Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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
Sunday 19th July 2026
Last updated
Sat 18th Jul 26 at
4:24PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Some patchy mist here and there at dawn, but the hills largely clear with a mix of sun and high cloud across the country. Mostly warm, milder north Scotland where cloud patches graze highest tops. Late in the day, hill cloud arrives into northwest Scotland with light drizzly rain. Fire risk remains high.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Glenmore fire continues; breezy early, mixed cloud and sun
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 10-15mph, strongest wind in the east, particularly early when sustained speeds reach 20-25mph. Trending more northwesterly with time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but walking inconvenienced in early wind to the east.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Soon largely clear
At dawn, fog on some sheltered northern slopes, some broader banks higher (high Cairngorms near or above cloud layer), soon breaking and dissipating for clear hills; southern slopes start largely clear. Late afternoon into evening sees the return of banks to high Cairngorms, bases to 1100m north slopes into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best on southern slopes. Visibility impacted by smoke from Glenmore fires.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 10 to 12C, mildest southern Cairngorms/Drumochter where may locally reach 13C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 20th July 2026
Last updated
Sat 18th Jul 26 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 10-20mph, strongest sustained wind eastern Cairngorms where regularly gusting 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but blustery at times over high Cairngorms, particularly east.
How Wet?
Little or none
Some fine drizzle may affect the high Cairngorms, notably early, but more likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to tops, well-broken later
From dawn, fairly extensive above 700-800m over Cairngorm plateau; always higher cloud south, near or above 900m. Base lifts, above 1100m afternoon, southern slopes clearing; chance of summit breaks later but patches may cling to high Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy to start on north slopes, sun increasingly breaking out, most widely later. Very good visibility (may still be smokey due to fires).
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 10 to 13C; always warmest south of Cairngorm plateau (to 14C Drumochter).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 21st July 2026
Last updated
Sat 18th Jul 26 at
4:24PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over Cairngorm plateau, gusty in places, tending to strengthen, risk later 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery especially higher Cairngorms, affecting comfortable walking in places, later widely strenuous, marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare drizzle
Odd pockets of drizzle mostly toward the north, but often dry across the area.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping tops at times north & west
Cloud banks mostly above 900-1000m toward Monadhliath, north and western Cairngorms, tending to lift and break higher during day. Only patches further southeast, hills often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% northwest, to 80% southeast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun, best toward Braemar and Deeside. Visibility very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 13C, coolest if in cloud, warmest southern Cairngorms NP afternoon. Feeling like 0C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Weather remains settled through next week as high pressure persists west of Ireland. Northwesterly flow keep temperatures nearer to average for the time of year, dawn temperatures in the middle single digits in Scotland; staying warm in England and Wales but maximum summit temperatures only to the high teens. Cloud and drizzle starts to affect northwest Scotland more often, occasionally drifting further south, chance of an area of patchy rain slipping south through the country on Wednesday, though totals likely small. Despite this, ground remains very dry with high fire risk, with active wildfires limiting access in places. An unsettling trend is indicated next following weekend, bringing wind and rain first to Scotland and increasingly widely. England and Wales may remain quite warm.