaks towards the high eastern Cairngorms but summits likely stay shrouded.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best chance of sunny glimpses northeast Cairngorms, but otherwise cloudy, often dull to the west. Excellent visibility where dry and below cloud, though poor to the west in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C, or a degree milder easternmost hills; feeling humid later. Feeling below freezing in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 8th August 2026
Last updated
Thu 6th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40-50mph, strengthening, tops speeds to 55-65mph high west Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking on high terrain with significant wind chill all day; you will struggle to remain upright in exposure.
How Wet?
Patchy rain setting in with time
Patchy rain from dawn affecting south and west areas, more scattered towards Ben Avon. Rain becomes frequent, setting in around Drumochter, gradually more widely, extended heavy falls to the south and west.
Cloud on the hills?
Early high breaks east, becoming extensive
Summits likely in cloud from dawn, lowest bases west, towards middle slopes when rain occurs; some breaks towards high east Cairngorms. Cloud gradually fills in from the west, widely to middle slopes with patches to forest canopies south and west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy weak sun in the morning, good visibility out of cloud. Deteriorating to overcast and dull conditions with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, rising up to 11C around Ben Avon; humid. Feeling near/below freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 9th August 2026
Last updated
Thu 6th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 30-40mph, notable gusts; may lessen somewhat.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous conditions on the high Cairngorm plateau; buffeting gusts and notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
A chance of steady rain just around dawn, this soon clearing for scattered showers drifting from the west. Generally light in nature, but a few heavier bursts will occur here and there, notably afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits with breaks
Fairly extensive from mid-slopes upward just around dawn, lifting towards 1000m with higher breaks, increasingly to or above summits, best chance east. Where showers occur, bases return towards 900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A cloudy start gives way to a patchwork of cloud and sun. Very good visibility, briefly deteriorating in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C. Feeling near freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds prevail into the weekend: Saturday will see extensive cloud and heavy rain develop across Scotland with gales; bands of rain passing to the south and east into England and Wales through Sunday with showers in Scotland. A ridge of high pressure early next week brings warmer temperatures and clearer hills, though western areas likely remain fairly cloudy with some drizzle on the high tops. Westerly flow returns through mid-week and a series of low pressure systems will pass west-to-east across the country with periods of strong wind (sometimes gales), rain, and low cloud, western hill groups always most affected. Mild-to-warm temperatures and sometimes quite humid. Changeable conditions persist into next weekend.