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.
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.
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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.
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
Thursday 20th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 19th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showers and low cloud push into north Scotland all day, feeling chilly in the wind. Showers more scattered over southern Munros. Showers affect south Scotland, England, and Wales all day, with a notable cluster of frequent heavy rain drifting south through England into the Peak District around midday, showers follow behind.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Frequent showers; blustery and feeling chilly
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northeasterly 25 to 35mph, strongest eastern hills. Trending northerly with time and slightly easing, to or below 20mph westernmost Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling distinctly chilly on exposed high terrain. Breezy over hills, walking strenuous on higher Cairngorms, particularly east.
How Wet?
Often raining north
Showery rain pushes onto hills from the north, falls rather frequent with some heavier moments and may well set in for extended falls on northern slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Often capping higher slopes above 700-900m, lower patches in rain, most persistent north Cairngorms where cloud will regularly drop below 500m. Best chance of higher breaks towards Deeside but unlikely to break above 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, rare sun mainly low southern slopes. Visibility generally poor, though very good below cloud in the south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising a degree southern Cairngorms. Feeling like -3 to -5C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but dropping towards freezing on the Ben Macdui summit in the later overnight hours.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 21st August 2026
Last updated
Wed 19th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 15-25mph, and may gust stronger over the high Cairngorms at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but chilly over the high tops, comfort of walking occasionally affected in strongest wind.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly scattered
Showers drift from the north, may be briefly frequent but becoming increasingly scattered, plenty of dry windows later. Showers at and before dawn may fall as sleet/snow on Ben Macdui summit.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain, only rare breaks
Fairly extensive from 600m up northern Cairngorms, nearer 800m southern slopes. A gradual lifting trend with time, through breaks above 1000m over the Cairngorm plateau will be only brief, with lower bases on northern slopes during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few sunny glimpses on lower slopes south of the high Cairngorms. Very good visibility out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6 or 7C, mildest southern Cairngorms. Feeling like -3C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Just above freezing on the highest Cairngorm summits at dawn, lifting higher.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Last updated
Wed 19th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph, notably stronger speeds over high terrain and becoming gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places; strongest wind over tops affecting ease of walking with a distinct chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Some fine drizzle over high terrain in the morning, this tending to fade into dry conditions; a damp feel comes and goes on the tops when cloud lowers.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain for a time
Terrain above 900m starts shrouded, lowest bases to the north and varied patches into glens and corries. Lifting, southern Cairngorm slopes clearing, though highest summits unlikely to clear. Lowering again into evening, becoming extensive across high terrain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny glimpses on southern Cairngorms, but cloudier periods likely as well. Visibility very good under cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7C, or locally milder towards Deeside. Feeling near or below freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
As the weekend approaches, wind shifts northerly, moving showers southward. Generally lighter wind but gusts will be common around showers. Temperature lowers too, dropping close to freezing on high Scottish tops on Friday morning (chance of sleet/snow here) and frost may occur in Highland glens over a couple of nights. Heavy showers in England and Wales on Friday, then more often dry with few lighter showers through the weekend as higher pressure builds into the southwest. Conditions remain on the drier, brighter side into early next week. Wind shifts southwesterly and pressure drops again as the week goes, bringing periods of cloud and rain for most hill groups, and perhaps some stronger wind at times. Detail is uncertain, but some windows of better weather are possible, notably in north and eastern areas.