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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 11th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 10th Aug 26 at
1:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine and widely sunny - albeit patches of high thin cloud. In Scotland cloudy at times near west coast, whilst centred on the SE Highlands, persistent low cloud in the morning. Becoming very warm England and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Dry; extensive sunshine, low cloud southern Cairngorms NP morning.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 10 to 15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly negligible
How Wet?
Rain not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Fog, mainly S Cairngorms NP morning.
In morning cloud above about 500m widely southern Cairngorms NP, although little if any reaching Monadhliath east to N Cairngorms. Highest summits could be above the cloud. The base will rise before eventually dispersing into the afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to become almost certain from north, although widely 10% morning
Sunshine and air clarity?
More or less unbroken, sometimes through high thin cloud Monadhliath east to N Cairngorms. Gradually the sun will extend south and eastwards. Superb visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 16C
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 12th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 10th Aug 26 at
1:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly increasing from around 10mph lower slopes to 30mph, locally 35 or 40mph on higher tops afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Will increasingly impede ease of walking with height; sudden gusts, in places blowing downslope off higher terrain.
How Wet?
Extensively or completely dry
Risk of the odd shower, raining from a few spots to a brief burst of heavier rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Cloud covering higher tops at times, in morning patches, mainly west of A9 above 600 to 900m, In afternoon, patches will slowly form above 1000m, later 750m, again mainly west of A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sunshine. Excellent visibility although slight haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11 rising to 18C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 13th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 10th Aug 26 at
1:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 15 and 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small
How Wet?
Rain occasionally; small risk thunder
Occasional bursts of rain, possibly heavy rain (with risk thunder) west of A9. Elsewhere, bursts of rain only rarely - some areas having only a few spots all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Confined to higher areas
Conditions will vary, with breaks above 1050m, perhaps sometimes all clearing. But particularly in and after rain, cloud forming near 750m. Through day trend toward the lower cloud extending slowly east into or across Cairngorms NP.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, mainly east of A9. Hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
17C
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Chance of bursts of rain, possibly locally thundery on Wednesday NW England northwards, with further occasional rain (and low cloud) later in the week, mainly across the W & NW Highlands. The almost completely dry and warm weather will persist elsewhere - very hot indeed Thursday. Underfoot conditions will remain exceptionally dry. There may be little change in the pattern into next week - although there is uncertainty in the track of oncoming rain on low cloud at the end of the weekend.